Hamilton House still in the game

For the past nine months we recognize we have had an opportunity to fulfill a challenge given by the county and take action on a vision. When ZoeAnn Thruman led her neighborhood coalition to acquire more time before the demolition of the Hamilton House, a challenge was offered by the county to provide a purpose for the house. Our effort to create a Music Conservatory is the answer to that challenge. This quest has led us to many discoveries.

We are not doing this because we just want a music school. We are doing this because studies have proven that the integration of arts and culture in a city raise the economy from 7-25%. We are doing this because we want to collaborate with all music entities in the Inland Northwest: the symphonies, the youth orchestras, the opera and school programs. We want to promote mentoring, share faculty and performances with the college and other conservatories. One of our greatest inspirations is the Sandpoint Conservatory who are teaching close to 500 students, some of which are traveling from CDA north for music education.

This pursuit is not about a house, it’s about progress. We hope to see an influential arts and culture center in the city and a symbol of learning in the neighborhood. We want the music to be the stimulus for focused youth, participating in ensembles that will be the product of their study, accountable and prepared. The programs will save the public tax dollars as the conservatory drives community development. It will be a place of tradition for Friday night concerts and holiday events. History will continue, remembering musicians that performed in the Hamilton House and cultural literacy prevailed.

Currently Bonners County exceeds our own in a study on art-vibrant communities by SMU DataArts, (https://culturaldata.org/arts-vibrancy-2020/executive-summary/) with Sandpoint’s Conservatory and its music festival. Hailey, Idaho, exceeds us all as it makes its debut in the top 10 small cities with a historical home they purchased 15 years ago and is their arts and cultural center. The study shows that art-vibrant communities excel because of government support. We know this to be true, seeing that the county has created a public bid to purchase the house with deed restrictions for a music conservatory or other non-profit entity. We look forward to working with the city of CDA and enhance the arts programs they have.

Coming up with the funds has been an immense task with COVID and such considerable uncertainty for the future. Yet, something tells us to not give up, for this is something that will foster peace and create inspiration. It takes dollars to buy the house, renovate it, and build the programs; every dollar helps. We have a website that you can go to to donate: www.cdaconservatory.org, or send a check made out to Music Conservatory of CDA and mail to 10507 N. Strahorn, Hayden, ID 83835. If you have questions please email info@cdaconservatory.org. We are still in the game to see the Hamilton House become a music conservatory!

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Julienne Dance is a founder for the Music Conservatory of Coeur d'Alene.