Stockton Pegs Dante Hall as Home for Bay-Atlantic Symphony

The is bringing its Bay-Atlantic Symphony to Atlantic City.

Stockton President Herman Saatkamp and Symphony representatives signed an agreement on Monday, June 25 to make in Atlantic City the premier home of the Symphony along the Atlantic Ocean, Stockton announced.

The Symphony was represented by Executive Director Paul D. Herron, Music Director Jed Gaylin and Board President Robert Woodruff.

“We are pleased to welcome the Bay-Atlantic Symphony to the Atlantic City Arts District, and look forward to their music and upcoming concerts," Saatkamp said. "The one-year anniversary of Stockton’s collaboration with Dante Hall Theater just passed at the beginning of this month, and there is no better way to celebrate that milestone than by welcoming a symphony of world-class musicians to the venue.”  

Stockton took over theater operations last June. Since then, a variety of performing arts and musical programs have been offered, and a State Senate and Assembly was held there in September, Stockton officials said. The theater will sponsor the Downbeach Film Festival’s Atlantic City Cinefest, Oct. 12-14.

“The Bay-Atlantic Symphony believes great music is for everyone and our mission is to share great music with all of southern New Jersey," Herron said. "Our new presence at Stockton’s Dante Hall Theater in the heart of Atlantic City’s burgeoning arts district provides the perfect location to cultivate our innovative programming and transformative performances to audiences within the Greater Atlantic City area.”

The Symphony was founded in 1983 and became the Orchestra in Residence 10 years later, according to Stockton officials. 

Last year, the Symphony performed five free concerts at Dante Hall, and has four concerts scheduled Oct. 4-7 at the venue for the Atlantic City Music Festival, according to Stockton officials.

It has also performed numerous concerts on campus, in both the Performing Arts Center and the Campus Center Theater, as well as at the Carnegie Center in Atlantic City, Stockton officials said.

St. Michael's Catholic Church built Dante Hall in 1926 for use as a church hall, school gym, and community theater, and as a home for the St. Michael’s Opera Company, according to Stockton officials. It is located in the heart of Ducktown.

It was closed by St. Michael's in the 1980's, and was vacant until 2003, according to Stockton officials. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority reopened the hall with an 18-month, $3.5 million renovation project, according to Stockton officials.