Powell Hall has been a gem in St. Louis’ crown for almost 100 years. Originally built as a vaudeville and movie theater in 1925, the building became the home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) in 1968. Ever since, as one of the nation’s most acoustically renowned concert halls, it has been the setting for countless world-class performances by the orchestra, allowing the community to experience the joy and power of music. Last year, the SLSO launched the public phase of its fundraising campaign to support the expansion and renovation of Powell Hall. The culmination will be the opening of the new Jack C. Taylor Music Center this fall.
“Powell Hall is a historical landmark and one of the great architectural destinations in the St. Louis region,” SLSO president and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard says. “Very few symphonies own their concert halls, so the fact that we do makes it a wonderful asset for the community. There is so much history and pride in the building.” Designed by Snøhetta, the Jack C. Taylor Music Center will include Powell Hall as well as a 64,000-square foot expansion. The building previously had a limited backstage and dressing rooms, and it also lacked spaces for music education and practice, including room for the youth orchestra, the symphony’s chorus and the IN UNISON Chorus to meet.
As well as helping the SLSO better serve its artists, the Jack C. Taylor Music Center expansion will improve the audience experience. Along with making Powell Hall more ADA-accessible and increasing space for amenities like restrooms and concessions, the project also will add an outdoor plaza with green space for patrons to enjoy. “Powell Hall was designed as a movie theater, so it’s enclosed from the outside world,” Bernard notes. “Our vision is to better reflect the way our audiences engage with music. That means opening things up and bringing in the beauty of the community and the natural world. The plaza provides a place for people to gather before a show and linger after to reflect on and share about the experience.”
The restoration began in 2023, and the revitalized Powell Hall is planned to open to the public in September, just in time for its 100th anniversary. Bernard notes that the SLSO has prepared a special season to welcome it and the community home after two seasons spent performing at venues around St. Louis. “We have a wonderful program centered around the concept of home and how that theme relates to the universal language of music,” she says. Subscriptions for the upcoming seasons are on sale now, and single tickets for concerts will be available this summer.
The SLSO would be unable to undertake projects like the Jack C. Taylor Music Center without the assistance of the community. The Music for All campaign allows the public to contribute to the initiative and champion for Powell Hall to remain a civic asset for generations to come. Bernard is moved by the support the campaign has received. “Community support is vital to making what the SLSO does possible,” she notes. “The orchestra was founded in the 1880s, and we’ve provided access to music for generations of St. Louisans. We’re excited to welcome everyone back to rediscover the great music and one-of-a-kind experiences of the SLSO.”
Opening in September, the Jack C. Taylor Music Center will offer an exciting new home for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, including a renovation of Powell Hall. Pictured on the cover: SLSO board chair Steven L. Finerty and president and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard. For more information, call 314.534.1700 or visit slso.org.
Cover design and photo courtesy of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Pictured at the top: Rendering of the Jack C. Taylor Music Center designed by Snøhetta
Image courtesy of St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
