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‘Courage,’ the Latest Offering from Music & Arts Project Imagine, Exceeds Request Limit in Under Four Hours
Music & Arts announces the latest developments regarding Project Imagine. In an equal partnership with the Guitar Center Music Foundation, Project Imagine addresses issues related to access and equity by providing underserved music programs the opportunity to perform high-quality pieces entirely free of charge. Crafted by noted film and television composer JoAnne Harris, Courage is the series’ fourth composition (and second work for band), and is an inspirational, educational, and accessible work that will challenge any young musician. Demand for the piece exceeded previous compositions, with requests for the score exceeding capacity in only four hours following launch. The piece has been distributed to 250 band programs nationwide and will impact over ten thousand students this year alone.
Scott Lang, Director of Advocacy, Music & Arts, remarks, “The reach of Project Imagine cannot be overstated. The works associated with this important program have impacted over sixty thousand students in eight hundred schools and in forty-seven states. When coupled with our teaching tips, rehearsal suggestions, and personal development activities, Courage provides a meaningful and memorable experience for the teacher, student, and parent.”
Composer JoAnn Harris shares her inspiration for the work in the following way: “I wrote Courage in response to myriad events in the world, but particularly in the U.S., that give me anxiety. It helps me to remember that acts of courage can be small and seemingly insignificant in the beginning (like a tiny motif), but that sometimes a good idea can catch on and grow. A deep breath, a commitment to peace making, and a confidence that there are others deeply wanting to build community rooted in justice – systems that seek to value our neighbors as significantly as we value ourselves. This is the headspace I was in when I wrote Courage.”
About the composer: JoAnne Harris has conducted and recorded film scores at Abbey Road, East West, The Village, and Avatar with artists such as GRAMMY® winner Kurt Elling and members of the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Her television work includes scores for Mal de Ojo (HBO), 20/20, Primetime and Dateline. She has orchestrated and conducted scores for feature films City of Lies and The Infiltrator. Most recently, she conducted and orchestrated the score for season 2 of Life and Beth (Hulu). Other highlights include conducting ensembles for the Shinnyo-En Lantern Lighting Festival at Lincoln Center, writing string arrangements for Chris Cester (of the band Jet), working on the music team of Sylvia (Broadway), and a summer in Shenzhen, China, writing music for an aerial circus show. She is a 2020 Vandoren Emerging Artist Composer, a 2015 ASCAP “Composer to Watch” and a 2016 winner of the Dallas Winds Fanfare Competition. Her concert music has been played by Manhattan Wind Ensemble, Met Winds, ensembles at Arizona State, Oregon State University, South Dakota State University, UT Austin, Cal State Fullerton, UW Eau Claire and the University of Northern Iowa, among others. A graduate of Concordia College, JoAnne studied choral music with René Clausen. She teaches media scoring at Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema (CUNY Brooklyn College) and orchestration at Catholic University of America, and is a steering committee member of the Society of Composers and Lyricists in New York. JoAnne is a student of the organ and spends her free time working through the Orgelbüchlein. She is thankful that her formative years were spent in the company of her father’s eclectic CD collection.
More about Project Imagine:
Project Imagine features a series of compositions (classified as grade/difficulty level 2-3 out of 5) intended for middle school and high school ensembles. Each piece is accompanied by optional rehearsal suggestions / tips and personal growth curricula, creating a comprehensive nine-week thematic instructional unit that will create a memorable experience for directors and their students.
Sennheiser and Neumann Microphones are an ‘Absolute Game Changer’ for Sydney’s Hot Potato Band
Equipped with Sennheiser and Neumann equipment, Hot Potato Band are giving the students a live demonstration at Killara High School
The impressive nine-piece brass band, Hot Potato Band has been using Sennheiser and Neumann equipment as an integral part of their live gigs and school workshops. Neumann and Sennheiser were fortunate enough to speak with Simon Ghali, the Founder and band leader of Hot Potato Band and Pete Orenstein, the Director of Hot Potato Band in Schools Program and the band’s saxophone player about their experience with the audio solutions. Having been playing together since 2009, beginning as a New Orleans inspired roaming band on the street, the group has since expanded to playing, writing and touring original music alongside their educational initiative of performing in schools and providing workshops. Wireless audio systems like Sennheiser’s Evolution Wireless Digital family – particularly the EW-DX – and the Neumann Miniature Clip Microphone System (MCM) have enabled them to move freely in their performances, wherever they play, without worry.
