New Music Campus at Sleeping Lady Supports Unique Approach to Conferences And Expanded Educational, Performance Programming

Groundbreaking April 16, 2001;
Phase I Construction To Be Completed Spring 2002

LEAVENWORTH, Wash. - A haven for musical inspiration is about to rise at the mouth of Icicle Canyon.

Representatives from Sleeping Lady, a mountain conference retreat, and the non-profit Icicle Creek Music Center will break ground at 5 p.m. April 16, 2001, on Phase I of a five-acre music campus on the Sleeping Lady site.

The two organizations have partnered for the last seven years on facilities and programming to produce professional music performances and educational opportunities, including Icicle Creek's Chamber Music Festival and associated student Chamber Institute.

The new campus will support expansion of music programming throughout the year and enable Icicle Creek to offer greater educational and performing resources to the region.

"Expansion of our programming fills an unmet need for both audiences and serious students in the region," says Icicle Creek co-founder Scott Hosfeld.

Patterned after joint efforts between arts programming and conference facilities at locations such as the acclaimed Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada, the campus will also contribute to the unique approach Sleeping Lady takes to conference management.

"Our approach to effective meetings emphasizes sensitivity to the environment and recognition of the value of music, art and good conversation to productivity," says Harriet Bullitt, Sleeping Lady founder.

Scheduled for completion in Spring 2002, the first phase of the music campus will include:

• A 3,000-square-foot recital hall, seating 80, for performances, recordings and rehearsals.
• Two 340-square-foot ensemble rooms. One ensemble room will double as a greenroom for artists appearing on the Arrowhead outdoor stage; the other will double as a greenroom for the Recital Hall.
• Two 90-square-foot practice rooms, which will allow individual artists to practice in a private, soundproof area.
• Five 400-square-foot housing units. The housing units will be flexible in design to accommodate students, Sleeping Lady guests or family-oriented living arrangements for resident artists or faculty. Two will include kitchenettes.
• Renovated Icicle Creek Music Center offices in the Hermit Thrush building.
• Elements discussed for Phase II include two additional ensemble rooms, 10 additional solo practice rooms, additional housing units and support buildings.

The new facilities will support a spectrum of programming, from artist residencies to retreats for area universities, as well as performances by the resident ensemble, the Kairos Quartet, and visiting guest artists.

Infrastructure for the campus includes fiber-optic cable connecting to a T-1 line, allowing expansion of technology and Internet resources of the facility. Energy-efficient cooling systems for the major buildings will use innovative water-source heat pumps.

The new campus buildings are designed by Jones & Jones architects, the Seattle firm that designed Sleeping Lady's conference facilities. The music campus buildings will have a unique look while retaining the environmentally sensitive construction techniques and appearance that are the signature of Sleeping Lady.

Media Advisory:

Media interested in covering the groundbreaking ceremonies should RSVP to Vicki White of Icicle Creek Music Center, (509) 548-6347. Media will be escorted to the correct location in the meadow from the Sleeping Lady office.

Location: Grove of trees in the meadow west of the main campus. Rain location is the Tadpole Building.

Schedule: Beginning at 5 p.m.

Ground blessing by Cold Mountain Indian Drum Group (10 min.)

Remarks by Johnpaul Jones, Jones & Jones Architects; Harriet Bullitt, Sleeping Lady; and Scott Hosfeld, Icicle Creek Music Center (10 min)

Performance by Icicle Creek student string trio (Chase Grebb, Alex Baldock and Meredith Hunnicutt) (5 min.)

Groundbreaking (Jones, Bullitt, Hosfeld, and Marcia Kaufmann, Icicle Creek Music Center)

About Sleeping Lady:

Sleeping Lady is a year-round conference retreat nestled on 67 acres beside Icicle Creek on the sunny eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains. Surrounded and softened by nature, the retreat offers guests a conference experience that enhances communication and encourages creative thinking. Named after the mountain profile above, Sleeping Lady provides extraordinary meals, naturally elegant lodging and full conference services in a casual environment.

More information is available at www.sleepinglady.com

About Icicle Creek: