Music from an old school

Monday, Sept. 29, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.

The nonprofit Nevada School of the Arts last month moved into its first real “home” in the 31 years it has existed. It is a tenant of the historic Fifth Street School in downtown Las Vegas.

A $9.5 million renovation of the former grammar school built in 1936 was recently completed as part of Las Vegas’ redevelopment efforts.

Las Vegas Sun reporter Kristen Peterson visited the arts school last week and found children rehearsing for a violin performance. She found room for classes in music theory, space for recitals, a courtyard for small events and three baby grand pianos and a piano lab whose cost was covered by a local philanthropist.

Students of the arts school — enrollment is about 300 — are trained in classical music by 37 part- and full-time teachers, many of whom perform with the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra.

It is a school offering opportunity for children from varied backgrounds. All that is required, from toddlers to high schoolers, is an interest in music.

Our view is that this is a fabulous use for the historic building, which served many years as a site for government offices. It has spent time abandoned and at least once was considered for demolition.

“We’ve always had the students and a wonderful faculty, but we’ve never had the home to take it further. It’s all coming forward now,” Shakeh Ghoukasian, dean of the school and a violinist, told Peterson.

For its section of the building, the school pays only a nominal rent. This will allow it to grow and provide even more opportunity for Southern Nevada children.

The city’s vision for this school is coming into focus, and it is clearly a good one.