The holiday concert was broadcast Christmas Eve on CBS affiliates and featured performances from both students and faculty members including the Berea College Folk Roots Ensemble, Concert Choir, Jazz Ensemble and Bluegrass Ensemble along with a reading from a copy of the St. John's Bible, the first handwritten and illuminated Bible published since the invention of the modern printing press.
Naturally, the Berea Chapel was not designed with the intention of being utilized as a television event space, meaning lighting designer Mark Carver had to fashion a lighting system that would fit the venue, compliment the various music stylings and translate well on television to the millions watching at home.
"Through the use of colour, we tried to set a particular tone and mood that fit with all the different types of performances, largely based on size and make up of group and tempo of song," Carver explained. "It came off looking very nice on camera."
Carver used GLPX4s to tone walls for colour and definition of the school's chapel, creating a warm and inviting holiday feel, while Martin MAC Auras provided back light and colour for the performers along with audience light. Additionally, Bandit's exclusive GRNLite LED pars lit columns in addition to audience tone.
"I used the VL2500 spots for gobo patterns and specials, Robe points for air effects and the LED Strips for upstage wall colour," Carver said.
Bandit also supplied ETC Source Four pars, Lycian M2 Spots, Color Kinetics Color Blaze 72s and a Road Hog for control.
"Mark Carver and executive producer Mac Pirkle gave us an early Christmas present by allowing us to be a part of a very beautiful event," said Bandit's vice president Mike Golden. "They really made this event run flawlessly from conception through completion and made this an awesome kick off to the holiday season."
"Mike Golden and project supervisor Matt King delivered a well prepped package straight to specifications," said Carver, "and on site gaffer Cole Kiracofe, Board Op Aaron Swetland and Bandit tech Cody Cheatham met all challenges and delivered a superior system meeting all expectations; very good team effort and great attitudes."
(Jim Evans)
