HANNIBAL —The sound of music has officially brought an historic church building back to life. The Hannibal Music Academy and Performance Hall officially opened its doors in early January, after an initial delay while awaiting the installation of a required smoke detector system. The system was installed at the end of 2024 by by Behl Electric and Security, LLC.
Carrie Griffen, who purchased the former First United Methodist Church building at 901 Broadway in 2024, coordinated the construction of five music rooms in the building’s lower floor, allowing for lessons to simultaneously take place during the after-school hours of 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
“The teachers love” the music rooms, Griffen said, which provide a “very nice space for the students. I love it when the students come out the door of the lessons all smiles, and come back the next week. That’s the part I really love.”
Griffen gathered together a core group of seven music teachers, who in turn provide instruction for individuals of all ages.
Each teacher brings a unique offering to the studio, providing instruction in guitar, piano, voice, violin, brass, drums and ukulele. “We cover it all,” Griffen said.
Cathleen Olson, violin & mandolin
Chris Johnson, drums & drum line
Adam Brown, ukulele, guitar, woodwinds, brass
Initial goal
Griffen’s goal, when she set out, was to bring 60 music students into the studio weekly, providing quality educational opportunities for each individual. As of this week, she is half-way to fulfilling that goal, enrolling the studio’s 30th student. The long-range goal is 400 students weekly enrolled in private and group lessons.
She is now formulating plans for a children’s choir, which she will conduct, and also the establishment of a drum line.
“The children’s choir is one of my joys, I’d like to eventually have two to three children’s choirs,” she said, at various grade levels.
“Chris Johnson, the drum teacher, is from Alabama,” Griffen said. “He wants to see a drum line in Hannibal, and I want to support that, make it happen.”
As plans formulate, “I’ll be sending out information to all the school districts,” she said.
Instrument repair
A unique feature of the studio is an instrument repair service, provided by Halpin Music in Alton, Ill. “There is a two-week turnaround; they will get their instrument back, repaired in two weeks.”
Music background
Griffen herself is a life-long musician, studying in her youth under Pat Perkins and Dorothy McElroy.
She holds a master’s degree in music education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and taught music in various public schools for 14 years, to an estimated 10,000 students.
In addition, she taught private voice and piano lessons for 25 years; and she directed the Lincoln County Community Choir in the early 2000s, as well as hand bell choirs.
It takes a village
Carrie’s friends and family have stepped forward to help her achieve her goal of establishing a music studio in Hannibal.
“All the Griffen family, especially my siblings, have really stood up and helped make this dream come true.”
She is the daughter of Mary Francis Griffen, 81, who lives in St. Charles.
Her siblings and their spouses are: Daisy and Doug Skelly, Brian and Lorna Griffen, April and Logan Waugh, Holly and Wayne Belle, Scott and Laura Griffen, Walter and Kathy Griffen, and Cathy and Richard Pence. Cousins who have helped include Steve and Laura Turner, along with close friends Dale Walker and Gary Gibson.
Also offering support have been Carrie’s children, Rebecca Johnson, and Anmol Jain and Noelle Johnson.
A ministry
“The music school is my ministry,” Griffen said, “it makes me happy.” She grew up in the church that is now her studio, so she understands the building’s unique characteristics.
Despite setbacks, “I love my project, and I love my school. I still love the church building, even though there have been trials. I got the smoke detector system done so I was able to open the business. I’m getting more students almost every day, and I’m happy about that.”
The future will include concerts in the former church sanctuary, including a flute concert by Helene Lowney March 30.
Lowney is a musician, composer, and performer, holding a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in flute performance from California State University, Fullerton.
While an early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis shifted her professional trajectory, she continues to find creative expression through composition, piano, the Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI), and innovative sound engineering, crafting performances that blend technology with emotional depth and artistic flair.
In addition to this first concert, “I have multiple country singers who are wanting to perform,” Griffen said, and a duet from Oregon is coming July 27,” she said. “There is a local bluegrass group that will perform this spring.
“The stage area is a nice size, perfect for a 4-5 piece band. The high ceilings and arches provide good acoustics, and the performance hall seats 250 people.
“I’m looking forward to filling those seats,” she said.
In addition, the former church building is available for weddings and receptions.
The building includes commercial kitchen, which can be utilized by the caterers, and a reception hall, which can hold 200.
