2008 Woodie Awards
Orchestra's Russian gems mark season's end at E. Desmond Lee Auditorium
Webster Symphony moving to main campus later this year
By: David Johns
Issue date: 3/2/06 Section: LifeStyle
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For the Webster University Symphony Orchestra, Feb. 19 marked the last complete season housed in the E. Desmond Lee Auditorium. The auditorium sold to Washington University last November to offset debt and finance the construction of the on-campus future home of the orchestra.
The sale of the building in University City generated nearly 5 million dollars.
Orchestra director Allen Larson noted that since the creation of the Webster Orchestra, which precedes his 33-year tenure, it has had many homes. Before its relatively short life at the E. Desmond Lee, the orchestra was at the Loretto-Hilton Center.
"We're coming back home, in that sense," Larson said.
Larson added that he would have to experience the acoustics of the new building before deeming the move an improvement.
For Wash U, the acquisition is something that fulfills several needs for the school.
"For years, we've been in great need for a respectable playing facility," said Wash U Orchestra Director Dan Presgrave. "The CMS building is a natural fit for Wash U., and it'll be exciting to go into an actual concert hall and play."
Natural because while at a five-and-a-half mile distance from the Webster Groves campus, the E. Desmond Lee is less than a mile from Wash U. This will be their largest performance facility by almost double the capacity.
The 1,115 seat concert hall in the CMS dwarfs the 650-seat Edison Theatre at Wash U.
Presgrove first heard of the negotiations through the grapevine at the Wash U. music department, and upon inquiring, was told that he was receiving a concert hall for his orchestra.
The 75-member Washington University Orchestra has been playing at various sites on and off campus in lieu of a proper facility.
"(The Performing Arts School) has been holding events at five or six different locations scattered across campus," said Liam Otten, arts spokesperson for Wash U.
Not only will the CMS serve as a performance hall for the orchestra and concert choir, but will also offer classroom space for the over 100 graduate and undergraduate music and
The sale of the building in University City generated nearly 5 million dollars.
Orchestra director Allen Larson noted that since the creation of the Webster Orchestra, which precedes his 33-year tenure, it has had many homes. Before its relatively short life at the E. Desmond Lee, the orchestra was at the Loretto-Hilton Center.
"We're coming back home, in that sense," Larson said.
Larson added that he would have to experience the acoustics of the new building before deeming the move an improvement.
For Wash U, the acquisition is something that fulfills several needs for the school.
"For years, we've been in great need for a respectable playing facility," said Wash U Orchestra Director Dan Presgrave. "The CMS building is a natural fit for Wash U., and it'll be exciting to go into an actual concert hall and play."
Natural because while at a five-and-a-half mile distance from the Webster Groves campus, the E. Desmond Lee is less than a mile from Wash U. This will be their largest performance facility by almost double the capacity.
The 1,115 seat concert hall in the CMS dwarfs the 650-seat Edison Theatre at Wash U.
Presgrove first heard of the negotiations through the grapevine at the Wash U. music department, and upon inquiring, was told that he was receiving a concert hall for his orchestra.
The 75-member Washington University Orchestra has been playing at various sites on and off campus in lieu of a proper facility.
"(The Performing Arts School) has been holding events at five or six different locations scattered across campus," said Liam Otten, arts spokesperson for Wash U.
Not only will the CMS serve as a performance hall for the orchestra and concert choir, but will also offer classroom space for the over 100 graduate and undergraduate music and