As a group that got their start with dynamic, organic street performances, Pete and Simon’s journey into utilising wireless microphones began with a desire to bring the vibrancy of their acoustic busking performances onto the stage. Pete recalls, “We had our first show with a lot of wired microphones and sound setups, which restricted our movement. We couldn’t bring the same energy we were known for. That’s when I suggested, ‘Why don’t we get some wireless mics?’ We wanted to create the same spirit and atmosphere we had on the street in our acoustic format.” This realisation marked the beginning of their exploration into wireless technology, looking for a way that gave them the freedom to move without sacrificing sound quality.
The Seamless Magic of Sennheiser Wireless Audio
In the band’s journey, they eventually landed on the Sennheiser EW-DX wireless systems. According to Pete, the EW-DX has been “really incredible” technology for the band. They are impressed by the consistent performance of Sennheiser’s latest wireless microphone solution, even in unconventional venues with RF signal challenges. Simon echoed Pete’s sentiment, praising how Sennheiser gear effortlessly integrates into their gigs, “The technology isn’t obvious, and that’s the magic of it – whether it’s attaching onto a sax or grabbing a wireless mic, They’re free to rock the stage or classroom.”
With Sennheiser’s “plug and play” functionality, the band can effortlessly integrate their equipment, allowing them to focus solely on delivering exceptional performances without any technical distractions. Where it used to take the band about 90 minutes every gig to set up the tech, it has now gotten a lot faster, with their quickest set-up being at 20 minutes – this is impressive for any artist, let alone a nine-piece band.
Sennheiser’s reliability has been so consistent for the band that the concept of technology has become invisible. Rather than fixating on the technology itself, it’s all about the seamless execution. Pete expressed his astonishment, saying, “I can’t believe how quick it is for us to get on a stage and play these days… and when the tech can all work seamlessly together. It’s just amazing.”
Pete and Simon emphasise how technology can be a game-changer for musicians. As Pete states, “Technology is an enabler for us to tell that story.” It’s not about flashy gadgets—it’s about using the right tools to tell your story and connect with your audience. Their journey shows how technology has been vital in enhancing their storytelling and performance setup, without overshadowing their artistic vision. Advances in technology such as monitoring systems have streamlined processes, making life easier for the band members, and elevating their collective musical experience to new heights.
From the Stage to School, with Neumann
Neumann’s new line of Miniature Clip Microphones for close-miking instruments have been transformative for the band, especially in their performances at school programs. Simon reflects on how the low-profile, clip-on microphones enabled them to maintain their New Orleans-like street band identity, stating “We faced a challenge because we love to move around on stage. Wireless technology became our solution. It enabled us to maintain our identity as roaming musicians while performing on stage.”
The Hot Potato Band brings a lively energy to the Killara High School students during their Workshops & School Concerts program, cheering and playing music alongside them.
The Hot Potato Band Workshops & School Concerts program was a natural progression for the band, and they found themselves engaging with their local communities while responding to invitations from schools. Simon explains, “We didn’t plan it, but the community directed us. Schools asked, ‘Can you come?’ And we said yes”. After the pandemic, they noticed a lot of arts programs were cut from schools, and discovered a massive need not only to inspire students but offer the skills and knowledge that come from playing live music. “So, we started offering workshops and teaching them skills we learned on stage, like how to put on a gig. Our close connection with fans guided us through this path, and now, we collaborate with schools to bring music and inspiration to students.”
Pete shares his enthusiasm for Neumann’s MCMs, particularly praising their quality in the studio and during performances. With six MCMs in the band’s setup, he describes the MCM as “fantastic for live performance”, thanks to their beautiful capsule that adds a unique sizzle and ensures they blend effortlessly into the mix. Plus, with the KK 13 (omni) and KK 14 (cardioid) capsules as options, they capture the distinct sound of each unique instrument flawlessly. Simon shares Pete’s enthusiasm, emphasising the reliability of this setup and how great it is.
The MCM System’s versatility has been crucial for their nine-piece brass band, offering nine instrument-specific mounting clips tailored for various acoustic instruments. These clips provide straightforward and dependable mounting options, easily positioned on any instrument. Pete especially praises the MCM 114’s durability and its ability to stay in place throughout lively performances with various instruments in the band, like the saxophone, percussion instruments, trombone and trumpets. He even notes, “Where you set it at the beginning of the show is where it stays till the end.”
