Matthew Hileman, manager of the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center, looks over an exhibit at the facility on Tuesday afternoon. The museum marks its first anniversary Sunday.
In about a year’s time, thousands of visitors –– some local and others international –– have gained an appreciation for opera in downtown Bradford.
The Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center will celebrate its first anniversary Sunday, and since then, the museum and events held at Marilyn Horne Hall have brought in almost 3,200 people.
The museum features costumes, personal artifacts and interactive exhibits relating to Horne, considered one of the greatest mezzo-sopranos. She was born in Bradford in 1934 and served as a leading women for 26 years at the Metropolitan Opera and spent 39 seasons at the San Francisco Opera.
“(The first year) went really great, honestly, considering our location and what a small place we are,” said Matthew Hileman, manager of the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center on Marilyn Horne Way.
A majority of visitors to the museum are from Bradford, he said. However, others have come from Las Angeles, British Columbia, Germany and Switzerland.
“The museum is an important part of Bradford,” Hileman said. “Museums really make for a rich community. They really make our communities a better place.”
The museum is also shining the spotlight on Bradford, Hileman said. There could be a time when someone visits the museum who wants to open a business or move to the city.
“That is the mission of the museum –– to further the art of opera and bring it to the broadest audience,” he said.
As people tour the museum, they are taking a liking to the costumes, which can be seen through the windows at the museum. And people are also surprised just how interactive the museum is; there are 19 interactive areas, Hileman said.
“You listen. You touch. You push the button. You generally get involved with the process,” he said. “What I love about it, is that Marilyn is the one really giving you the tour. It’s her talking all throughout.”
Students are also touring the museum. Bradford-area students have gone through the museum, and a group from Ridgway will visit this week.
“We really started advertising in earnest,” Hileman said. “We did a big ad in Opera News in April, which of course is an international audience, so it’s really putting Bradford on the map.”
Looking ahead, he said a June 9 event in the parking lot of Marilyn Horne Hall will feature a brass quintet from Washington, D.C., performing ragtime and early 20th century music. Food and vendors will also be on site.
What’s more, he said he would love to see a school bus and/or tour bus pull up to the museum every day.
“That is our community engagement. That is our way for Pitt to really draw tourists that would bring business to downtown. People will want to go to restaurants and shop on Main Street, ” Hileman said.
He said he also wants to expand the gift store into the lobby area.
“I’m just so excited. The year has flown by. This is really just the tip of the iceberg for us,” Hileman said.
In addition to the museum, the building includes a café that serves Starbucks, a gift shop and an assembly room.
For more information about Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center, see http://www.marilynhorne.org/ or call 814-362-7990.
