Music Compound showcases new location at Back to School Bash

By Ian Swaby
| 6:30 p.m. August 24, 2024

Silvanna Escobar, 17, Jersey Baldini, 15 and Harper Weyant, 15 of The Heartbreakers, perform on stage.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Music Compound may have just moved its Sarasota location to a new site on Bell Road, but that didn't stop the music school from hosting its annual Back to School Bash Aug. 24.

During the event, the school had the chance to showcase not only the talents of students, who performed in their bands onstage, but also the new facility, operational as of Aug. 12 following the move on Aug. 9.

At 10,000 square feet, the new space is an increase in size from the previous 5,500 square feet, and offers new features including additional study space, a larger stage and a parent lounge.

Although the auditorium itself is smaller, Music Compound owner Jenny Townsend said it will fill to the level that concerts require.

"There's a lot more opportunities because we can fit more people in here, and everyone is so collaborative in here," said Sophie Emmons, 14, said of the space.

"It's opened my eyes to see how much Music Compound has grown," said student Harper Weyant, 15. "It's like everything that you would want... and it's great that we have concerts and, for example, the Back to School Bash, so that newer people or bands can show people what they've been practicing."

Jersey Baldini, 15 performs with The Heartbreakers

Captain Banjo Bob, one of the original Music Compound instructors from 2016, was able to meet instructor Iain Harris.

Sophia Emmons, 14, plays drums with The Heartbreakers.

Leo Stuart, 3 and Cash Radcliffe, 4, enjoy the party atmosphere.

Brandon Byrd, 4, and his brother Brady Byrd, 3, brush the teeth of a crocodile at the stand of Give Me a Smile, a new pediatric dental office on Fruitville Road.

Milan Cantero, 15 and Andrew Basler, 15 perform with Solar Apocalypse.

Luc Drage, 13 and Sophia Emmons, 14, perform with Solar Apocalypse.

Avi Sigal-Verier, 8 and his brother Joah Sigal-Verier, 6, successfully open a box in an activity by Mysterium Escape Room.

Music Compound owner Jenny Townsend was able to talk with Tom Bell and his wife Cheryl Bell. The building's location, Bell Road, is named for the celery farm of Tom Bell's grandfather, Tom J. Bell, that originally occupied Celery Fields. Tom Bell and Townsend's father-in-law Jack Townsend are also childhood friends.

Levi Schwartz, 9, plays the guitar in the music lounge.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.