Estonia - Robe was the moving light of choice for the 2022 Saaremaa Opera Festival staged in a purpose-built tented arena erected beside the charismatic Kuressaare Castle in the south of Saaremaa Island which was the dramatic location for five days of popular opera and other performances, all presented this year by the Silesian Opera (Opera Śląska) from Bytom, Poland.
The substantial venue measured 30m wide by 60m long and accommodated 8000 guests over five days. The event was organised by Eesti Concert and saw a repertoire programme comprising operas Romeo & Juliet and La Traviata, a gala show, a Mozart evening with a ballet production of his Requiem and a specially created children’s opera.
Polish LD Dominik Ksol created a production lighting design to cover all five shows, and was assisted in Estonia by Andres Sarv and Tõnis Järs from E&T, the local rental company supplying the lighting including the 67 x Robes luminaires, which comprised two BMFL WashBeams and two BMFL Blades, 15 x MMX Blades, 18 x LEDWash 800s and nine MMX Spots for the moving lights, plus 21 x ParFect SW (smart white) LED PARs.
All these fixtures were selected for their intensity, colours, quietness, reliability, and the general flexibility they brought to the 28m-wide by 15m-deep stage, which also featured a large upstage LED screen.
Andres and Tõnis received Dominik’s lighting plot and started replicating it with the kit that was available from E&T. Onsite they worked with a full lighting crew of 12 for the get in and the rig

Austria – Guitar player Nita Strauss has played and toured with Alice Cooper for years and is currently with Demi Lovato. Earlier this year, Strauss became the first female rock solo artist in 32 years to hit number one on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart with her song Dead Inside. She’s also had a successful solo career, including her album Controlled Chaos.
She is believed to be a descendant of Austrian composer Johann Strauss on her father’s side and keeping in concert with her Austrian connection, Strauss has been using Austrian Audio microphones on stage.
"Austrian Audio checks all the boxes for a working musician - pristine, clear sound in a stylish package,” says Strauss. “We have been using them on our recent tour with Black Label Society." The band, completed a 17-stop US tour earlier this year, putting the microphones to the test - the OD505 Active Dynamic Mic for lead vocals, a couple of the match-pair OC18 condensers on amps, three CC8 cardioid true condenser mics on drum overheads and hi-hats.
“The OD505 is her main vocal mic on stage,” adds Josh Villata, Nita’s long-time boyfriend, partner and manager. “These mics are always reliable. Clean, and pristine sound and our front of house guy loves them, so that tells me what I need to know.”
“We are so honoured that Nita is a fan of our mics,” says Martin Seidl, CEO of Austrian Audio. “She was the first ever female Ibanez signature artist with her own model guitar. You never know, maybe we should ask her if she’d like her own signature mic

Germany - Cameo has introduced the P-Series. These LED profile spotlights are aimed at professional users from the theatre, TV and event sectors and are available in Tungsten, Daylight and Full-Colour versions. In addition to its light output and flexible handling, the P-series also features high CRI and TLCI values as well as a lifelike white light and colour rendering.
The P series includes the P2 T (Tungsten, 3,200 K), P2 D (Daylight, 5,900 K) and P2 FC (Full-Colour, RGBAL) models. With a light output of up to 17,000 lm (P2 FC), the P2 profilers are the perfect replacement for conventional 1kW profiled spotlights. The units can be flexibly adapted to different stage requirements via a variety of optional interchangeable lenses. There is a choice of interchangeable lenses with fixed beam angles (19°, 26°, 36° and 50°) as well as zoom lenses for the ranges 15°-30° and 25°-50°.
They can be used in combination with the optionally available Cameo iDMX Stick to control the LED profile spotlights not only via DMX and RDM, but also wirelessly via W-DMX.

