Lee University Dedicates Repurposed Former Sanctuary

Cleveland, TN—A new performance venue on the Lee University campus, Pangle Hall, was dedicated with a special “music showcase” event on October 28, featuring musical highlights from Lee University’s historic past, and a preview of its future.

Pangle Hall is a repurposed space formerly used as the main sanctuary for First Baptist Church of Cleveland. First Baptist vacated the property in 2010 to occupy a new campus on the north side of town. Lee purchased the six acres, which adjoined their campus, and is developing what has been designated as the “south campus.” The new music venue is being named Pangle Hall in honor of Janie Pangle Jones, wife of Cleveland business leader Allan Jones.

Lee University Pangle Hall (click on photo to enlarge)

Guests from Lee and the community packed the 650-seat hall and enjoyed appearances from Lee alumnus Phil Stacey who rose to fame on season six of the popular American Idol show; the international champion barbershop quartet, Four Voices; and Voices of Lee, with special return of two members of the NBC Sing-Offgroup of 2009. Lee President Dr. Paul Conn and his wife Darlia welcomed the guests saying, “Starting tonight, Pangle Hall has a wonderful future, not as a house of worship, but as a performance venue.” President Conn later offered a dedicatory prayer.

A smaller eighty-voice version of the Lee Festival Choir sang selections from the 2013 Presidential Inauguration repertoire. The program also included music from a faculty jazz group led by Alan Wyatt; piano music by Lee’s chamber music star and faculty member, Gloria Chien; and a song by popular vocalist and faculty member, Andrea Dismukes. A dessert reception for everyone attending followed in the new Communication Arts atrium lobby across the street.

Lee staff member Cole Strong, who has supervised the transformation of the hall, said: “People who remember this as the old First Baptist sanctuary will feel right at home here. We wanted to retain the traditional feeling and elegant interior design of the old sanctuary, while still updating and reshaping it for musical performance.”

The entire building is undergoing a transformation, along with the development of the southern end of the Lee campus, beginning with the Communication Arts Building. The new music venue is the second phase in this development, and will provide a new space for music and other types of performances, in addition to use by community groups. Other plans for the former First Baptist property include renovation of the a former educational wing into a new home for the Department of Business, construction of a School of Nursing building, and development of a “quad” that will tie the buildings together.

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