$10 million dollar gift presented to MU for student music building

A Missouri music lover gave $10 million to the University of Missouri to help fund a state-of-the-art student music building on the MU campus.

Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield from Westphalia donated the money for the building project. It’s the largest amount ever given to the MU Fine Arts Department.

Right now, the School of Music has classes in five different buildings.

The new building would house all of those classes as well as give students a new recital hall and practice space.

The project will also include remodeling of the existing fine arts building that houses the theater and art departments.

“This is a moment in time which I truly appreciate. Gift announcements like this come along every now and then and this one is so special for so many reasons. The givers, the recipients, the motivation, the vision, are all very special,” said Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin.

The entire project is expected to cost around $74 million. MU administrators said they hope to receive state funds and other private donations to complete the project.

Construction will begin in 2016.