The Community Music Center of Boston (CMCB) is preparing to relocate its headquarters to the historic Nubian Gallery building in Roxbury while continuing to offer music instruction at its longtime South End location. The renovated facility will include classrooms, music studios, a performance hall, a recording studio, and community gathering spaces, with construction expected to finish in late 2026 and a full opening planned for January 2027.
Founded in 1910, CMCB provides music education, music therapy, and youth employment programs to approximately 2,500 students each week through lessons and partnerships with schools and community organizations. Zach Sheets, CMCB’s chief advancement officer, said the new headquarters will increase the organization’s capacity by at least 50%, allowing it to serve more than 7,000 unique students annually while maintaining programming in both Roxbury and the South End.
The project is funded through a combination of private philanthropy, federal and state historic tax credits, and $22 million in New Markets Tax Credits. BlueHub Capital contributed $10 million of the tax credit allocation, with additional support from the National Community Investment Fund and TD Community Development Corporation. Connie Max, chief credit officer and president of BlueHub Managed Assets, said arts organizations often fall outside traditional financing models, making the New Markets Tax Credit program an important source of affordable funding for community-focused projects.
