Aaron Davis Hall

{{Infobox venue

| name = Aaron Davis Hall

| nickname =

| image = Aaron-davis-hall.jpg

| image_caption =

| address = 160 Convent Ave.

| location = New York City

| coordinates =

| type = Performing arts center

| genre =

| built = 1974–1979

| opened = {{Start date|1979|10|24}}

| renovated =

| expanded =

| closed =

| demolished =

| publictransit = Subway: 135th Street–St. Nicholas Avenue {{NYCS Eighth center local day|time=bullets}}

| owner = City College of New York

| construction_cost = $5.3 million

| former_names =

| seating_type =

| seating_capacity = Marian Anderson Theatre: 750
Theatre B: 250

| website = {{URL|http://adhatccny.org}}

}}

Aaron Davis Hall is a performing arts center in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. It opened in 1979{{cite news |url=http://digital-archives.ccny.cuny.edu/thecampus/1979/OCTOBER_146_6/00000207.PDF |date=October 23, 1979 |work=The Campus |title=Gala Opening of Davis Hall Tomorrow}} and is located on the campus of the City College of New York, between West 133rd and 135th Streets on Convent Avenue, one block east of Amsterdam Avenue. and is the northern extension of Morningside Avenue beginning at 127th Street. It consists of the Marian Anderson Theatre, named after the American contralto, and Theatre B, a black box theater.

In 2007, it was among over 530 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.{{cite news | title = City Groups Get Bloomberg Gift of $20 Million | first = Sam | last = Roberts | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/06/nyregion/06donate.html | newspaper = The New York Times | date = July 6, 2005 | accessdate = 2007-09-03}}

History

In 1974, the City College announced plans for the $5.3 million Aaron Davis Hall, which would house the school's Leonard Davis Center for the Performing Arts.{{Cite news |last=Gent |first=George |date=1974-03-29 |title=City College Unveils Arts Center Plan |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/29/archives/city-college-unveils-arts-center-plan-largescale-works-due.html |access-date=2022-12-19 |issn=0362-4331}} The Aaron Davis Hall was opened in 1979 with a concert by many notable artists, such as Mikhail Baryshnikov and Ella Fitzgerald. The architecture received acclaim for its verve and "dignified" style.{{Cite news |last=Goldberger |first=Paul |date=1979-11-05 |title=Aaron Davis Hall: Architectural Paradox |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/05/archives/aaron-davis-hall-architectural-paradox-an-appraisa.html |access-date=2022-12-19 |issn=0362-4331}}

In December 1992, the hall underwent a $250,000 renovation, which involved replacing torn carpet, repainting and sprucing up the lobby and backstage areas, and installing a new computerized lighting system and a 40-channel audio system, compared to the old system which only allowed four microphones.{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Glenn |date=1992-12-05 |title=Jazzing Up a Harlem Concert Hall |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/05/arts/jazzing-up-a-harlem-concert-hall.html |access-date=2022-12-19 |issn=0362-4331}}

Notable performers and visitors

American Symphony Orchestra
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Harry Belafonte{{Cite web |date=2019-02-14 |title=Harry Belafonte Tribute Concert Back By Popular Demand at Aaron Davis Hall |url=http://newyorktrendnyc.com/2019/02/14/harry-belafonte-tribute-concert-back-by-popular-demand-at-aaron-davis-hall/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=New York Trend Online}}
Ornette Coleman{{Cite web |title=History – Jazz At City |url=https://jazz.ccnysites.cuny.edu/history/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |language=en-US}}
Gil Evans{{Cite news |date=1982-11-19 |title=The Jazz of Gil Evans Conducted by Gil Evans |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/19/arts/the-jazz-of-gil-evans-conducted-by-gil-evans.html |access-date=2022-12-19 |issn=0362-4331}}
Suzanne Farrell
Ella Fitzgerald
Freddie Hubbard
Bill T. Jones
Alicia Keys
Ted Koppel{{Cite web |title=The Koppel Report: A Town Hall Meeting With Nelson Mandela {{!}} Vanderbilt Television News Archive |url=https://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/broadcasts/646743 |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=tvnews.vanderbilt.edu}}{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Harlem World |date=2022-07-18 |title=Nelson Mandela Speaks At City College In Harlem, 1990 |url=https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/nelson-mandela-speaks-at-city-college-in-harlem-1990-videos/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Harlem World Magazine |language=en-US}}
David Letterman{{Cite web |last=York |first=The City College of New |date=2018-01-26 |title=A surprise visit from a man who needs no introduction: Obama |url=https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/news/surprise-visit-man-who-needs-no-introduction-obama |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=The City College of New York |language=en-us}}
Nelson Mandela
Patricia McBride
Barack Obama
Paul Smith Trio
Max Roach
Carl Hancock Rux{{cite news |last=Hinckley |first=David |date=May 7, 1998 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/477560363/?terms=%22aaron%20davis%20hall%22%20%22rux%22&match=1 |title=A Record Year for Poetry & Pop |work=Daily News |location=New York |access-date=August 15, 2023 |via=newspapers.com}}
Nancy Wilson
Lillias White{{Cite web |last=York |first=The City College of New |date=2011-10-17 |title=Lillias White Opens Aaron Davis Hall Season November 4 |url=https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/news/Lillias-White-opens-Aaron-Davis-Hall-season |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=The City College of New York |language=en-us}}