Rider University Announces $3 Million Gift for Westminster Choir College

Westminster Choir College of Rider University has been awarded $3 million from the Henry L. Hillman Foundation of Pittsburgh, Penn. to help build a $7.5 million new academic and performance building. 

The building will contain a 3,000-square-foot performance and rehearsal hall, lobby, green room and three classrooms to accommodate academic and choral uses. 

The College performance portion of the new building will be named The Hillman Performing Arts Center in honor of Westminster alumna Elsie Hillman. It will be part of Marion Buckelew Cullen Hall, named for the philanthropist who has contributed a planned gift to Westminster and to the overall project.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Foundation and to our good friends, Elsie and Henry Hillman, for their generous support of this important project,” said Rider University President Mordechai Rozanski. “The construction of the new building will greatly enhance the Westminster Choir College campus by providing significantly better teaching, learning, and performance spaces for our students and faculty. It also positions Westminster for continued success in the future.” 

The new building will be located beside The Playhouse, creating a new quadrangle and courtyard that will be a primary outdoor venue for Westminster events.  

“This is one of the largest gifts in Westminster’s history," said Robert Annis, dean and director of Westminster Choir College. "We are grateful to Elsie and Henry Hillman for their vision and continued support of Westminster and its programs.  This is especially meaningful since Elsie Hillman is a member of the Talbott family, which helped found and nurture Westminster Choir College.”  

When added to prior commitments, the Hillman gift brings the total raised for the project to approximately $4.2 million in current gifts and pledges. The total anticipated cost for the building is $7.5 million.

The University will present concepts for campus development, including this project, to the Princeton Regional Planning Board.