News Release

Re-dedication of transformed Memorial
Hall heralds new era of arts at UNC

By L.J. TOLER
UNC News Services

CHAPEL HILL — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill today (Sept. 8) re-dedicated the university’s beloved Memorial Hall, ushering in a new era for the arts at Carolina.

Cutting a 20-foot Carolina blue ribbon that stretched across the newly enlarged stage, university officials and guests officially declared the 1931 building re-opened after a three-year, nearly $18 million renovation. The project improved patron comfort and performance capabilities but preserved historic features of the campus landmark.

"After three long years of work, we are at last able to stand on this spectacular stage and look out at a hall that is new yet looks familiar," said Chancellor James Moeser. "Our determination to add the new while preserving the old has been an outstanding success."

Alumnus and actor Andy Griffith, honorary co-chair of the Memorial Hall Transformation Committee, and Jim Heavner of Chapel Hill – who, with his wife, Pam, led the transformation campaign that raised more than $5 million toward the renovation as part of the Carolina First campaign – joined in the celebration.

Today’s dedication preceded a gala opening weekend that will include performances by Tony Bennett, Carolina students, and Itzak Perlman, Leonard Slatkin and Pinchas Zukerman with the North Carolina Symphony.

With more than 40 performances scheduled in the hall this year by top-tier artists, the lineup for the 2005-2006 Carolina Performing Arts Series aims to bring a heightened artistic awareness to citizens of the region and university community, as well as the learning experiences of UNC students.

Memorial’s renovation was made possible in part by the Higher Education Bond Referendum approved by N.C. voters, which cleared the way for $10.8 million of the project cost.

"There are many people who are responsible for this transformation, not the least of which are the people of North Carolina, who endorsed the mission of the people’s university by approving the higher education bond in 2000," said Nelson Schwab, chair of the UNC Board of Trustees.

Originally, the hall was dedicated to the memory of outstanding Carolina alumni and North Carolinians, as well as UNC alumni who died in the Civil War and World War I. Tablets bearing their names remain in the renovated Memorial.

"Today, as we ‘re-dedicate’ Memorial Hall, we expand this remembrance to all members of the university community who lost their lives while on active duty serving their country," Moeser said.

He also credited the late Chancellor Michael Hooker, who envisioned a modern performing arts facility for Carolina and worked toward a 1998 planning grant of $800,000 from the N.C. General Assembly for the Memorial project.

Other ceremony participants included students Molly Stapleton, chair of the Student Government Arts Advocacy Committee, and Jonathan Benson, president of the Carolina Union.

Memorial Hall is the focal point for the new Arts Common, which will extend southward from Franklin Street to Playmakers Theatre, the oldest building on campus dedicated to the arts. Memorial’s renovation — including an increase from 24,000 square feet to more than 44,600 square feet — is the first step toward that goal.

Emil Kang, executive director of the arts, joined UNC last January and since has assembled the impressive lineup for this year’s Carolina Performing Arts Series.

"The transformation of Memorial Hall is a tremendous achievement, and I am honored to be a part of this great university and the great effort that has brought us to this day," he said.

That collective effort now will bring to Carolina and the region artists presenting the best in jazz, classical, world and American roots music, ballet, modern dance and more.

"We believe our programs at Memorial Hall will serve diverse audiences through multi-disciplinary performing arts programs in presentation, creation and education," Kang said. "We will strive to engage, inspire and entertain audiences through innovative performances. Our programs … will strive to reflect the mission of the (university) to serve all the people of the state, and indeed the nation, as a center for scholarship and creative endeavor."

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Carolina Performing Arts Series contact: Jennifer Smith, (919) 966-3834 or jwsmith@unc.edu

News Services contacts: Lisa Katz, (919) 962-2093, lisa_katz@unc.edu; print, L.J. Toler, (919) 962-8589; broadcast, Karen Moon, (919) 962-8595