Concert Hall progress on display at open house

The St. Johns County Cultural Events Division is cordially inviting Historic City News readers to an Open House at the new Ponte Vedra Concert Hall on Thursday, December 2nd, 6:00 – 8:30 pm.

The evening will include music by local performers, refreshments and light Hors D’oeuvres.

The Open House provides an opportunity for the community and general public to view the progress being made at the Concert Hall; formerly the New Beginnings Baptist Church property off SR-A1A and located at 105 Cornerstone Drive in Ponte Vedra Beach.

The County is in the second phase of construction and will be installing all sound, staging and other operative equipment during the next few months.

“This part of the entertainment business is doing well across the country, especially in this corner of the state,” the assistant general manager of county cultural events said in a previously published report. “It was time for the county to give back to Ponte Vedra Beach.”

The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is a new performing arts facility that will feature national and international performing artists and an array of activities, concerts and community gatherings.

The new facility offers dressing rooms, a visual arts lobby, catering facilities and bar, convention and meeting space, wedding facilities, private recitals and many other rental options in addition to the performance space.

In published reports from the summer of 2009, Troy Blevins, county parks and recreation director, said “The concert hall should generate between $100,000 and $200,000 a year — and should pay for itself after the first year.” Events at the Concert Hall will be managed by the St. Johns County Cultural Events Division, which also manages the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.

Although the renovation and opening date for the concert hall has already been pushed back twice, county staff is now anticipating the formal opening of the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall to be in February 2011. A listing of upcoming events is expected to be ready by the end of this year.

A variety of volunteer opportunities will be available at the Concert Hall, including membership in the Friends of the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall group.