Inspiring the Next Generation of Musicians
Pete and Simon’s work is nothing short of inspiring, not only for the students they work with but also for themselves. Their hands-on approach yields immediate results, with even initially disinterested students leaving eager to play more. The workshops’ structure accelerates learning, with students quickly improving and feeling confident. Recently, Hot Potato Band collaborated with Sennheiser to film a dynamic School Program episode at Killara High School, delivering an engaging music experience and a memorable performance for the entire school.
Before starting these workshops, Pete had spent eight years as a full-time teacher, so he knows firsthand the impact they can have and how much they’ve contributed to their musical journey. Over time, they’ve seen former students go on to study music at the Conservatory of Music, join bands and even come back to collaborate with them. Pete says, “It’s quite amazing to watch and be able to perform with them,” showing how proud they are of their students’ success.
At Killara High School, Hot Potato Band performed with the MCM attachment on the saxophone, trombone, and sousaphone during their workshop.
Their goal goes beyond just teaching music; it’s about sparking a love for it that lasts a lifetime. While recognising their approach isn’t the only one, they aspire to cultivate curiosity and enthusiasm in their students’ path in music. As Simon quotes American jazz legend Herbie Hancock, “Life is music, and music is life,” echoing the sentiment to live fully and be curious. He adds, “have music as something that doesn’t only gets you through life but enhances it tremendously. This way, you will have the best experiences, for the music can take you all around the world.” Hot Potato Band want to encourage students to let music enrich and enhance their lives in whatever form that may take, whether as a performer, teacher, or simply a passionate enthusiast.
Leveraging seamless integration of wireless audio technologies, the band has been on transformative tours, captivating audiences with energetic gigs, and engaging students through collaborative workshops in schools across Australia. Hot Potato Band heads off for a European tour in June 2024, with their trusted Sennheiser and Neumann audio equipment in tow.
Roland announces FANTOM EX, a new flagship synthesizer series for professional musicians and producers. Updating and expanding the popular FANTOM platform with the latest Roland technologies, the next-generation FANTOM EX delivers a complete creative ecosystem for sound design, sequencing, and performance. In addition to the FANTOM 6 EX, FANTOM 7 EX, and FANTOM 8 EX models available to new purchasers, current FANTOM owners can expand their instruments with all EX sounds and features through the FANTOM EX Upgrade for sale on Roland Cloud.
Introduced in 2019, the Roland FANTOM has received worldwide acclaim for its diverse range of high-quality sounds, powerful synthesis tools, premium playability, and free-flowing user interface. FANTOM EX builds on the original’s foundation, supplementing the core feature set with Roland’s Analog Circuit Behavior (ACB) engine and numerous sound expansion titles, including the recently developed JX-3P ACB Expansion. New effects and a host of fresh workflow enhancements are also included.
Each FANTOM EX model provides the most expansive collection of premium sound engines available in a hardware instrument. Roland’s ACB, ZEN-Core, V-Piano, SuperNATURAL, and Virtual ToneWheel technologies spark inspiration at every turn, providing expressive and inspiring sounds for every musical style.
With FANTOM EX, users can compose and perform with over 7000 genre-defining Roland sounds and go further with premium sound content on Roland Cloud. Eleven sound expansion titles come as standard, including JUPITER-8, SH-101, and JX-3P ACB Expansions; n/zyme, JD-800, JUNO-106, JUPITER-8, JX-8P, and SH-101 Model Expansions; the German Concert V-Piano Expansion 01; and the SuperNATURAL Acoustic Piano 3 Expansion.
The powerful custom processors in FANTOM EX provide smooth and precise operation with plenty of overhead, enabling loads of polyphony and full patch remain for seamless transitions. There are dozens of simultaneous effects, including new studio-grade reverbs and updated Master FX for shaping the overall sound. A characterful analog filter is also available, perfect for infusing tones with extra warmth and grit.
FANTOM EX is primed to be the center of any production universe. Users can directly shape sounds and develop musical ideas with a friendly, ergonomic panel filled with buttons, knobs, and sliders. The color touchscreen dynamically changes to support the task at hand, and it’s now possible to personalize the look by importing custom images for the screensaver and startup view.
