Band Facilities
Simmons Music Building
The Susan and Jimmy Simmons Music Building underwent a $7,500,000 total renovation beginning in 2008 and was completed in the spring of 2011. The new building contains a recital hall, a rehearsal hall, classrooms, piano laboratory, computer laboratory, recording studio and recording booth, twenty faculty studios, and sixteen sound-absorbing music practice rooms, as well as a departmental administrative suite, a workroom, and band office facilities.
Charles A. “Pete” Wiley Rehearsal Hall
Wiley Rehearsal Hall, named for one of Lamar’s long-time director of bands, is the rehearsal venue for all our instrumental ensembles. The hall also offers audio-visual support with one video and screen combination, an adjacent instrument storage room, and in-room storage for percussion and marching band equipment.
Rothwell Recital Hall
The Rothwell Recital Hall now has improved acoustics, designed by expert acousticians, which provides a superb venue for faculty and student recitals. With 121 in built-in seats, the hall allows for approximately 80 moveable seats to accommodate choral rehearsals on a stair-stepped design. Fully integrated audio-video components offer three different video and screen combinations for greater flexibility in using the hall as a classroom or as a performance venue.
Recording Studio
The recording facility provides a state-of-the-art multi-track environment for ensembles of any size and the capability to record audio from either Rothwell Recital Hall or Wiley Rehearsal Hall. Designed by the late Dr. J. Wayne Dyess, in conjunction with Dr. Nick Rissman, the booth equipment is used by composition students as well. The attached studio provides a sound-proof environment for smaller recording needs.
Classrooms
Classrooms in the building offer intimate spaces for major and non-major music classes. Each classroom has audio and video capabilities built in.
All faculty studios and practice rooms were constructed with special sound-proofing methods, as well as in-room acoustical panels specifically catered to each individual studio.
Computer Lab
The computer laboratory contains 16 work stations, plus a teacher station, with the latest in Apple iMac computers.
Piano Lab
The piano lab, used in a collaborative piano setting for class piano, offers the best in Yamaha, Clavinova, and Roland electric pianos, with weighted keys, for an experience closer to playing a studio piano. The lab contains 13 pianos, offering small-to-medium sized classes with integrated headphones for the players and the instructor.
Julie Rogers Theatre
The Julie Rogers Theatre is a historic performing arts theater located on Pearl Street in downtown Beaumont, Texas. Although originally built in 1928, it has been renovated in both 1982 and 2007 to be the premiere performing arts auditorium in southeast Texas. The hall includes 1,253 seats in orchestra seating, 144 seats in loge seating, and 266 seats in balcony seating.
The Julie Rogers Theater is the primary performance venue for the LU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. The bands typically perform two concerts in the hall each semester. It is also the primary performance venue for the Symphony of Southeast Texas, Beaumont Civic Opera, Beaumont Civic Ballet and Beaumont Ballet Theatre.
University Theatre
The University Theatre is a 500-seat proscenium hall used for large musical and other theatrical productions, dance concerts, University-wide speaking engagements, fundraisers, and music events. It includes a spacious lobby, two dressing rooms, the costume shop and storage, scenic shop, paint shop and loading dock. The space is equipped with a state-of-the art sound system.
Montagne Center
The Montagne Center has been the home of Lamar University basketball for the past 30 years. Opened on Nov. 24, 1984, the facility is named for the late A.H. (Bob) Montagne, a 22-year member of Lamar’s board of regents.
Provost Umphrey Stadium
The Lamar Cardinals play in one of the best Division I FCS venues in the nation, thanks in large part to the generosity of donors like Walter Umphrey and his partners at Provost Umphrey law firm.