History
Originally built in 1930 as the Shaare Emeth Temple, this beautiful Art Decco styled building was home to the Saint Louis Conservatory and School for the Arts (CASA) from 1974-1994. Following the merger of the St. Louis Symphony and CASA in 1994, the building housed the St. Louis Symphony Community Music School. In September 2001, the Community Music School joined with Webster University. In October 2006, Washington University took possession of the facility as an extension of the Department of Music and its Applied Music program.
Specialties
The 560 Music Center houses the E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall, which seats up to 1092 guests, the Ballroom Theatre, which can accommodate up to 300 guests, and a Recital Hall that can seat up to 70 guests. The space is ideal for a variety of events ranging from solo recitals to symphony concerts to wedding receptions and corporate events. Space priorities are given to the Department of Music and Washington University functions, but performance spaces are made available to campus and community organizations.