This is an edited version of a press release

MEDFIELD, Mass.

Following years of historic-house restoration and national fundraising campaigns, the birthplace of one of America’s most influential musical figures will soon be transformed into a space for music education in Medfield. The plan is for it to open in 2027.

Lowell Mason (1792-1872) was responsible for introducing music as a subject to be taught in public schools at a time when this was unheard of. Mason famously said: “Children should be taught music as they are taught to read.” He paid from his own funds for the first-year trial program in Boston schools in 1836, and when this became a great success, other schools followed suit.

Mason also composed and arranged thousands of popular hymns, including “Joy to the World" and “Nearer My God to Thee,’’ as well as publishing many of America’s earliest hymn books and musical instruction manuals.

In 2011, Mason’s birthplace was saved from being razed by the concerned citizens of Medfield. The Lowell Mason House foundation was formed, and the house was moved nearby in Medfield and preserved to become a public place for music-making and musical education. This effort is now close to being accomplished, with multiple practice rooms, a library and the acquisition of the last Mason and Hamlin grand piano made under Mason family ownership all coming together.

“This has become a labor of love not only for local residents but also for those affiliated with music education advocacy at the state and national levels,” says Thomas Reynolds, executive director of the Lowell Mason House.

“We are now embarking upon the Lowell Mason House ‘Fund-to-the-Finish’ campaign with the goal of opening the center to the public in 2027. We encourage all those who love music and value music education for children and adults to visit the Lowell Mason House website to learn more and to consider supporting our final push to completion.”

The Lowell Mason House foundation is excited to be working this summer in an advisory capacity with a class that is a part of the Boston University Arts Administration Graduate Program. The class will be researching potential individual and corporate/foundation prospects as well as advising on the Lowell Mason House fundraising plan.

“In working together, we hope to help the leadership of the Lowell Mason House advance its fundraising efforts and demonstrate to students the opportunities and challenges experienced by nonprofit leaders in raising funds,” says Mary Doorley-Simboski, an ACFRE (Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive) and faculty member conducting the class.

The board of the Lowell Mason House is eager to receive input from Ms. Doorley-Simboski and her class. “Small volunteer non-profits, such as ours, do not have the resources to hire a staff of professionals, so the opportunity to have a group of people passionate about arts and arts administration to assist us with this effort is fantastic,” says Reynolds.

This summer has been particularly important for the Lowell Mason House as another unique opportunity has presented itself to the group. A direct descendent of Lowell Mason, Will Mason, currently an associate professor of music at Wheaton College, in Norton, Mass., will be taking a new position as associate professor of music at Skidmore College, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Professor Mason contacted us because he owns the Mason Family piano and is willing to part with it.

This grand piano was manufactured by Mason & Hamlin in 1929 while under family ownership and made for Henry Mason, Lowell Mason’s grandson. Mason family friends Sergei Rachmaninoff, a famous Russian composer, conductor and pianist, and French composer Maurice Ravel were both huge advocates of Mason & Hamlin pianos, specifically requesting them when planning solo performances.

“The opportunity to acquire the Mason Family piano at this time, adding it to our collection of Lowell Mason handwritten music and other personal items, is incredibly timely as we make our final fundraising push,” says Reynolds.

Information about the Lowell Mason House and its “Fund-to-the-Finish” campaign can be found at this link.

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