Rendering of the new design coming to 901 State Street. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Charcuterie and champagne was provided at the event. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
The building, that once housed Forever 21, was filled with conversation as guests, including Supervisor Roy Lee, filled the room. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Mayoral candidate and City Councilmember Eric Friedman. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Those in attendance were encouraged to write who their muse is on a note and paste it to the wall. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Mayoral candidate and City Councilmember Kristen Sneddon. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
It was a full house at the groundbreaking, with many left standing in the wings. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Alvise Pascucci played the piano in accompaniment for both Byron J. Mayes and the Sing! Youth Choir. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
The Sing! Youth Choir captivated audience members with models projecting the future of the building around them. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Cheryl Goldberg, The Muse founding contributor and Music Academy of the West Boardmember, speaks to a full house. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Graduate of the Music Academy of the West Byron J. Mayes performed “Largo al factotum” from II barbiere di Siviglia. | Credit Elaine Sanders 
Model depicting the future rooftop of 901 State Street. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Shauna Quill, President and CEO of the Music Academy of the West. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
The indoor ground breaking of The Muse. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Robin Elander, Executive Director of the Downtown Santa Barbara Improvement Association. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Cheryl Goldberg, The Muse founding contributor and Music Academy of the West Boardmember. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Members of the Sing! Youth Choir performed “Be like the bird”. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Graduate of the Music Academy of the West Byron J. Mayes performed “Largo al factotum” from II barbiere di Siviglia. | Credit Elaine Sanders 
Guests got to see models of what the building they were standing in would be transformed into. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
The indoor ground breaking of The Muse. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Guests got to see models of what the building they were standing in would be transformed into. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Guests got to see models of what the building they were standing in would be transformed into. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Members of the Sing! Youth Choir performed “Be like the bird”. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Guests got to see models of what the building they were standing in would be transformed into. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Model of what The Muse will look like once construction is complete. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Members of the Sing! Youth Choir performed “Be like the bird”. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Model of the interior spaces of 901 State Street. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
Guests envisioned what the new ground floor would look like with renderings of future construction. | Credit: Elaine Sanders 
901 State Street, the new home for The Muse. | Credit: Elaine Sanders
On Thursday night, hundreds gathered to break ground on The Muse, a music hall and education center in the heart of Santa Barbara. The Music Academy of the West bought the building located at 901 State Street in June of last year, with the help from philanthropist and Music Academy Boardmember Cheryl Goldberg, who donated $20 million to the center.
Guests sipped champagne and listened to performances by baritone Byron J. Mayes — a graduate of Music Academy of the West — and Sing! Youth Choir, who performed on the staircase underneath the palm tree appliqué left behind from former tenant Forever 21.
Models and renderings designed by architect Lawrence Scarpa of Brooks Scarpa Huber lined the cavernous hall, bringing to life the performance hall, rehearsal rooms, teaching studios, and gathering spaces that will be used for year-round music education on State Street.
For more information about the project, scheduled to open in 2028, see musicacademy.org/the-muse.