UK - Owned by the True North Brew Co, The Old Grindstone in Crookes is a popular Sheffield pub which recently underwent an extensive programme of refurbishment.
Essential to the overall refurbishment, particularly in the light of the pub’s commitment to a wide programme of events, was to install a high-quality, versatile and flexible zonal audio system that could fulfil a wide range of demands. The pub needed to be able to separately control audio for four music zones, five TV screens, meeting room, and two recently installed upstairs karaoke pods. Any solution needed to be powerful enough to meet all the requirements whilst being simultaneously easy to operate for the venue staff.
Sheffield-based Audio Engineering Services was engaged to install the new system. Audio Engineering Services’ Andy Fisher consulted with Polar’s Integrated Solutions team about a potential audio processing solution that met the criteria.
Polar’s Andy Plunkett recommended the Atmosphere AZM8 8-zone audio processor from Atlas IED and, based on Andy Fisher’s information about what the pub required, put together a design for the system with suggestions for the different ways in which it could be used. The system includes an Atlas C-ZSV Zone Source and Volume Wall Controller, and two A-RCA remote audio inputs, for use with the main background music system inputs, audio routing, volume control and scene activation.
“It was my first time using the Atmosphere processor, and I was slightly concerned about how complicated the setup would be,” says Andy. “I ha

Hungary - The long-standing relationship between Capital Sound (part of the Solotech UK Group) and the major week-long Hungarian Sziget Festival, resumed this year after the two-year hiatus.
This six-day event on the Danube - situated on the remote Hajógyári Island (Óbudai-sziget), north of Budapest - draws between 500,000-600,000 visitors, and always pulls a major list of global superstars across its stages. This year was no exception, with Dua Lipa, Arctic Monkeys, Stromae, Kings of Leon, Lewis Capaldi, Tame Impala, Nina Kravitz and Sam Fender among the many familiar faces.
The technical infrastructure included Martin Audio’s MLA loudspeaker array, which has been a regular and reassuring sight for audiences and visiting sound crews alike on main stage since 2015.
According to Robin Conway, Solotech senior technical advisor, the main stage sound design continues to evolve as the production team strives for increased perfection, once again working alongside Hungarian audio crew chief and system designer, Marci Mezei, and local Martin Audio partners, BG Event.
They were fortunate to be able to benefit once again from the huge experience of Mezei, who has been involved with Sziget since 2001, initially starting on the smallest Pesti Est stage, before working up to main stage since 2004. And he ensured the partnership with Solotech once again produced a slick outcome.
BG Event provided auxiliary support for an inventory which included nearly 200 enclosures deployed on main stage alone, along with rigging, cabling, racks, chain hoists a

Germany - After industry expert Dirk Möhlenbrock joined the HOF sales team at the beginning of the year, the HOF team has now gained another event technology expert in Dominik Rieskamp.
Dominik has been working in the industry for over 13 years and is already very familiar with HOF's portfolio. As key account manager, he will look after HOF's major customers in the German-speaking countries.

USA - Pliant Technologies will showcase its CCU-08 CrewCom Control Unit at LDI 2022 (Booth 406). The CCU-08 is the latest addition to the CrewCom system and gives users the ability to use up to eight 4-Wire ports while retaining all the same features of the current companion CCU-22 and CCU-44 products.
Like the current Control Units, the CCU-08 Control Unit contains no radio and is frequency agnostic and can therefore control and monitor any device across CrewNet regardless of radio frequency bands being utilised. With the combination of CrewCom Radio Transceivers, the new CCU-08 supports up to 82 Radio Packs, 18 in Normal mode and 64 in the recently released High Density mode, across all RF bands. Up to four CCU Control Units can be used in one system for larger user counts.
“The new CCU-08 is designed for applications that need additional I/O but do not require 2-wire connectivity,” says Gary Rosen, vice president of global sales for Pliant Technologies. “LDI is the perfect avenue to showcase our newest hardware and put a spotlight on our new high-density mode feature. As holiday productions are ramping up, there is a need to communicate with additional personnel. With our new high-density mode, which is a selectable mode of operation that greatly increases user densities, productions can easily add additional wireless personnel as needed.”
The CCU-08 is designed for larger production/events, rental houses, large theatre productions, and house of worship applications. The latest CrewCom firmware update includes the recently released High D

