It is quite surprising that in the birthplace of one of the most popular musical styles — hip-hop and the homeland of pop stars such as Jennifer Lopez and Billy Joel, there was no separate independent musical space until recently. Eventually, in the fall of 2024, this injustice was corrected with the opening of the modern Bronx Music Hall. What exactly contributed to this and how the grand opening took place, we will tell in this article at bronx-trend.
BRONX MUSIC HERITAGE CENTER
In 2010, the Bronx Music Heritage Center was founded by WHEDco (Women’s Housing & Economic Development Corporation). Its main goal is to preserve and popularize Bronx music, support local artists, promote the revival of the cultural heritage of the area and offer a free cultural program for borough residents.
An outstanding creative heritage is concentrated in the Bronx because it was here that legendary musical compositions were created in genres such as jazz, salsa, doo-wop, rhythm and blues, hip-hop and the like.
Within the Bronx Music Heritage Center, many programs under the direction of the Music Advisory Board, which includes Grammy Award winners, music historians, artists and community representatives, have been implemented over these years. Live musical performances, festivals, literary readings, film screenings, educational art programs, exhibitions, art installations and excursions around the Bronx with an emphasis on the history of music are constantly held.
The center also cooperates with many organizations and citywide institutions. Among them are El Maestro Cultural Center, Casita Maria, Bronx River Art Center, BXArts Factory, Five Boro Story Project, City Lore, Garifuna Coalition, 52 People for Progress. Inc., the Duke Ellington Center for the Arts, the Bronx Documentary Center and the like.
The organization of each event began with the search for premises, selection of favorable rental conditions, agreements with transport companies on the transportation of equipment. It is quite inconvenient and costly. Therefore, the Bronx Music Heritage Center has recently put on the agenda the creation of its own separate space, which will enable it to solve several organizational issues at once.
PREREQUISITES FOR CREATION OF THE BRONX MUSIC HALL
Finally, the dream of the Bronx Music Hall acquired the features of reality. In 2017, WHEDco, which at one time created the Bronx Music Heritage Center, launched its new project, the construction of Bronx Commons at 438 East 163rd Street. This is the third multifunctional residential complex from WHEDco, designed to provide affordable housing. In addition to 305 housing units, the project of this complex included 26,700 square feet of space, where it was planned to arrange a trading venue and a recreation area.
During the next negotiations at WHEDco, it was decided to move the Bronx Music Heritage Center to the new complex, the leaders of which took advantage of a great opportunity and raised the issue of opening a separate space for any events on the Bronx Commons territory. The idea of Jazz at Lincoln Center, only with an emphasis not on jazz but on all the music of the Bronx, was taken as a foundation.
Elena Martínez, one of the Center’s artistic directors, compiled a list of more than 20 theaters and clubs that once operated in the Bronx but closed during its decline. These institutions together had more than 20,000 seats for live performances. Martínez also created the map of missing places that illustrates the history of migration and cultural change in the Bronx, where diverse communities such as Puerto Ricans, Jews, Irish, Bangladeshis, Cubans and African Americans brought their musical traditions. That presentation then impressed the WHEDco management because it clearly demonstrated the gradual loss of the cultural heritage of the district and emphasized the need to make real decisions to improve the situation.
MODERN MUSICAL SPACE
Therefore, an area of 14,000 square feet was allocated in the project of the new residential complex for the Bronx Music Hall, which became the first independent music institution in the area over the past 50 years. It aims to honor, display and develop the music, dance, theater and interdisciplinary arts in the Bronx. Construction and opening were severely hampered by the pandemic that began in 2019. After 5 years, the Bronx Music Hall was finally ready to open its doors.
This cultural center is intended for about 20,000 visitors and provides jobs for 60 people.
It is planned here to hold live musical performances, dances, lectures, music and dance lessons, theater master classes, activities for the youth orchestra, film screenings, art exhibitions and the like. The key goal of the institution is to promote educational and cultural partnerships, cooperate with numerous community organizations to engage Bronx residents in the art and support of cultural youth.
Bronx Music Hall has:
• a theater for 250 spectator seats;
• a spacious lobby;
• an exhibition hall;
• a dance studio;
• a green room for artists;
• a recording studio;
• halls for group and individual classes;
• a room for post-production;
• amphitheater for performances in the fresh air.
The Bronx Music Hall is the perfect place to meet the diverse needs of artists, spectators and students. The new Center will be led by Elena Martínez and Bobby Sanabria, nominated for several Grammy Awards.
GRAND OPENING OF THE BRONX MUSIC HALL
The opening of the Bronx Music Hall was made possible by a $2.6 million grant from the NDC Housing and Economic Development Corporation in the framework of the Empire State Development program. Eventually, all construction and preparatory works are over.
For the opening of the Bronx Music Hall, a rich three-day program was organized:
• October, 18.
The first day was led by WHEDco founder and president Nancy Biberman. Many government officials, patrons and art workers were invited. After the solemn cutting of the red ribbon and performances with speeches by distinguished guests, a surprise awaited everyone in the form of performances by hip-hop legends Grandmaster Caz and MC Sha-Rock, as well as bands of DJs Uptown Vinyl Supreme and Afro-Haitian band Kongo.
• October, 19.
This day the guests were waiting for the photo exhibition “The Place to Be: A Decade at the BMHC”. At 20:00, “Caribbean Sounds: New Orleans to The Bronx” program began featuring Bobby Sanabria Big Band Multiverse and guest artists such as Janis Siegel, Jennifer Jade Ledesna, Ricky Gordon and Antoinette Montague.
• October, 20.
The event “African Diaspora in the Bronx” was held with the participation of Yawuza Alhassan & the Wuza Wuza Ensemble and Grupo Maburuaña.
The Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. attended the opening. In his speech, he said: “With today’s opening of the Bronx Music Hall, we are laying the foundations for a new and creative landscape of our Borough. I was proud to contribute over half a million dollars as part of the wider Bronx Commons/Bronx Music Hall Project that is bringing the construction of 305 units of affordable housing, and community and retail spaces, that will serve to stimulate our local economy. In addition to the Bronx Music Hall’s catalog of offerings, these community initiatives will ensure that the Bronx is a hub for economic and artistic development for generations to come”.
Read the article about this politician and his ambitious plans for the upcoming elections here.
The current Bronx сounty president, Vanessa L. Gibson, was also at the event. She said:
“I am proud to celebrate a monumental milestone for the South Bronx with the grand opening of the Bronx Music Hall. This stunning 14,000-square-foot cultural hub will serve as a beacon of creativity, providing a stage for both established and emerging artists in our borough. I am incredibly proud to support this initiative, which not only enhances our cultural landscape but also strengthens our community. A special thank you to the Empire State Development, WHEDco, and everyone else who played a role in the opening of this space and support for our cultural ecosystem in the Bronx”.
Read the article about Vanessa L. Gibson and her path in politics here.
FIRST EVENTS AT THE BRONX MUSIC HALL
Despite the rather short history of the Bronx Music Hall existence, several interesting events have already been held here:
• Dance marathon of samba, hip-hop, bomb, flamenco and other styles;
• “Open microphone” for those who want to demonstrate their oratorical, poetic, musical or comedy talents;
• Dance evening “El Son y Su Esencia”;
• A documentary screening based on events in South Africa during archaeological excavations.
Many new events as well as Christmas and New Year activities have also been announced.
On New Year’s Eve, everyone can meet each other at the Bronx Music Hall at an incendiary party to welcome the New Year in a fun company.
