venues

With coral plaster walls and mahogany and gold trim, Gates Concert Hall has the atmosphere of an elegant European opera house. The professional-size stage, orchestra pit, and fly tower permit the most ambitious operatic, musical, and dance shows. A Wenger orchestra shell enables a full symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, or chamber music group to take advantage of the Hall’s wonderful acoustics. Acoustics were engineered by Kirkegaard Associates.

The Byron Flexible Theatre allows up to 75 theatre majors to learn and practice all aspects of production in a versatile space, with more than 40 different seating and stage configurations. While one play is in performance, another is likely being built and rehearsed in the adjacent rehearsal space. Student work as well as professional theatre will be shown in this "Off-Broadway-style" venue.

The Hamilton Family Recital Hall is the workhorse for recital performances by faculty and students of the Lamont School of Music, though it is also available for rental. Chamber music, solo recitals, piano concerts and organ concerts are all at home here. A piano lift brings the Steinway concert grand piano into the Hall from the piano storage area beneath the stage. A 2,500-pipe European tracker action organ designed and built by Berliner Orgelbau will be installed and voiced over the summer of 2003. Clerestory windows enhance the elegant space.

Organ Dedication on September 7, 2003

Joy Burns Plaza is, by day, a study and lounge area for faculty, students and staff; and by night, the main lobby for the three large performance venues, and a striking reception hall. This elegant enclosed plaza features a high vaulted ceiling, transverse windows, Italian travertine marble floor, double columns, alabaster chandeliers, a 16^th Century Flemish Tapestry, and custom made furniture by Daniel Strawn. The Box Office is also located in the Plaza where tickets may be purchased for all Newman Center performances.