SSC’s Webster Street, Hanover location to house therapy center
McGRATHPR.com – On Friday, South Shore Conservatory (SSC) revealed plans for the new Glick Family Center for Creative Arts Therapies, due to be built at its 135 Webster Street, Hanover location. This center is made possible by a major gift from Diane and Gary Glick of Plymouth.
The emotion-filled announcement, which took place at South Shore YMCA’s Laura’s Center for the Arts in Hanover amongst 55 SSC trustees, friends and press members, included the unveiling of a proposed schematic of the new center, a moving video about SSC’s Creative Arts Therapies (CAT) department, and speeches by SSC President Kathy Czerny, SSC trustee Lauren Pimpare, whose son Boston is a CAT student, Director of Creative Arts Therapies Eve Montague, and CAT student Michael Shea and his mother Monica.
Photo by Paul Hoffman.
Pimpare delivered the opening remarks, speaking candidly about her son Boston, who at birth was expected to never walk, sit or speak, that he would eat through a tube, be blind and deaf. Doctors told her and her husband, Jay, that Boston would be a vegetable. Wanting to give their son the chance to reach his full potential, they started music therapy with him through early intervention when he was two. Now, at eight, he “bangs a drum, he uses his eyes to find colored circles on the piano to play duets with her…he strums a guitar…he hears music, he feels music, he sees music…he is music.”
Photo by Paul Hoffman.
Pimpare continued, “When I am asked why I continue to advocate for this program, the answer is simple. I have seen the impact. I have held my son and felt the impact that Creative Arts Therapies has had on his body, and on his mind.”
When his mother finished her remarks, and Boston, using a speech device, said “Thank you Glick family,” the emotion in the room was palpable.
Gary Glick, with his family beside him, addressed the audience, “We are so excited to be part of the future of this amazing work which not only provides access to the arts for all people, regardless of ability, but simultaneously provides the opportunity for people of all abilities to come together in the community of music. Eve Montague says that “music is the great equalizer…and there is no wrong answer.” This is the legacy that we want to create here on the South Shore – a legacy of equality, inclusion and community.”
President Czerny also spoke from the heart, saying “Diane and Gary have used the phrase “Passion Meets Project” which truly encapsulates their commitment to South Shore Conservatory. Through their gift, Diane and Gary will support the programs of Creative Arts Therapies, but most excitingly, they will also give CAT a dedicated space which meets the needs of the individuals for whom SSC is an opportunity to learn and grow in their own unique ways.”
A most emotional moment came when Czerny, talking about the day the Glicks made the commitment, said she suddenly realized the future of SSC’s Creative Arts Therapies programs is as meaningful to Diane and Gary Glick as it is to South Shore Conservatory.
Eve Montague, who has been with SSC for 11 years, admitted it was overwhelming to not only watch the CAT programs grow, but to finally plan its dedicated space. “When I started doing music therapy 30 years ago, I taught in janitor’s closets and cafetoriums. There was no dedicated space,” she said. “I am so excited that a pipe dream I had is going to come true.”
South Shore Conservatory’s current Creative Arts Therapies (CAT) programs serve more than 600 individuals throughout the South Shore. Existing programs include early intervention support, in-home therapy, individual music therapy, group classes, SSC Community Voices choral ensemble, a Parkinson’s Chorus, Memory Cafes and other memory-care work at South Shore assisted living and nursing facilities. The CAT department reaches individuals ages 1-101.
The goal for the opening of the Glick Family Center for Creative Arts Therapies is September of 2020.
For more information on South Shore Conservatory’s Creative Arts Therapies programs, visit sscmusic.org/cat/.
About South Shore Conservatory
South Shore Conservatory, (SSC) has been providing access to and enriching the lives of South Shore residents through music and the arts for almost 50 years. Recognized as a national model for arts education by the National Guild for Community Arts Education, SSC is the largest, not-for-profit, community school for the arts in Massachusetts, serving over 4500 students of all ages and abilities at two beautiful campuses and in partnership with schools, and social service and community agencies throughout the South Shore. A third campus in Hanover is scheduled to open to the public for classes and programs in the summer of 2020.
Students participate in more than 50 diverse programs in music, dance and drama, with performance playing an important role in overall education. With more than 100 exceptional musicians on faculty, SSC offers over 200 professionally produced concerts annually. Through innovative partnerships, SSC’s Creative Arts Therapies department supports the mental, emotional, and physical health of some of our community’s underserved members, and the ImagineARTS program strengthens pre-reading skills for young learners in Brockton Schools through integrated music and dramatic play.
SSC’s campuses are located at One Conservatory Drive, Hingham, (781-749-7565) and 64 St. George Street, Duxbury (781-934-2731), and administrative offices at 135 Webster Street, Hanover, (781-421-6162). SSC programs are supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
In keeping with SSC’s inclusive mission to provide access to quality education in the arts for all, the Conservatory offers programs for all segments of the population to enjoy, regardless of age, ability, geography, and financial means. Furthermore, South Shore Conservatory admits students and families of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