UK - Beabadoobee, the first full band show at Electric Group’s NX Newcastle, and similarly sold-out turns by localist Andrew Cushin, Liverpool hitmakers the Wombats and London post-punkers Black Midi, amplify the new venue’s accessibility, standard-setting sightlines, sound and provision.
Up the stairs into the main room, via Instagrammable city colours décor and the NX logo, ticketholders are met with a full, unmitigated view of the stage.
The sound system features Encore’s d&b J Series PA, driven by Allen & Heath desks.
John Tinline, managing director at Encore Sounds, says: “We spec’d the PA by committee, working with Electric Group and the architect, developing the original want for a ‘facsimile of the system in Electric Brixton’, which works so well, to accommodate the tiers at NX. It’s a great sounding room.”
The 1,550 strong Beabadoobee crowd, predominantly teens/20-somethings, take full advantage of the next generation space. They fill the sprung dancefloor and the tiered galleries/platforms – a product of Electric Group’s initiative to cut the distance between performer and audience – as Beabadoobee, picked out by the Chauvet Maverick lighting rig, plays in front of the cover of her Beatopia album cast across the 7m by 6m video wall behind the band.
The artist experience at NX Newcastle is equally 2020s. Incoming events are guaranteed a clear stage, house equipment packed away in the substantial storage provision, three carpeted dressing rooms downstairs, each with its own bathroom/show

USA - Thunder Audio recently powered Pitbull’s Can’t Stop Us Now tour with JBL Professional VTX line array systems and Crown amplifiers in stadiums and amphitheatres across North America.
Following the success of his I Feel Good Tour in 2021, Pitbull’s Can’t Stop Us Now 2022 Tour is presented by Live Nation and features performances by Iggy Azalea and Sirius XM’s Globalization DJs in addition to the Cuban-American superstar himself. The 50+ date North American tour began in Raleigh, North Carolina in July and concluded in Hollywood, Florida on 19 October.
Pitbull’s veteran front-of-house engineer Will Madera and production manager Victor Martinez hired Thunder Audio to supply a complete stadium-ready JBL VTX system for the three-month tour. With the help of system engineer Nick Turner, the audio team selected and designed a touring sound solution consisting of VTX line array speakers and subwoofers, powered by Crown amplifiers.
“I wanted the unique sound that the JBL VTX Series provides,” said Will Madera, front-of-house engineer with Pitbull. “We needed a system that could simultaneously deliver an urban sound and a pop sound. The VTX system checks all the boxes we were looking for on this tour, which requires me to mix a live band with an urban pop sound. The system response is balanced with plenty of lows and translates my mix very clearly. I definitely look forward to carrying JBL VTX line arrays on future tours.”
The tour’s sound system features numerous speaker models from the VTX family of pro sound

USA - The 53rd Annual GMA Dove Awards gathered in Nashville ‘to celebrate Christian and Gospel performers, fellowship and honour God’. The performance packed night also saw Grammy Award-winning CeCe Winans named as Artist of the Year and Song of the Year for her No. 1 Billboard hit, Believe for It.
While the theme of the awards was Sound of Heaven, production designer Scott Moore worked hard to make sure the visuals were just as phenomenal, selecting a linear design that gave the set a contemporary take on a classic Art Deco look.
“I attempted to incorporate that linear concept into everything from truss layout, scenic choices and the Edgelight installation while leaving (lighting designer) Mark Carver the ability to insert lighting fixtures in a variety of locations,” said Moore. “The end result was a clean and efficient design aesthetic that accommodated the various requirements of award shows including a large performance space, a location for hosts, a location for presenters/award recipients and the ability to get personnel, equipment and talent on and off stage safely and efficiently.”
The night featured performances from a host of genres, including rock, soul, rap, bluegrass, pop and country performers on the same stage.
“It is our goal that each artist’s lighting look be totally unique in colour and tone while ensuring the overall variety of lighting looks within the show,” said Carver.
Bandit Lites supplied more than 320 fixtures for the awards including Ayrton Khamsin S, Chauvet Maverick MK Pyxis for

