Leading the Renaissance

"I just want to make my mark, leave something musically good behind."
                                                                     - Ray Charles, musical genius

Seeded with a $2 million donation from the legendary Ray Charles, the Morehouse College Center for the Arts is envisioned as a $20 million, 76,000-square-foot facility that will solidify the institution's position as a leader in the Atlanta cultural community.

Located at the edge of historic West End, the Center for the Arts will provide an exciting and welcoming entrance to the campus and will become a key landmark for the College.  Its architectural features will strive to capture the beauty of the traditional red brick bar accents and white columns, verandas and porches on main campus, while adding the more modern, artistic elements of multi-colored stone, glass walls and intriguing roof lines.

The centerpiece of the Center for the Arts will be a 600-seat concert hall called the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center.  It will serve as the primary performance space for the Morehouse College Glee Club, the Jazz Ensemble and other small groups.

The Department of Music is committed to offering music students the very best in instruction and facilities. The vision for the new Center for the Arts is to expand instructional and rehearsal space by adding:

• Classrooms
• Practice rooms
• Recording suite
• Faculty studios
• Departmental office suite
• Storage areas for student instruments and sheet music

Long-term plans include a state-of-the-art electronic music, composition and recording technology lab, and three distinct performance spaces.