With the upcoming opening of Falls Music Center, students and faculty reflect on the evolution of Graves Hall and prepare to say goodbye.
After housing Andover’s music community for well over a century, Graves Hall will no longer serve as Andover’s music building come the start of 2025. As the department prepares to transition into the newly built Falls Music Center in January, Graves will be repurposed as an administrative building.
Constructed in 1883 to serve as a science building, Graves has since evolved into a center of student life and a shared musical community for many. With 19 private practice rooms and the Clift Music Library — filled with over 10,000 recordings and other resources — the Victorian-style building has become an important pillar of campus culture.
Reflecting on her favorite memories in Graves, Holly Barnes, Director of the Chamber Music Program, recalled the first “Coffeehouse,” a concert featuring student songwriters, one of the many traditions that have found its home in Graves. Barnes emphasized her excitement about moving to Falls Music Center.
“When I began teaching songwriting, Music 480, maybe eight or nine years ago. We did our first Coffeehouse in the Timken Room, and now it’s become a tradition… We had so many people there that people were sitting outside,” said Barnes.
Barnes continued, “Knowing that [Graves] is the place that the music department has built the program, it’s a little bittersweet to leave in a way because so many of the programs have taken off in this space. However, at this point, the program far exceeds what the building can offer, so it’s very exciting to begin thinking about moving to a new space, where there’s just a more dedicated space for everybody. [Falls] can expand our curriculum with all the different technologies and it opens up all sorts of possibilities that will keep our program more current.”
Helios Hong ’25, Co-Head of the Phillips Academy Chamber Music Society, described Graves as a center of connection for a diverse community of musicians. Alongside Sophie Tung ’25, Hong is conducting the “Memories From Graves” project, which encourages the Andover community to share photos and reflections about Graves through an online form, in hopes of preserving Graves’ musical legacy.
“When I was a freshman, the [Cochran] Chapel wasn’t available once for orchestra rehearsal, and so we had to squeeze the entire orchestra into the Timken Room… I remember that rehearsal very well because we had to make a lot of adjustments in terms of our volume. I think that it’s in those moments where there’s a problem that we tend to make the best music because we’re really listening to each other,” said Hong.
Hong continued, “Graves is like a big family. Everyone plays different instruments. Some people sing, play drums, and produce music, so it’s a very diverse group of people. Graves is a space where we can all just connect with each other no matter our backgrounds.”
Elliot Chai ’28, who wakes up at 6 a.m. most mornings to practice on Graves’ Steinway pianos, described a deep feeling of connection to the building. Chai looked forward to spending time in a more modern building with newer instruments, though he hoped that Graves could be kept as a music building.
“My favorite memory was playing pieces with nice single notes on this one Steinway in room G4, because it had crisp, clear notes, and it’s able to also show a lot of dynamics on that piano… The windows [of Falls] are very big, so they let in a lot of light. While its design is modern, I remember seeing bricks, so it still fits in with the materials of the other buildings. I feel like a lot of people, especially non-music people, would go there, so it would be nice to keep Graves as a music building. I will miss [Graves’] interesting architecture. The downstairs area of Graves with all the practice rooms is very cozy,” said Chai.
Zach Godsey ’25, who has been involved with the music program throughout his four years at Andover, also appreciated Graves’ memorable architecture. He noted how the design lent Graves a distinct sense of comfort and warmth.
“Graves has been a bit of a small space for a long time, but part of me is really pretty sad to be leaving it. It has a lot of character. I really like the building itself, all the wooden beams. It just feels very lived-in, and that’s something that I’ll definitely miss,” said Godsey.