UK - Absen partnered with PSCo, Garden Studios and cinematography hire house Procam Take 2, to host the inaugural edition of its Virtual Production Forum on 20 October. Held in Garden Studios’ dedicated VP production facility, the event combined talks, panel discussions and educational content, alongside a scripted live action VP short Going Home, complete with acting, direction, and editing, all played out in real time.
Introducing the day, Brian Macauto, VP industry development director for Absen said: “We are increasingly seeing the impact of LED in filmmaking, and we are pleased to be supporting the virtual production trend with this event. We have put together an event today which helps to explain the latest innovative tech and to highlight the possibilities - we see this vibrant market as full of potential and we want to continue to collaborate with exciting partners in this industry to keep pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve together.”
The team created a film theatre environment in the VP Studio, using the Absen PL2.5 Pro V10 as the backdrop. The Virtual Production Forum began with a VP, where are we now? talk and went on to include sessions covering VP build, workflows, and pipelines, as well as panel discussions that saw industry professionals share their experiences of working in VP, and amongst other insights, offer advice on how to upskill to take advantage of the new opportunities opening up thanks to the explosion of interest in VP.
Film industry technologist and Absen’s newly appointed VP consultant,

Germany - The State Theatre on Gärtnerplatz, commonly known as the Gärtnerplatztheater, was opened in 1865 and its late-classical façade still characterises the ambience of the square in the centre of Munich that gives it its name. Last year, the theatre was converted to digital microphone technology from Sennheiser.
The repertoire of the Gärtnerplatztheater includes performances from all areas of musical theatre, from musicals and modern operettas to revues. The main performance venue is the grand auditorium, which is designed as a classical tiered theatre (balcony with a central box and three galleries) and can accommodate an audience of just under 900 people.
Dirk Buttgereit has been head of the sound department at the Gärtnerplatztheater since 2003. “We’ve been using Sennheiser wireless solutions for many years,” Buttgereit reports. “Even back in the 1980s, the theatre was already equipped with wireless systems from Sennheiser. These included a system working in the VHF range, which we operated with an impressive 12 channels. As part of a refurbishment in 2007, we acquired 24 Sennheiser wireless channels from the 3000 series. In 2014, we added 12 channels from the 2000 series, making a total of 36 channels available overall.”
Buttgereit adds: “In summer 2021, the acquisition of a new digital mixing console gave us the ideal opportunity to convert the entire Gärtnerplatztheater to state-of-the-art digital wireless systems. Nowadays, there are so many wireless signals in the air even inside a theatre that the Sennheiser digital m

Europe - Sustainable event power specialist, Power Logistics, has announced plans for its expansion into Europe. The first stage of this development programme is the establishment of a permanent base in Cork, Ireland. To better serve the needs of its Irish client base, Power Logistics has identified that having both an experienced team as well as equipment permanently based there will allow the company to deliver temporary power solutions efficiently and cost-effectively to the events and entertainment industry.
Power Logistics has been supporting Ireland’s premier outdoor events and concerts for over 15 years. This summer has seen the company deliver temporary power solutions for the numerous shows held within Live at the Marquee, Cork, and Iveagh Gardens, Dublin, alongside high-profile acts such as Garth Brooks and Elton John.
Commenting on this recent development, Power Logistics’ director, Pete Wills, stated “We have been operating successfully and delivering temporary power solutions to some of Ireland’s most prestigious events for more than 15 years now and, post-pandemic, we only see this expanding further. There is a real opportunity for growth and, whilst having equipment and personnel permanently based in Ireland, we can ensure we remain competitive. This also supports our ability to deliver sustainable solutions which remains a key focus for the business.”
Further announcements regarding Power Logistics’ expansion programme across Europe will follow in the coming months.

