Blab Music
Western Illinois Universitys Goldfarb Center to Open September 2026, Backed by Alumni McCains Donation
Western Illinois University (WIU) is poised to unveil its new Goldfarb Center for the Performing Arts in September 2026, a milestone that follows a 20‑year journey of planning and fundraising. Named after former university president Alvin Goldfarb, the center will serve not only the Macomb campus but also the surrounding city and the wider Western Illinois region.
The announcement of the center’s opening comes on the heels of a significant contribution from alumni Claudia and Jim McCain. Claudia, a former faculty member in WIU’s School of Music, earned her master’s degree in Music Education/Piano from the university in 1979 and joined the faculty in 1988 as director of the Music Business program. Over her 19‑year tenure, she expanded the program from a nascent curriculum into a nationally recognized offering and retired in 2007, remaining active in the university community.
The McCains’ donation will fund the naming of the control room in the Great Hall of the new center and will be accompanied by continued support of the Jim and Claudia McCain Music Business Scholarship. The scholarship and the state‑of‑the‑art live‑sound environment created by the donation will give students in the Music Business program hands‑on learning opportunities that were previously unavailable.
"The arts are WIU’s best‑kept secret," the McCains said in a joint statement. "The music program is still producing amazing results," Claudia added. "The new center will provide professional‑level performance opportunities that are currently unavailable to students and community members because of the campus’s rural location."
The Goldfarb Center will feature a Great Hall with a dedicated control room, a theater space, and rehearsal rooms. According to WIU news releases, the center’s inaugural season will be titled "A Season of Joy" and will include performances by the QC Symphony Orchestra, theatrical productions, illusionists, and educational programming. Director Anne Lefter has selected a lineup that aims to celebrate the center’s opening and to showcase the breadth of the performing arts.
The university’s Office of University Communications highlighted that the center’s success will depend on community support. "The more funding that is given, the more enriching the experiences in this building will be for the students learning in it," the McCains said. They also expressed hope that their gift will inspire other donors to contribute.
WIU’s College of Fine Arts and Communications (COFAC) has been involved in the project since its inception. The Goldfarb Center will be a landmark facility on the Macomb campus and will serve as a cultural hub for the university and the region.
Students, faculty and staff have expressed gratitude for the support. "We hope that our gift provides educational opportunities for students as well as inspires others to make a financial commitment," the McCains said.
The center will also host community events and will be accessible to the public. WIU’s Performing Arts Society plans to use the Great Hall for its annual gala, which will include a dinner and entertainment. The society’s gala will also announce the naming of the control room.
The Goldfarb Center’s opening follows a long development period that began in the early 2000s. The facility is expected to enhance the university’s ability to attract students, faculty and performers. It will also provide a venue for regional artists and touring productions.
In addition to the control room donation, the McCains will continue to support the Jim and Claudia McCain Music Business Scholarship, which is available to students in the School of Music.
The center’s opening is scheduled for September 2026. The university will begin ticket sales for the inaugural season in the fall. For more information, students and community members can visit the Goldfarb Center website or follow the center’s Facebook page.
The Goldfarb Center represents a significant investment in the performing arts for Western Illinois University and its surrounding community. The McCains’ contribution underscores the ongoing commitment of alumni to support educational and cultural initiatives at the university.
The announcement of the center’s opening comes on the heels of a significant contribution from alumni Claudia and Jim McCain. Claudia, a former faculty member in WIU’s School of Music, earned her master’s degree in Music Education/Piano from the university in 1979 and joined the faculty in 1988 as director of the Music Business program. Over her 19‑year tenure, she expanded the program from a nascent curriculum into a nationally recognized offering and retired in 2007, remaining active in the university community.
The McCains’ donation will fund the naming of the control room in the Great Hall of the new center and will be accompanied by continued support of the Jim and Claudia McCain Music Business Scholarship. The scholarship and the state‑of‑the‑art live‑sound environment created by the donation will give students in the Music Business program hands‑on learning opportunities that were previously unavailable.
"The arts are WIU’s best‑kept secret," the McCains said in a joint statement. "The music program is still producing amazing results," Claudia added. "The new center will provide professional‑level performance opportunities that are currently unavailable to students and community members because of the campus’s rural location."
The Goldfarb Center will feature a Great Hall with a dedicated control room, a theater space, and rehearsal rooms. According to WIU news releases, the center’s inaugural season will be titled "A Season of Joy" and will include performances by the QC Symphony Orchestra, theatrical productions, illusionists, and educational programming. Director Anne Lefter has selected a lineup that aims to celebrate the center’s opening and to showcase the breadth of the performing arts.
The university’s Office of University Communications highlighted that the center’s success will depend on community support. "The more funding that is given, the more enriching the experiences in this building will be for the students learning in it," the McCains said. They also expressed hope that their gift will inspire other donors to contribute.
WIU’s College of Fine Arts and Communications (COFAC) has been involved in the project since its inception. The Goldfarb Center will be a landmark facility on the Macomb campus and will serve as a cultural hub for the university and the region.
Students, faculty and staff have expressed gratitude for the support. "We hope that our gift provides educational opportunities for students as well as inspires others to make a financial commitment," the McCains said.
The center will also host community events and will be accessible to the public. WIU’s Performing Arts Society plans to use the Great Hall for its annual gala, which will include a dinner and entertainment. The society’s gala will also announce the naming of the control room.
The Goldfarb Center’s opening follows a long development period that began in the early 2000s. The facility is expected to enhance the university’s ability to attract students, faculty and performers. It will also provide a venue for regional artists and touring productions.
In addition to the control room donation, the McCains will continue to support the Jim and Claudia McCain Music Business Scholarship, which is available to students in the School of Music.
The center’s opening is scheduled for September 2026. The university will begin ticket sales for the inaugural season in the fall. For more information, students and community members can visit the Goldfarb Center website or follow the center’s Facebook page.
The Goldfarb Center represents a significant investment in the performing arts for Western Illinois University and its surrounding community. The McCains’ contribution underscores the ongoing commitment of alumni to support educational and cultural initiatives at the university.
