News and Events : News 06-07

NMH Alumni and Parents
Honor Music Teacher

GILL, MA—Several alumni and parents at NMH have pooled their resources and raised $1.5 million to name a new rehearsal hall in The Rhodes Center for the Arts after Sheila Heffernon, the performing arts chair, and director of the music program. The surprise announcement to name the Choral Rehearsal Hall, dubbed the “jewel box,” was made at a dinner in her honor the evening before the May 20 113th Concert of Sacred Music, which was the 25th Sacred Concert Heffernon conducted. She was overcome with emotion when she learned of the gift in her name.

The idea to name the jewel box came from former Head of School Dick Unsworth and his wife Joy Unsworth, both graduates of the class of 1945. Several donors joined the Unsworths at Sacred Concert to honor Heffernon: trustee Barbara Freedman ’66, former trustee John and Carol Pflug ’56, Keith Gray ’74, trustee Cathy Masie ’81, Bill Rowe ’83, Lenice Krull Hirschberger ’50, and the parents of an NMH student, John and Janet Irving. Donors who could not be present are Lenice Hirschberger ’50, Mark Chardack ’73 (chair of the board of trustees), trustee James Bennett ’65, and The Beveridge Foundation. An endowment fund has been established in Heffernon’s name for others who wish to take part.

“This idea came from longtime NMH community members who inspired others to join in with them,” says Chief Advancement Officer Allyson Goodwin, a graduate of the class of 1983. “The naming honors a fantastic program, an excellent teacher, and a wonderful school.”

Ground was broken for The Rhodes Center for the Arts in the fall of 2006. It is expected to be completed in the fall of 2008.

Contact: Kate Snyder, 413-498-3357 or ksnyder@nmhschool.org.

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