The Boogie Down Continues in a New Concert Venue
The $15.4 million and 14,000-square-foot Bronx Music Hall hosts its grand opening weekend beginning this Friday, bringing a new wave of music and culture to the community.
A New Era for Music in the Bronx
The Bronx Music Hall is located in Morrisania and features a 250-seat performance theater, a lobby and exhibition hall, a recording studio and post-production room. Two adjacent plazas with amphitheater-style seating provide outdoor performance spaces, while youth and adults can participate in music and dance classes.
A Borough Once Packed with Performance Spaces
The Bronx Music Hall is one of just a handful of concert halls in the borough, joining the Lehman College Performing Arts Center. It complements Bronx Commons, a $165 million development that includes 305 units of subsidized housing, 26,500 sq.ft. of retail space, a 150-seat 3-K and pre-K school, and a community support and training center. Construction began in 2017.
A Vision Born Over a Decade Ago
The idea of the Bronx Music Hall began at a Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) staff meeting over a decade ago. Founder Nancy Biberman invited Fordham University professor and Bronx historian Mark Naison to discuss the concept.
Uncovering the Lost Music Venues of the Bronx
WHEDco staff conducted research and created a document called "Lost Music Venues of The Bronx." The study revealed that over 20,000 seats for live music had been lost in the South Bronx.
The Golden Era of Music in the Bronx
The South Bronx was once a musical hub, with a "subway circuit" where performers honed their skills before taking their shows on the road. The Bronx Opera House Hotel, which hosted a succession of nightclubs, was a popular spot.
From the 845 Jazz Club to the Concourse Plaza Hotel
According to Grammy-nominated percussionist and composer Bobby Sanabria, who grew up in the Bronx, "You’re talking about places like the Concourse Plaza Hotel, which is right across from Yankee Stadium. They had a ballroom there, and major salsa dances would happen there."
The Tragic Fate of the South Bronx
Sanabria remembers the devastating effects of the 1970s arson wave, which ravaged the borough. "What kind of entertainment is that for a kid? And then you hear the freakish sound of — the constant sound of fire trucks running through the streets."
Erasing the Stigma
Sanabria wants people to understand the rich cultural heritage and talent born and existing in the borough. "We hope to be part of that linchpin that helps to erase and eradicate that negative history and image that we have."
Grand Opening Weekend
The Bronx Music Hall’s grand opening weekend will feature performances by Kongo, the Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band, and Grupo Maburuaña, among others. Sanabria and Elena Martínez, co-artistic directors at WHEDco’s Bronx Music Heritage Center, will curate programming at the new venue.
FAQs
Q: What is the Bronx Music Hall?
A: The Bronx Music Hall is a new concert venue and cultural center in Morrisania, Bronx.
Q: What amenities does the venue offer?
A: The venue features a 250-seat performance theater, a lobby and exhibition hall, a recording studio and post-production room, and two adjacent plazas with outdoor performance spaces.
Q: When does the grand opening weekend take place?
A: The grand opening weekend begins this Friday.
Q: Who curates programming at the new venue?
A: Sanabria and Elena Martínez, co-artistic directors at WHEDco’s Bronx Music Heritage Center, will curate programming at the new venue.
