Facilities

Ryan Center for the Musical Arts

Opened in 2015, the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts is situated on the lakefront and integrates completely with Regenstein Hall of Music, with two connections between the buildings on each of Regenstein’s three levels. The Ryan Center’s three performance venues include the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall, Shirley Welsh Ryan Opera Theater, and David and Carol McClintock Choral and Recital Room.

Designed by Chicago-based architectural firm Goettsch Partners, the design features a limestone base supporting an exterior that is primarily glass, taking maximum advantage of the site’s lakefront location and views of the Chicago skyline.

Practice Spaces

All practice rooms in the Ryan Center are accessible only by music majors in the Bienen School. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Most practice rooms can be reserved in advance via a weekly sign-up sheet posted outside each room, though some rooms may only be reserved in advance for specific purposes.

Practice rooms are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors and are available 7 a.m. to midnight seven days a week.

All practice rooms require a registered HID-enabled WildCARD for access. Please contact musicfacilities@northwestern.edu with questions about practice rooms and card access.

Additional Practice Room Information

Hours of Operation

Administrative Offices
Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Practice Rooms
Mon-Sun, 7 a.m. to 12 midnight

Building Access Hours
Mon-Fri,  7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sat-Sun hours vary depending on scheduled activities

Note: These hours are during academic year; summer and holidays may differ. Access outside these hours is by WildCARD only.

Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

Since its inception in 1975, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall has functioned as both a classroom and performance facility for Bienen School of Music performing ensembles, faculty recitals, festivals, and professional guest artists. The hall’s stage canopy, wall panels, and sound curtains can each be arranged and adjusted according to the type and size of the forces performing.

Pick-Staiger Concert Hall seats 989 guests and wheelchair accessible seats (16) are located on the ends of rows G and H. The main entrance for concerts is located on the west side of the building, while the ticket office is located at the southeast entrance.

Hours of Operation

Business Office Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ticket Office
Mon-Fri: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The ticket counter at each venue opens 45 minutes before the start of each performance.

Regenstein Hall of Music

Practice Rooms

Regenstein Hall contains 38 practice rooms, which are available to music majors as well as non-majors who have registered for Bienen School lessons and/or an ensemble. Rooms are available 7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week on a first-come, first-serve basis.

All practice rooms require a registered HID-enabled WildCARD to access, and students’ WildCARDs are programmed with different access to certain rooms depending on each student’s area of study. Please contact musicfacilities@northwestern.edu with questions about practice rooms and card access.

Additional Practice Room Information

Hours of Operation

University Bands Office (Ground Floor)
Mon - Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Practice Rooms (1st Floor)
7 a.m. to 12 midnight