'Is this place a
palace?'
Sights
and sounds make Spivey Hall world famous
When Amber Joy Dimkoff brings children into Spivey Hall at
Clayton State University for the first time, it is not
uncommon for her to hear their amazement. "Their mouths
just drop and I hear a lot of questions like 'Is this a
palace?'' said Ms. Dimkoff, education manager for Spivey
Hall.
While the lavish performance hall is known for its
appearance, it was a different sensation that sent chills
through Sam Dixon's body, causing his hands to twitch
slightly.
He was listening to jazz musician Sean Jones
practice in the auditorium when the sound reverberated
through his body.
"That is something you just can't teach," said Dixon of
Jones' trumpet playing.
It is the sights and sounds of Spivey Hall that bring
patrons from across the Southeast and musicians from across
the globe.
"It has the best acoustics in America," said
Dixon. "If it were not for the acoustics, I don't think the
world would know about Spivey Hall."
The purposely small 392-seat auditorium is the offspring of
Walter and Emilie Spivey. While the two never had children,
they fostered Spivey Hall.
The Spiveys picked its location on the lakes of CSU, helped
pay the $4.5 million to construct the building and designed
its interior. Ms. Spivey even studied the acoustic
properties of similar halls across the globe and helped
determine the sound of Spivey Hall.
Construction was completed on the hall in 1991, not long
after the couple passed away. The 4,413 immaculate organ
pipes were added a year later.
But Spivey Hall has grown to
make its parents proud, with a sound that once prompted
jazz legend Ellis Marsalis to say, "Spivey Hall is the most
fantastic little performance hall I have played -
ever!"
"I try to have a good variety up," he said. "And musicians who have played here before love to see their picture up, so I make sure to put it up right where they can see it."
But Spivey Hall doesn't just cater to world-famous musicians. It is serves as a meeting place for CSU functions, is used by the CSU music programs and helps teach local children about music through its educational programs. Because of this outreach, more than 15,000 school children enter the doors of Spivey Hall, either to watch a performance or to participate in one. Spivey Hall is helping to rear a new generation of music lovers.
"When you see the look on some of those kids faces, it makes all of our work worthwhile," said Ms. Dimkoff.
