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Sounds Good to Me- WVAA Helpts Weathervane Acoustic Project
Soom after the completion of the new Weathervane Theatre barn in 2002, it became clear that the acoustics and sound quality of the facility were in need of 'tuning.' In early 2007, the WVAA did some research and identified a Theatre/Acoustic Consultant, Jim Read, who was a student of the late George C. Izenour, an internationally recognized authority in the fields of theatre design, engineering, and acoustics. The WVAA Board voted to fund both Jim's initial visit to evaluate the Weathervane barn to make calculations, and his subsequent design plan to improve the acoustics of the new theatre.
With Jim's plans in hand, the theatre made a successful application to the NH Council for the Arts for a Cultural Facilities Grant and was awarded $6,800 to help fund the implementation of the project. In June, long time Weathervane Technical Director Chad Rowe and Ted Born began the removal and relocatioin of some of the absorptive panels that had been added to the barn as an earlier 'fix' and the construction and installation of the new panels designed with curved hard surfaces to reflect and dispurse sound down and forward into the house.
To compliment and further augment the sound enhancement afforded by the new panels, a gift from benefactors Meyer and Ellen Koplow was used to purchase and install new audio equipment which included a multi-channel sound board, house speakers, hanging microphones and a wireless communication package. Dan and Moocho Salomon donated monitor speakers to support the coordination of musicians and performers.
The Weathervane audience and visiting alumni noticed 'great improvement' to the sound in the house during the 2007 season performances. This project was a great example of how the WVAA, through the contributions from alumni and friends, has helped the theatre achieve its goals. Applause, applause. |