Japan - Kennedy House, a noted nightspot in Tokyo’s Ginza area reflects the classic hits popular in Japan from the 1960s through the 1980s.
The Hibino Lighting team kept this goal firmly in mind when redesigning the lighting rig at the club, which opened its Ginza branch in 1985. “Songs from the classic era make up most of the music at this venue,” said Hiroshi Adachi of Hibino Lighting. “Most of the clientele grew up in that era. They come here to enjoy a meal, listen to music, and have fun. So, we wanted to create lighting that contributed to this atmosphere without interfering with the artists on stage.”
Evoking the right atmosphere was only part of the Hibino team’s mission. They also had to ensure that their design would be camera friendly, since Kennedy House videos these performances for streaming. They achieved both goals with a balanced, flexible rig that features 42 Chauvet Professional fixtures from Hibino’s own lighting inventory.
Drawing on his experience as a lighting designer for Japanese TV music programmes, Adachi designed a rig that enlivens the stage without creating distractive images on camera. For example, understanding how the round light of a follow spotlight behind the stage could sometimes spoil the scenery, he arranged fixtures so that front light would brighten up the performers wherever they walked on the stage.
Additionally, he placed moving lights so they create richly textured gobo images on the background. By doing so he ensured that a bright, engaging background would fill the video screen even w

Germany - d&b audiotechnik has announced the appointment of Jan Biermann, head of research and development at d&b, to the Board of Directors of the Open Control Architecture (OCA) Alliance. The OCA Alliance is a non-profit corporation formed to promote and support the AES70 standard for Open Control Architecture as a system control standard for professional applications.
The Alliance, which was founded in 2011, supports the development and evolution of the AES70 standard and promotes its adoption through marketing, education and training. In addition, the Alliance develops new AES70 revisions and related materials to increase the value and usability of AES70 as an interoperability tool for the media systems industry.
“d&b has been a supporter of the Alliance since its founding. Hence I am very excited for the opportunity to join the OCA Board of Directors and reaffirm d&b’s commitment to OCA and the open public standard for media network control,” commented Biermann. “AV systems often work within complex networked environments. As AV media networking expands, Open Control Architecture assures compatibility with existing and future transport protocols.”
“d&b is a founding member and long-time contributor to the OCA Alliance, and on behalf of the organisation, we are pleased to welcome Jan to the board of directors,” comments Bill Scott, OCA Alliance president. “We look forward to bringing Jan’s insights and experience to the organization to continue to drive the AES70 standard and OCA ecosystem.”
Biermann

South Korea - HH Electronics, part of the Headstock Group of companies, has announced the appointment of Koil Corporation as its official distribution partner in South Korea. Koil will work closely with both HH and Generation AV, HH’s appointed sales agency in the region.
Koil’s president, Jo Mi Jung, is enthusiastic about the new partnership: "Koil Corporation is thrilled to work with HH Electronics, a company with long history and clear passion for the audio industry. HH Electronics’ product line-ups will be optimal choice not only for our sales channels but also for end-users."
Ian Wright, Headstock’s director of global sales agrees, “We’re very happy to be embarking on this exciting new partnership with Koil and look forward to seeing the HH brand continue to grow and thrive within the region. As a highly professional, well-respected company with a very talented and experienced team, Koil is the perfect partner for HH in Korea. We look forward to building a strong, long-term relationship with them.”
James Laney, Headstock CEO, adds: “We are delighted to be working with Koil. We share a mutual goal to fulfil the potential for HH products in Korea and look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

