Music Barracks, the Chapel, Old and New Pipe Organ, and the Barnett Fine Arts Center
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Building 25 of the O’Reilly General Hospital was among those assigned for use by the Music Department when Evangel was founded in 1955. Part of the reason for assigning building 25 to the Music Department was because it contained a small military chapel (“the old Red Cross auditorium”(1). This area was used for Evangel’s chapel services from 1955-1962 but from Evangel’s beginning year it functioned consistently as a Fine Arts performing hall until 2002 when the Barnett Fine Arts Center was completed. The auditorium in building 25 was used advantageously for recitals, concerts, and various musical programs as well as for theater/drama events. The acoustics were actually quite good, but challenges of limited space arose almost immediately for the bands; tympani, drum sets, music stands, and equipment require lots of space. The same was true to a slightly lesser extent for choral ensembles, especially the larger groups, with their risers and podiums. The building 25 Fine Arts Auditorium had a high small stage, a very small balcony, and room for limited seating using folding chairs. Nevertheless, it served quite well for solo recitals and small ensembles. The larger performing groups, of necessity, went to the gymnasium or another facility. After 1981, the new chapel became one of the best options. Good planning and considerable creativity was required; but faculty, students, and audiences coped very well with the challenges.
Dr. Calvin Johansson, working with a local organ builder, Brockus Armstrong, arranged for a used (1925) Moeller organ (acquired from the Country Club Methodist Church in Kansas City) to be installed in the Fine Arts Auditorium in building 25. It was a 15-rank instrument with 1,049 pipes. The larger pipes for the lower notes were all wooden and reached from the bottom of the main floor to the high, tapered ceiling. Johansson’s unique design enabled the organ console to be moved from the back of the auditorium to the front. This instrument served for student practice,(2) music (departmental) chapel services, and all organ concerts until the Schantz organ was installed in the chapel in January 1982.
With regard to the Schantz organ, much is owed to “First Lady,” Anne Spence,(3) wife of President Robert H. Spence. When the decision was made to build the new chapel and plans began to come into focus, Anne Spence caught a vision. There was discussion of buying and installing another used pipe organ, as had been done in the old Fine Arts Auditorium in Building 25. Anne could not reconcile such a thought with God’s will for an organ for the new chapel. In prayer, she confessed to the Lord, “I’m tired of having to ‘make do.’ I’m weary of hand-me-downs.” Spiritually inspired, she shared her vision with members of the Evangel Ladies Auxiliary. The Lord honored her desire. Miraculously, the necessary funds were raised for a beautiful three-manual instrument of 40 ranks. It was ordered and built specifically for the new chapel auditorium.
Some years prior to this, Dr. June Kean, Dr. Calvin Johansson, and myself (chairman) were appointed to serve on a committee to study the options and make recommendations for the purchase and installation of a pipe organ appropriate for our new (planned) chapel. Gathering information, doing research, visiting organ factories, and taking bids required months of focused effort. In the spring of 1980, it was announced that the Schantz Organ Company of Orville, Ohio was chosen as the company to supply the pipe organ for the new chapel.(4) Finally, during the first week of January, 1982, six men “working around the clock for a weekend” installed the new Schantz pipe organ.(5) Three weeks later, on January 29, Dr. June Kean gave the first recital on this instrument. Compositions by Bach, Widor, Bingham, Couperin, and Mulet were chosen to demonstrate the versatility and capabilities of the organ. The Brass Ensemble, directed by Stephen Plate and the College Chorus, led by Dr. Richard Honea, joined Dr. Kean for the last two numbers. Dr. Donald Willing, former head of the Organ Department at the New England Conservatory, was the first guest artist in an organ recital on February 19, 1982.(6) It should be noted that new ranks of Trumpet stops were added to the organ some years later.
Planning for the new chapel had begun several years prior to its actual construction. In addition to the broad needs of the student body for chapel and spiritual instruction, President Spence recognized the need for use of the building by the Music Department; he solicited input from the music area. There were regular consultations with the entire music faculty and I was invited personally to serve on the building committee.
Dr. Spence was very receptive to suggestions. With his support and guidance, the outcomes were very satisfying: exceptionally good acoustics, a large platform for orchestra and choir, storage space, and the appropriate structure for a pipe organ. Evangel’s new chapel was completed in 1981. No department appreciated it more than Music. In contrast to the gymnasium with its bleacher seats, noisy heating/cooling fans, and undesirable acoustics, the chapel provided a comfortable, aesthetically pleasing place for worship services and for musical performances. Large music ensembles had room on stage and sizable audiences could be comfortably seated. Musicians from the Springfield Symphony were quick to recognize the quality of this new building and did not delay in seeking to arrange for all of its regular rehearsals and concerts to be held there. The symphony’s consistent use of the chapel auditorium continued until it moved to the newly constructed Juanita Hammons Performing Arts Center in 1992.(7)
On Friday, March 23, 2001, the Rev. Lawrence and Alletha Barnett of Ft. Worth, Texas, presented Evangel University with a check for 4.6 million dollars to be used toward the construction of a new Fine Arts Center for the departments of art, drama, and music. Groundbreaking was held May 3, 2001 at 11:00 a.m. In addition to facilities for the Drama and Art departments, the 65,000-square-foot facility includes a 300-seat concert hall, music classrooms, faculty studios, practice rooms, rehearsal halls, and offices. The well-planned location of the building with its proximity and physical tie to the chapel resulted in a facility that satisfies both function and aesthetics. The close relationship to the chapel is a real asset to the Music Department, considering its use of the chapel auditorium for large music events and the pipe organ (installed in the new chapel during the 1981-82 school year). The Barnett Fine Arts Center is broadly recognized and admired as one of the most functional and useful facilities of its kind in the State of Missouri. The construction of this facility will be remembered as one of the most significant accomplishments in the history of Evangel.