Chenery Auditorium

04/01/2025

April 1 is the birthday of composer and pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff, born in 1873 in Starorussky Uyezd, Russia. Rachmaninoff performed at Kalamazoo’s Chenery Auditorium one hundred years ago in 1925.

Watch Charles Richard-Hamelin perform Rachmaninoff’s Morceaux de Fantaisie, Op. 3 during our 2019-2020 Rising Stars series: https://youtu.be/pjmouSZd-XM

03/31/2025

KPS is looking for a new auditorium manager to oversee all operations at Chenery and our school auditoriums. If you'd like to join our team or know someone who would be a great candidate, you can find the job posting and apply at:

03/20/2025

Have you seen the new banners outside of Chenery celebrating its 100th anniversary? The new Chenery logo has the tagline, memories you can hear. What memories do you have of Chenery Auditorium?

03/20/2025

Saturday evening’s 100th Celebration Concert will feature an original composition, “A Day and a Night,” by Kalamazoo Central student Hamza Ahmed performed by the combined high school bands. Hamza is pictured with conductors Aaron Mirakovits (l) and Ryan Kasperski (r).

03/16/2025

There have been so many incredible artists who have performed on our stage over the past 100 years!

Today marks the 100 year anniversary of Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor, Sergi Rachmaninoff performing right here in Kalamazoo at the historic Chenery Auditorium! We applaud and admire our community's long-standing commitment to supporting the arts and are proud to be a part of keeping that passion alive and well 100 years later.

03/11/2025

Did you know? The legendary James Earl Jones signed this Speed Bump comic when he visited Chenery Auditorium in 2002.

03/09/2025

Did you know? Chick Corea performed a jazz concert at Chenery Auditorium and on March 22, a Gilmore piano student will play his composition "Children's Song No. 16"during the community concert celebrating Chenery's 100th Auditorium. Free tickets are available at chenery100.eventbrite.com

03/09/2025

Did you know? In February 1973, the Kalamazoo Central auditorium was renamed Chenery Auditorium in honor of Howard Chenery, a dedicated theater educator. Born in 1895, Chenery had a lifelong passion for the theater, working as a performer, teacher, and playwright. He directed more than 300 plays and musicals at Kalamazoo Central, where he taught drama for over three decades. Chenery also wrote plays and textbooks. His influence extended beyond Kalamazoo Central. He helped establish Richland Village Players, which was the precursor to of the Barn Theatre, in Augusta, and acted with the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre. He believed theater should offer more than entertainment, encouraging it to contribute meaningfully to American life.

02/28/2025

📣Special Announcement: Chenery Auditorium will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a special community concert featuring Kalamazoo Public Schools students, and members of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestras, Gilmore Piano Festival Education Program students, and the Kalamazoo Concert Band.

To reserve your free tickets, go to

Join Kalamazoo Public Schools in a special concert celebrating Chenery Auditorium’s 100th anniversary as a community cultural center.

02/22/2025

🎙️ It’s show time!

See you tonight at Chenery Auditorium at 7:30pm! 🎶