Old Cabell Hall

Building Description

Old Cabell Hall is home to the McIntire Department of Music at UVA. The 994 seat auditorium houses an historically important Skinner Pipe Organ and a reproduction of the mural “The School of Athens” by Raphael which currently hangs in the Vatican. It is directly opposite from the Rotunda. The auditorium is renowned for its excellent acoustics.

History

Old Cabell Hall was completed in 1898, and is named for Jefferson’s friend and advocate for the creation of the University of Virginia, Joseph C. Cabell. It replaced the Rotunda Annex, which had been destroyed in the same fire that destroyed the original Rotunda.

The Skinner Organ that is housed in Old Cabell Hall was a gift from Andrew Carnegie in 1906. The most recent addition is a large mural in the lobby/first floor area called “The Student’s Progress”, which charts the course of academic life. This was completed by Lincoln Perry in 2000.

The mural over the Orchestra was created by Charles Breck in 1902, and is a reproduction of “The School of Athens” by Raphael. The original hangs in the Vatican. The reproduction had to be done 4 inches smaller as the Vatican does not allow exact reproductions of any artwork in its possession.

There is always some form of restoration or renovation work going on in Old Cabell Hall, but nothing major is in the works.

Phone
(434) 924-3052
Address
112 Old Cabell Hall, Charlottesville VA 22903
Bathrooms
Yes
Internet Access
Yes
Music Library, Bottom two levels
Established in 1977, there are over 105,000 items in collection, including 65,000 books and 39,000 audio recordings.
Study Rooms
Practice Rooms exist for the Department of Music.
Theater, Main Floor
o 994 seat theater
o An important reproduction mural of the School of Athens by Raphael hangs over the stage – this is a replacement for the one that burned down in a fire in the early years of UVA
o Many orchestral events are held here – no dance or large theatrical performances are held here due to the need to preserve the historic Skinner Pipe Organ

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