Ground breaking ceremony for McMahan Hall (April 24, 2007)

McMahan Hall, which will be located adjacent to the current Presser Hall location (between Presser and the Lynn Business Center) will provide much needed new facilities for the School of Music at Stetson University. The new building will, by means of an enclosed bridge, connect directly with Presser Hall.

While an impressive "stand alone" building, McMahan Hall is being designed to directly join with the future Performance Center, thereby becoming both an expansion of the spaces in Presser Hall and an important feature in what will eventually become a three-part music campus as Presser, McMahan, and the future performance center are integrated into the School of Music.

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The funding for McMahan Hall has been established by a number of significant gifts to Stetson and the School of Music, with key funding from Dick and Mary McMahan. These generous gifts provide opportunity for Stetson, the faculty in the School of Music, and the music students for years to come. We hope that you will consider joining us as we build McMahan Hall. There are several naming opportunities still available, but the time to finalize plans for the new building is drawing close. If you are interest in being part of Stetson's School of Music through a generous donation, or by being a patron of one of the naming opportunities below, please contact Dr. Jean West, Dean at 386.822.8960.

McMahan Hall Naming Opportunities

- Rehearsal Hall Named

- Percussion Studio $35,000

- Teaching Studio $30,000

- Library $25,000

- Instrument Storage Room Named

- Percussion Practice Room $10,000

- General Gift Any Amount

DICK AND MARY BLOUNT MCMAHAN of DeLand are making the lead gift for Stetson University's new Mary B. McMahan Hall. The McMahans have long supported Stetson and regularly enjoy the concerts, recitals and operas offered by the School of Music. She is a member of the School of Music Board of Advisors, and he serves on the university's Board of Trustees. Both are board members of the Florida International Festival, and she is a former member of the DeLand Planning Board and the Cultural Arts Center Board.

An investor and developer, McMahan said he wanted the gift to honor his wife and to say "thank you" to School of Music Dean Jim Woodward and President Doug and First Lady Margaret Lee. Dean Woodward retired May 31, 2007, and President Lee will retire in 2009.

"We love music, and Stetson is a major force in the DeLand community--socially, economically and politically," he said. "It's a beautiful little building, right in the heart of campus, and I'm proud to honor my wife in this way."