Finland - Genelec has appointed Kati Pajukallio as AV business manager and Sami Mäkinen as AV sales manager for Finland. These new appointments will bring Genelec even closer to its key customers and help drive continued growth in both international and domestic AV markets, says the company.
Pajukallio joined Genelec last year, bringing with her a wealth of AV industry experience, having previously worked in marketing communications roles for Electrosonic and Audico Systems, both highly regarded integrators. As AV business manager, she will now lead Genelec’s global AV Installation business, helping to develop the company’s international presence by developing its AV portfolio and partner network. As well as strengthening Genelec’s reach and relationships with customers, Pajukallio’s strong marketing background will be fundamental in helping to shape the company’s profile in this key market segment.
Sami Mäkinen has been a key part of the Genelec sales management team since 2007, and he has concentrated exclusively on the AV market for the last seven years. As Finnish AV sales manager, Mäkinen will handle pre-sales and sales pipeline management, account management and local marketing co-operations, and will look to build on Genelec’s very strong presence in the premium AV Installation market in Finland, increasing the levels of cooperation with local AV integrators and installers.
Mäkinen will work closely with sales engineer Henri Ulmanen, who will continue his role in the Finnish AV team by focussing on sales channel education, te

China - Hangzhou Esports Centre, the first professional esports venue in China, recently opened its doors to esports professionals. The starship-shaped venue is a suitable fit for the futuristic and science-fiction feel of esports, but due to the large event space with a long reverberation time, it was a challenge to find an audio system that could achieve the extremely high requirements for esports competitions.
Tasked with providing the overall solution for the Hangzhou Esports Centre project, Zhejiang Dafeng Industry Co, along with AV distributor and provider, EZPro, designed and delivered a comprehensive PA system utilising a range of products from Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW).
The venue’s new PA system consists of 36 EAW KF810P line array systems, 12 EAW SB818P|F single 18-inch subwoofers, six EAW SB180zP compact high-output subwoofers, and fill speakers from EAW’s catalogue. The system was also designed with EASE4.4 and EAW Resolution sound field simulation software.
The 36 EAW KF810Ps are divided into six groups of six to achieve even sound coverage throughout the esports centre, while the SB818P|F single 18-inch subwoofers are hung above each group of the full-range line arrays to extend the lower cut-off. All the loudspeakers are centrally hung above the four-side LED funnel-shaped screens inside the venue.
Additionally, on the ground are six EAW SB180zP subwoofers to provide surging low-frequency energy to enhance the intense atmosphere of esports competitions and so the players can accurately hear the returned audio signal and

Germany - Structures International – which is to be held at Messe Dortmund between 8 and 10 November – is set to cover ‘every aspect of the tent and marquee sector’. Europe's new trade show for temporary space solutions is to offer a one-stop-shop experience, focusing not just on temporary structures, portable buildings and tents of all varieties, but also on a wide range of accessories, decorative and functional equipment plus a host of service offerings.
The show will be supported by a packed supporting programme featuring a host of subject-matter highlights.
As well as established names in marquees and tentage, portable buildings and roofing such as Röder Zelt und Veranstaltungsservice, HTS Tentique, HR-Structure, Oostdam Flexzelt International, Eurostrechtents Deutschland, Skyliner and Stadur Productions GmbH, the exhibition will also showcase specialist businesses offering equipment for function and convenience.

Finland - A zactrack SMART real time tracking system has been installed on the Main Stage at the Tampere Workers’ Theatre (Tampereen Työväen Teatteri - TTT) in Tampere, Finland, where it is being utilised by both the audio and lighting departments.
The building housing this 800-capacity stage was completed in 1985, its 20m width making it the second largest stage in Finland. The Theatre’s repertory programme presents Finnish plays, world literature classics and a diverse and vibrant range of musicals.
In 2020, they invested in L-Acoustics L-ISA immersive audio technology which brought the requirement for a leading-edge tracking product that would work for both audio and lightin,g explained Pauli Molnar, sales manager from zactrack’s Finnish distributor, Intersonic based in Espoo.
In the initial months of using L-ISA, it soon became apparent that accurate, good quality tracking was essential to take full advantage of its dynamics, directionality, and creative potential - without embroiling sound designers and engineers in substantial amounts of programming time.
Controlling the sound inputs manually, especially for some of the large-scale musicals staged at TTT, was not a practical option, but getting the right tracking system onboard was a viable solution, so they started looking at options.
The theatre’s head of sound Jarkko Tuohimaa and lighting technical manager Sami Rautaneva worked closely together with TTT’s sound designer Kalle Nytorp and lighting designer Eero Auvinen in assessing different systems with their respecti

