Indian Mountain School unveils new performing arts center

LAKEVILLE — The Indian Mountain School officially opened a new performance space last week.

The new Qianxun Performing Arts Center is where the old gym used to be.

It seats 290 people and the acoustics are excellent — not anything like an echoey gym.

On Saturday evening, Feb. 1, the school was celebrating the Lunar New Year. It is the Year of the Snake.

Students surged to and fro, most of them decked out in Chinese garb — brocaded silk jackets and the like.

Danny Tieger, Director of Performing Arts at the school, showed a reporter the spacious backstage area and noted that the seating is retractable, which provides maximum flexibility for different uses.

Before Saturday’s lineup of Lunar New Year performances, Sarah Smith, Assistant Head of School for External Relations, took the stage to thank the major donor, Limin Kong, and her daughter Qianxun “Tiffany” Zhao — IMS class of 2023 — for whom the facility is named.

Smith said that Limin Kong is a former Indian Mountain School parent and trustee.

“And even a faculty member when she stepped in to teach Mandarin for a term.”

Her daughter, Qianxun Zhao, is a student and musician at Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.

“What was once an old gym has been reimagined into a space where creativity will flourish, where our students will find their voices, and where they will develop lasting friendships,” said Smith.