Music Academy cancels May Madness event

BY ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Music Academy of the West administrators are scrapping plans to hold the annual May Madness event this year due to construction and landscaping work as the academy renovates its main recital facility.
Typically held on the first Saturday in May, the massive yard and estate sale serves as a fundraiser for the music academy and has taken place for the past 32 years. However, the renovation of Hahn Hall and associated construction impacts forced administrators to acknowledge the campus will be unable to accommodate a throng of shoppers this May.

“There’s just no way given what’s happening on campus,” said Tim Dougherty, communications manager for the music academy. “…Given the number of people who participate, finding another location to hold this would be next to impossible.”
Academy officials said they are not accepting donations for future May Madness sales at this time.
The renovation of Hahn Hall is scheduled for completion in June and will include improved acoustics, sightlines, and bathroom facilities, in addition to a remodeled lobby, ticket office and driveway.
Dougherty said any decision concerning future May Madness events has not been made. He said he hopes word about the cancellation gets out to the community so the academy won’t have to turn away shoppers in May.
“That’s how popular and ingrained it is locally,” he said. “A lot of people just assume it’s happening.”