[St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School] St. Andrew’s-Sewanee welcomes the public to attend the dedication of McCrory Hall for the Performing Arts on Saturday, April 25, at 1 p.m. The service will take place in the 3,200-square-foot Main Hall and will be followed by an open house and reception. Guests will be able to tour the facility, and talented SAS student musicians will provide a range of music. According to lead donor Martha McCrory, “I have been waiting for this day with such excitement. I want everyone to come and celebrate with me.”
Honorees at the service will include lead donor Dr. Martha McCrory and other key donors. Dr. Martha McCrory, longtime director of the Sewanee Summer Music Center at the University of the South, made a gift of $1.5 million to the school in 2006 to build a performing arts center that would benefit both SAS and the wider community, the largest gift in the school’s 150-year history. Other major donors have made generous gifts for named areas within the new building. Kitty Clark Stroud, St. Mary’s School Class of 1954, has provided funding for The Dugan Porch, in memory of her mother Martha Deaton Clark Dugan, a long-time resident of Sewanee. The SAS Parents’ Council made a gift for the Music Room, which is used daily for student instruction and practice. A donor who chooses to remain anonymous has provided funds to furnish the Green Room and make possible the dramatic window, which echoes the SAS motif also found in the windows of St. Andrew’s Chapel and Robinson Dining Hall. According to Tim Graham, Director of Development, several areas remain available as naming opportunities. These range from larger spaces to individual chairs in the Main Hall. For details, e-mail the SAS Development Office or call 931.598.5651.
McCrory Hall is a beautiful performance venue. The external architecture—tall tower, red roof, and arched verandah—were designed to reflect the style of the 100-year-old SAS campus. The interior of the building is finished in polished wood and the colors of stone and forest, which reflect the school’s natural setting. The building centers around the gracious main performance hall with over 300 seats overlooking an open-end stage. The Main Hall adjoins the Green Room that can also serve as a reception area or meeting room. Inside the Main Hall, priority was given to strong acoustical detail to assure exceptional musical experiences. It contains architectural elements and state-of-the-art technology to support both acoustic and amplified music. Behind the stage, on the west end of the building, is the Music Room, which houses all music classes for grades six through twelve and serves as a rehearsal space for musicians. While music is at the core of the mission of McCrory Hall, SAS will also utilize the space for theatre productions, visiting artist performances, lectures, and more. McCrory Hall is set to serve the school and the surrounding community for decades to come.