Germany - As a virtual production and XR studio for film, advertising, live events and more, LEDcave aims to make high-tech media production accessible for all types of media teams and budgets.
Earlier this year, the company collaborated with soup.filmproduktion to bring the vision of German multinational home improvement supplies retailer, OBI, into reality, by utilising LEDcave’s most advanced studio in Berlin for OBI’s summer campaign Du must nicht alles wissen. Frag uns! Alles machbar mit OBI (You don’t have to know everything. Ask us! Everything is possible with OBI). Filmed under the direction of Justin Izumi, the giant LED volume powered by Brompton LED processing was used to extend reality by blending ultra-realistic virtual backgrounds and the physical set together.
“The aim of the OBI summer campaign was to inspire people to finally start the DIY projects they had always dreamed of doing, with OBI experts either in store or on the heyOBI App to help with some useful tips and tricks,” says LEDcave’s CEO Thilo Strack. “Video production was started during the winter season, so our LEDcave Berlin facilities were ideal for the project as we could easily recreate a summery outdoor atmosphere with our virtual production and XR stage.”
In addition to an elaborate set construction split into different themed areas, and features such as artificial turf and a mix of real and virtually created plants, visual imagery was created in 3D environments by a team of LEDcave Unreal Artists so backgrounds could be easily changed in real time to

USA - Nestled in the small-town charm of Greenville, Mississippi’s historic downtown, St. Joseph Catholic Church is rich with culture and community. Every week, parishioners come together under the high ceilings and stately archways of the nave, where light from stained-glass windows floods into the sanctuary.
While the stunning architecture suits the sacred music of the parish choir, the space’s design led to difficulties with spoken word intelligibility. The old sound system was unable to compensate for the demands of the space, but a generous donation allowed St. Joseph Catholic to meet the community’s needs with an audio upgrade: a new Iconyx sound system from Renkus-Heinz.
Church leadership consulted Allen Cotton, solutions architect with Mississippi-based integrator Sound & Communications, to design a new system that would cover the entire sanctuary – without intruding on the space’s architectural beauty. With a history of collaborating on several similar projects, Sound & Communications looked to independent manufacturer’s representative Richard Hembree of Griffith Sales Associates to assist with the details.
“During the initial consultation with the client, I learned of the challenges faced with the highly reverberant architecture,” said Cotton. “St. Joseph Catholic is a beautiful and historic space, and I knew that delivering on audio quality along with aesthetics was of utmost importance. Renkus-Heinz has served us well in similar spaces previously, and we chose the Iconyx loudspeakers because they look great and

Singapore - Believed to be the first production in Singapore to feature Claypaky’s Tambora Batten, the revival of The LKY Musical recently concluded its run at the Sands Theatre at the Marina Bay Sands. Lighting designer Gabriel Chan chose 24 of the high-powered batten fixtures to provide backlighting and effects lighting for the show, presented by Aiwei and Singapore Repertory Theatre.
The LKY Musical is one of the most successful Singaporean shows of all time and the first large-scale musical to play the Sands Theatre in more than two years. The production opened to a sold out run at its debut in 2015 and was nominated for several categories in the Straits Times’ Life! Theatre Awards, including best lighting design by Gabriel Chan.
The production is based on the life of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. It spans about 30 years from British colonial rule to WWII’s Japanese occupation to the fight for independence, which was granted in 1965. Covering that much time and so many momentous events in 150 minutes meant “the pace of storytelling had to be brisk,” notes Chan.
“The set design was a multi-storey build reminiscent of ‘The Hollywood Squares,’” he explains. “A combination of flying set flats and sliders revealed the action driving the narrative while another space was set up for the next scene. Projection design used the flown set flats and sliders as projection surfaces to deliver not just background but also information critical to the story.”
According to Chan, “because of the mu