The deep onboard sampling and composition tools in FANTOM EX support fast sound creation and quick arrangement of song ideas. Multiple workflow options include the classic Roland TR-REC step sequencer, real-time recording with piano roll editing, and 16 RGB pads for triggering sounds, samples, and clips.
FANTOM EX flows effortlessly into any computer-based production setup. There are dedicated modes for popular software platforms, including Ableton Live, Logic Pro, MainStage, Cubase, and Studio One. With the built-in 16×3 audio/MIDI USB interface, users can mix and layer soft synths with hardware sounds, send sequencer parts to computer tracks, route DAW sources through FANTOM EX effects, and more.
The loaded FANTOM EX rear panel supports connections with a wide range of gear. There are XLR combo connectors for mics and instruments and eight 1/4-inch outputs to route sounds to external destinations. MIDI I/O is also available, along with dual CV/Gate outputs for driving modular and analog synths.
Each FANTOM EX model comes equipped with a premium keyboard and aftertouch support. The FANTOM 8 EX offers the ultimate weighted experience with 88 hammer-action keys, while the 61-note FANTOM 6 EX and 76-note FANTOM 7 EX feature semi-weighted synth action. Precision-crafted with decades of Roland development knowledge, these inspiring keyboards deliver the most expressive playability available.
Released in November 2023, the FANTOM EX Upgrade on Roland Cloud allows owners of the original FANTOM 6/7/8 models to outfit their instruments with the newly added EX features, including JUPITER-8, SH-101, and JX-3P ACB Expansions, n/zyme and JD-800 Model Expansions, two new grand pianos, and all other EX enhancements.
Availability & Pricing
The Roland FANTOM 6 EX, FANTOM 7 EX, and FANTOM 8 EX will be available in the U.S. in April for $3,199.99, $3,699.99, and $4,199.99 respectively.*
*Price at the time of publishing.
Duke Kunshan University Deploys 116 Sennheiser TCC 2 Ceiling Array Microphones to Significantly Enhance Campus Audio Experience
TCC 2 synchronizes the monitored speaker’s position to the camera, thus switching footage in real time, making teaching and conferencing more realistic, efficient and immersive
Duke Kunshan University, a world-class university that brings together the best educational resources from around the world, has a team of faculty members located all over the world and has high quality requirements for blended smart education. Duke Kunshan University has installed 116 Sennheiser TCC 2 Ceiling Array Microphones in 50 classrooms and various other spaces across its campus, providing students and faculty with an immersive blended learning experience that is both superior in sound quality and easy to operate, helping to create a world-class educational environment at Duke Kunshan University.
Located in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, Duke Kunshan University (DKU) is a 1,200-acre campus dedicated to creating a world-class educational and research university characterized by liberal arts education, offering a range of high-quality, innovative academic programs and a diverse, inclusive culture to students from around the globe in order to cultivate well-educated and enthusiastic future global leaders.
This audio-video project is part of the university’s second phase, covering 22 buildings on campus, including 29 classrooms, 20 conference rooms, and a visitor center, and is characterized by large scale, advanced technology, and high complexity. Duke Kunshan University set its sights on a number of top global brands. In the end, the Sennheiser TCC 2 ceiling array microphone stood out due to its superior audio technology, open technology path and rich success experience. Duke Kunshan University chose to install a total of 116 TCC 2s so that every space can enjoy the trusted Sennheiser audio quality.
Enlightenment through sound Excellent sound quality escort immersive intelligent education
Duke Kunshan University offers courses taught by faculty from Duke University in the United States as well as other locations around the world. As a result, the university requires each classroom to provide an immersive online learning experience as if it were face-to-face. Audio equipment, in particular, not only needs to be clear in sound quality, stable in transmission, and easy to operate, but it also needs to fit seamlessly into different room types and teaching scenarios.
