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Sheldon Concert Hall
DESCRIPTION: The Sheldon Concert Hall is a intimate and acoustically perfect music venue located in the Grand Center arts and entertainment district. The hall features original curved wood theatre seating for 702 people on two levels with unrestricted views from each seat.
Following a major expansion in 1998, the historic Sheldon Concert Hall joined with the adjacent Emerson Galleries building and opened the Sheldon Art Galleries. The expansion also increased the amount of lobby space and added several rooms. The original, historic part of the building which houses the concert hall and the ballroom is linked with the contemporary lobby and art galleries via a glass walkway. The lobby overlooks a Sculpture Garden.
The Sheldon Arts Foundation, a non-profit organization, operates the Sheldon. Its mission is to preserve and operate the historic Sheldon Concert Hall and the Sheldon Art Galleries as an independent cultural institution, to produce and present a diverse array of quality concerts, art exhibits and educational programs of local and national importance, and to provide facilities and services for a wide variety of community organizations.
MOTTO: The Carnegie Hall of St. Louis.
ADDRESS: 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108
LOCATION: Mid-town St. Louis in the Grand Center arts and entertainment district.
PHONE NUMBER: 314-533-9900
WEB SITE: www.sheldonconcerthall.org
GETTING THERE: From downtown, take I-64/40 West to Grand Boulevard. Turn right on Grand Boulevard to Washington Avenue. Turn left on Washington Avenue and follow it to 3648 Washington.
HOURS: Concerts are held at various times (see details below). Art gallery hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Tues.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Wed. and 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sat. The galleries are also open one hour prior to Sheldon performances and during intermission.
ADMISSION: Admission to the art galleries is free; concert prices vary and range from $8-40 depending on the particular concert.
ANNUAL ATTENDANCE: 40,000 for the Sheldon's concerts; 200,000 for the concerts, visits to the art galleries and all of the other events held in the facility.
WHAT'S NEW: The Sheldon's renovations continued in 2001 with the installation of five new stained glass windows designed by acclaimed artist Rodney Winfield. His stunning designs, called "Theme and Variation," are designed to be seen both during the day and at night.
SIGNIFICANCE: Many great jazz, folk and classical musicians including Dave Brubeck, Cleo Laine, José Carreras, Herbie Hancock, Doc Watson, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, Julian Bream, Itzhak Perlman and Jessye Norman have performed at The Sheldon. The St. Louis Chapter of the League of Women Voters was founded in The Sheldon's Green Room.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The Sheldon Concert Hall is an intimate venue with acoustics that are so good, speakers can speak without the use of a microphone and be heard by everyone in the audience. Many artists have commented that they like to play the Sheldon because the acoustics are outstanding.
- The Sheldon has six themed art galleries featuring rotating exhibits. The galleries feature works by local artists, art on the history of jazz, children's art, and photography exhibits and exhibits on architecture.
- Well-known persons who lectured at the Sheldon include Albert Einstein, Dwight Eisenhower and Ernest Hemingway.
- The Bellwether Gallery of St. Louis Artists, the History of Jazz Gallery, the Gallery of Photography, the Bernoudy Gallery of Architecture, the Southwestern Bell Gallery of Children's Art and the Founder's Gallery. Artwork is also featured in The Sheldon's sculpture garden, visible from both the atrium lobby and the connecting glass bridge.
- The building's 250-seat ballroom overlooks the Central West End. The room has golden hardwood flooring, a full stage and dramatic beamed ceilings with large skylights.
- The Spiering Room, an elegant 500-seat room with outstanding views of the Central West End and the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. The walls of the room have incorporated into the brickwork a collection of architectural terra cotta pieces from the historic Title Guaranty Building. The room is named for Louis Spiering, the World's Fair architect who designed historic Sheldon Concert Hall.
- The concert hall, the ballroom, the Spiering Room, the Kemper Atrium and art galleries may be rented for concerts, corporate meetings, lectures and receptions.
- The Sheldon Arts Foundation receives assistance from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Missouri Arts Council, the Regional Arts Commission, the Arts and Education Council and the Heartland Arts Fund.
- More than 300 events are held at the Sheldon each year.
SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS: The Sheldon features four concert series each year:
- Jazz at The Sheldon, a jazz, folk and classical series which runs from October to May offers five concerts each season. The featured performers are nationally known artists, up-and-coming vocalists and local favorites.
- Fantastic Folk Series, which runs from October to May, features a collection of folk music from bluegrass to Celtic. October-May
- Sheldon Classics Series, also October-May, offers a collection of classical sounds, from modern chamber pieces to favorite arias.
- Family Concerts Series, February-May, features three performances giving a sampling from the jazz, folk and classics series.
OTHER CONCERTS:
- Coffee Concerts Series, morning concerts with complimentary coffee and pastries September through May featuring everything from guitar greats and classical master to jazz and folk favorites.
- Notes from Home Series, concerts held every Tuesday evening featuring talented musicians from the St. Louis region. The concerts cover every genre of music - jazz, folk, classical, gospel, blues and music from around the world.
Other sponsoring organizations also schedule concert series at the Sheldon.
HISTORY: The Sheldon was designed by 1904 World's Fair architect Louis C. Spiering as the home of the Ethical Society of St. Louis.
When the Ethical Society relocated to St. Louis County in 1964, The Sheldon became a primarily music venue. Then, in 1974, a former singer with the Duke Ellington Orchestra purchased the facility, transforming the Sheldon into a church and the site for many glorious jazz and gospel concerts.
Ten years later, at the urging of the Paganini String Quartet, a California attorney with a love for chamber music purchased the building in 1984 and began operating it as a venue for concerts and community events.
To preserve The Sheldon as one of St. Louis' greatest cultural resources, the non-profit Sheldon Arts Foundation was formed in 1988. It purchased the building in 1991 and continues to operate it.
WHERE TO GET LUNCH: The Sheldon Concert Hall is conveniently located to the Grand Center arts and entertainment district where a variety of restaurants are located. The shops, cafes and restaurants of the Central West End neighborhood are also nearby.
GIFT SHOP: The Sheldon Concert Hall has a small gift shop that is open only during concert intermissions. It carries CDs and gallery items.
ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS: Each year the Sheldon holds a Family Series which is a series of concerts of interest to children. The Sheldon also offers a number of programs to school groups that introduce children to jazz, folk and classical music.
ANNUAL SPECIAL EVENTS: Each September, the Sheldon sponsors the Great Midwest Guitar Sale which is the only hand-built guitar convention in the Midwest. The two-day sale features exhibits from the world's leading flattop, classical and archtop guitar makers. The event also features guitar demos, workshops, lectures and special guest appearances. The weekends culminate with performances in the acoustically perfect Sheldon Concert Hall, celebrating the art of guitar playing. Artists who have played at the event in the past are Bucky and John Pizzarelli, Tommy Emmanuel, Russell Malone and Leo Kottke.
WHAT'S NEARBY: The Fox Theatre, Powell Symphony Hall, the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts, the Grandel Theatre and Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis are also in Grand Center.
PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Jennifer Kramer, Marketing Director or Chris O'Rourke, Marketing Assistant, 314-533-9900, corourke@sheldonconcerthall.org
Readers should call 1-800-916-0040 to request a free copy of the Official St. Louis Visitor Guide or point, click and explore St. Louis at www.explorestlouis.com
