Making the Difference
Carolina Performing Arts
Bringing World-Class Performances to UNC
By Scott Ragland
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| Soul and R&B pioneer Al Green performs in front of a sold-out crowd in Memorial Hall for Carolina Performing Arts’ 2007–08 opening gala. |
A new era for the arts at Carolina began on a September 2005 weekend with the reopening of Memorial Hall.
That was when UNC launched the Carolina Performing Arts in a newly renovated home. Gala concerts featured Tony Bennett, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman and Leonard Slatkin, all with the North Carolina Symphony. The hundreds of performers since have included Bonnie Raitt, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis and Al Green.
Such a run of world-class performances resulted in Carolina Performing Arts and UNC being tapped to join the Major University Presenters consortium, an industry-leading network of arts presenters at major research universities throughout the country.
“It is a great honor to be recognized by our peers—it reflects the leadership and vision of Chancellor James Moeser, whose support of our program and of the arts is immeasurable,” said Emil Kang, executive director for the arts at UNC and executive director of Carolina Performing Arts.
The honor also reflected the impact of the Carolina First Campaign.
Jim and Pam Heavner spearheaded efforts to raise private funds to help transform Memorial Hall, topping the $5 million goal at just more than $5.1 million.
Major donors included George Beasley and Don Curtis, who each committed $500,000, and the University has named the hall’s auditorium in their honor.
The complete renovation totaled some $18 million. Funding included $10.8 million from the Higher Education Bond Referendum approved by N.C. voters and $800,000 from state legislators who approved advance planning funds. The project almost doubled Memorial Hall’s square footage, taking it to 44,600 square feet. Improvements include a larger lobby, grand new staircases, more restrooms, a new stage with wings, new lighting and sound systems, better accessibility for the disabled, and air conditioning.
Along with helping to fund Memorial Hall’s physical transformation, Carolina First donors made sure the venue will host top-flight performances far into the future.
The William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust led the way, issuing a $5 million challenge gift to endow the Carolina Performing Arts’ programming needs. An advisory board of volunteers headed by Jim Heavner and Barb Lee led a successful effort to meet the challenge. Major commitments included $500,000 from Luther and Cheray Hodges and $100,000 from Bill and Sara McCoy, whose lead gift established the James Moeser Fund for Artistic Excellence.
“The performing arts at Carolina have come a long way in a short time, and that’s directly attributable to the generosity of donors,” Kang said. “We’re forever grateful.”
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