From Groundbreaking to Grand Opening
Built in 1996, The Wertheim is one of Miami’s premier concert venues
Ground broke in 1994, and by the fall of 1996 Florida International University had opened the doors to a $14 million, 74,052-square-foot home for the performing arts. Designed by the Miami architecture firm Spillis, Candela & Partners, the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center brought five performance venues together under a single roof and welcomed its first audiences with a grand-opening celebration featuring, among others, an ensemble billed as the Walt Disney World Brass Choir.
The Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center stands as the centerpiece of Florida International University’s commitment to the performing arts, a commitment that recognizes the place of music and theatre in the educational and cultural life of our community. Home to the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music & Performing Arts and the FIU Department of Theatre, it remains one of Miami’s premier concert and performance venues three decades on.
The Wertheim groundbreaking, 1995.
Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim at the grand opening of The Wertheim.
Former FIU President Modesto A. Maidique gives opening remarks at the grand opening.
Opening concert with Walt Disney Brass Choir at The Wertheim.
The FIU Jazz Big Band entertains the audience in the opening concert.
The FIU Symphony Orchestra opening concert of The Wertheim.
The FIU Jazz Big Band, under the direction of Richard Dunscomb, perform at the FIU Festival of the Performing Arts, 1996.
Maestro Carlos Piantini conducting the FIU Symphony Orchestra, 1996.
The Empire Brass is having fun with the audience at The Wertheim, 1996.
Fredrick Kaufman, Professor Emeritus & Founder of the School of Music congratulates Maestro Piantini at the opening concert.
Openings remarks at The Wertheim by Maestro Piantini.
Former President Modesto A. Maidique with Maestro Carlos Piantini at The Wertheim, October 1996.