CBA alum donates $1 million for performing arts

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY – Though he now lives in Seattle, Washington, Daniel Byrne never let his alma mater in Syracuse slip out of mind.
The 1970 graduate of Christian Brothers Academy announced to an assembled group of students and staff on Dec. 21 that he will be donating the lead gift of $1 million for the creation of a performing arts space on the private school’s grounds.
Giving members of the school’s musical and drama programs a permanent place to practice under and behind the spotlight, the funding will convert a large group instruction room into a black box-type theater with state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting, dressing rooms and audio-visual technology.
“Lives are transformed when young people discover and develop their passion through the help of a community of supporters,” CBA President Matt Keough said. “The opportunity of transformation through the arts will take on new life at CBA thanks to the generosity of Mr. Byrne. He is a remarkable individual with a true love for impacting the lives of young people.”
The seating arrangement and exact number of seats in the space has yet to be determined, but a steering committee composed of performing arts professionals, faculty and facilities experts will work to structure and enhance the dedicated space.
The total project budget for the performing arts facility is projected to be between $1.5 and $2 million, Keough said.
Byrne has also agreed to help raise the rest of the necessary funds in the hopes that the theater will hold its first full-scale performance this time next year.
Byrne’s donation is the third million-dollar gift in the college preparatory school’s history. The other two were courtesy of an anonymous donor and Denny Owen, who attended in the 1940s.
In addition to his recent gift, his support for the school’s innovation lab, and the endowment he has provided for scholarships, Byrne has also funded a free summer program called Bridge 2 CBA Brothers for fourth and fifth graders from the city whose families fall below the poverty line.
Before he became an engineer and a contributor to the fields of cryogenics, industrial and medical specialty gases, real estate, and public speaking, Byrne was a member of the stage crew at CBA.