Award-winning musical artist Quincy Jones was honored Friday at the dedication of Garfield High School’s Quincy Jones Performance Center. The newly renovated Garfield High School opened its doors to students on September 3, 2008. Highlights of the historic renovation include expanded classrooms, an overall design that supports learning and teaching and the newly dedicated state-of-the-art performance center. “We are proud and honored to have Garfield’s performance center named after a musical visionary that Time magazine named as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century,” said Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D. “Quincy Jones is not only a musical luminary whose award-winning career encompasses so many roles and accolades, he is also a graduate of Garfield High School and of Seattle Public Schools. This performance center will stand as testament to both Mr. Jones’ many prestigious accomplishments and to Garfield High School’s long-standing commitment to the arts.” Graduating from Garfield High School in 1950, Jones has received international recognition for his roles as composer, record producer, artist, film producer, arranger, conductor, TV producer, author, record company executive, TV station owner, magazine founder and humanitarian. His numerous awards include an Emmy, seven Academy Award nominations, 27 Grammy Awards, a record 79 Grammy nominations, induction as a “Kennedy Center Honoree,” and most recently recognition by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master, the nation’s highest jazz honor. The Quincy Jones Performance Center encompasses a brand new auditorium that seats 592 and state-of-the-art sound, lighting and rigging systems. The performance center also includes a new gymnasium which features bleacher capacity for 1,800 people, three regulation basketball or volleyball courts, a built-in sound system and the ability to accommodate gymnastics competition. The $107.4 million renovation of Garfield High School began in summer 2006 and was made possible by the Building Excellence II (BEX II) capital levy, approved by voters in Feb. 2001. Over the past several years, Seattle Public Schools has been able to strengthen its arts offerings by partnering with the City of Seattle, arts organizations, and community members passionate about ensuring students have arts opportunities. Most recently, Seattle Public Schools was awarded a $1 million grant from the Department of Education in partnership with Arts Impact. Teachers at five schools will be trained over the next three years on how to effectively integrate the arts into learning and teaching academic subjects.
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