Fifty years ago, chamber music concerts in Ann Arbor were a relative rarity, presented in an assortment of venues including University Hall (the precursor to Hill Auditorium), Hill Auditorium, Newberry Hall and the current home of the Kelsey Museum. When Horace H. Rackham, a Detroit lawyer who believed strongly in the importance of the study of human history and human thought, died in 1933, his will established the Horace H. Rackham and Mary A. Rackham Fund, which subsequently awarded the University of Michigan the funds not only to build the Horace H. Rackham Graduate School which houses Rackham Auditorium, but also to establish a $4 million endowment to further the development of graduate studies. Even more remarkable than the size of the gift, which is still considered one of the most ambitious ever given to higher-level education, is the fact that neither of the Rackhams ever attended the University of Michigan.
Designed by architect William Kapp and architectural sculptor Corrado Parducci, Rackham Auditorium was quickly recognized as the ideal venue for chamber music. In 1941, the Musical Society presented its first chamber music festival with the Musical Art Quartet of New York performing three concerts in as many days, and the current Chamber Arts Series was born in 1963. Chamber music audiences and artists alike appreciate the intimacy, beauty and fine acoustics of the 1,129-seat auditorium, which has been the location for hundreds of chamber music concerts throughout the years.
Access for Persons with Disabilities
All seating in the auditorium is on the main floor with no stairs. There is a wheelchair ramp on the Washington Street side of the building.
Rackham Auditorium is equipped with assistive listening devices. Earphones may be obtained upon arrival. Please ask an usher for assistance.
Entrances and Elevators
The main entrance is off of Washington Street. Elevators for the upper level are found on either side of the lobby.
Ticket Office Location
For ticket sales and ticket pick-up, see the Rackham ticket booth, located on the left side of the lobby as you enter the building. The Ticket Office opens 90 minutes prior to the performance and remains open until 30 minutes after the performance begins.