The TCC 2 utilizes patented Dynamic Beamforming technology, which automatically tracks the position of speakers and switches between speakers in real time, ensuring that their voices are clearly captured. Teachers are able to move around and communicate freely with students while teaching, and the layout of desks and chairs in the classroom can be flexibly adjusted to greatly enhance the classroom experience. The microphone’s built-in 28 broadcast-quality microphone heads make the sound clear and natural, and remote teachers and students can also listen to the speakers clearly as if they were in the room.
n addition to classrooms, schools also place a high value on the design of audio systems in conference rooms. In teleconferencing, the seamless integration of audio and video is very important. In this project, TCC 2 integrates Biamp DSP and Sony PTZ camera tracking to synchronize the monitored speaker’s position to the camera, thus realizing real-time switching of the speaker’s footage, which makes the meeting more realistic, efficient and immersive.
The Visitor Center is another highlight of this project. In order to provide excellent conditions for teachers and students to communicate, display and hold activities and exhibitions, the Visitor Center built by the school has a flexible layout and a bright and spacious space, with an area of 400 square meters and a height of 4.8 meters, in addition to the need for high-quality sound pickup, the site of the local sound reinforcement is also a very high demand. Three TCC 2s were installed in the Visitor Center, whose TruVoicelift acoustic enhancement feature delivers everyone’s speeches clearly to every corner, with natural, full sound quality and no distortion or delay, making for a truly immersive audio experience.
Minimalist operational processes and an open audio ecosystem
The Duke Kunshan University Phase II project, which took three years to design and deploy and complete, was not only large in scale but also in complexity. The project’s audio/video system includes many types of products including Biamp DSP, Bose loudspeakers and Crestron control systems. Therefore, for the success of the whole project, easy operation process and seamless integration of products of each link are crucial, which is also the main challenge of the project manager.
Wan Li is the chief engineer at Duke Kunshan University and the university’s technical lead for the audio system design. His team adopted an all-digital and fully distributed AV-over-IP architecture for Duke Kunshan University. the TCC 2 can be seamlessly integrated into the campus network with all brands of audio equipment via Dante, allowing IT managers to monitor and control the communication, interaction and control of various devices on campus in real time via cell phones, tablets or computers, greatly simplifying the workflow and providing excellent reliability. Excellent reliability.
Sennheiser’s business communication solutions have an open audio/video ecosystem with strong compatibility and can be integrated with different brands of devices and platforms. TCC 2 has been certified by Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Tencent Conference and Nail Conference to meet the preferences and needs of all types of users.
Customer-focused professional services to help smooth project implementation
During the implementation of the project, Sennheiser’s technical engineers went to Duke Kunshan University several times to carry out on-site investigation and debugging work room by room to ensure that the installation position and angle of each TCC 2 could achieve the optimal effect and realize the best voice clarity. This was highly recognized by Wanli.
“The exceptional quality of the TCC 2 is unquestionable, and the Sennheiser team has been instrumental in the smooth implementation of the project. They provided full technical and training support and helped us make great progress in commissioning and optimizing the system.” Miles praised, “In the school’s future development plan, we look forward to continuing to work with Sennheiser to further optimize the performance of the audio/video facilities and continue to enhance the immersive learning and collaborative experience for teachers and students.”
In the future, Sennheiser will continue to pay attention to the development trend and changing needs of the education industry and continue to innovate and shape the future of audio for intelligent education with more outstanding audio products and technologies.
Mandarins Ensemble Coordinator, Benjamin Pyles, Joins Mapex Marching Artist Roster
Benjamin Pyles, one of Texas’s premier percussion educators, is set to make his mark as the newest addition to the Mapex Marching artist roster. With an illustrious career and current roles at the University of Texas at San Antonio, UTSA Indoor, The Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps, and Monarch Independent Percussion, Pyles stands as a trendsetter in the marching arts community.
Pyles is the current Ensemble Coordinator and Battery Designer for Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps, a fan-favorite on any field they step on, continually pushing boundaries each year. According to Pyles, that tendency to push the envelope is something that he has in common with the Mapex team. “Along with the incredible instruments they offer, the people behind the products are some of the best in the activity. They’re constantly searching for ways to improve their products and push what is possible in the marching percussion activity,” he says.
In addition to his work with The Mandarins and University of Texas at San Antonio, Pyles holds key education positions as the battery instructor at Ronald Reagan High School and Music Designer for Monarch Independent Percussion, further solidifying his influence and impact on the next generation of percussionists.
With over two decades of experience as a performer, designer, and instructor, Pyles has left an indelible mark on the drum corps world in his time with renowned groups such as Glassmen, Bluecoats, Crossmen, Spirit of Atlanta, and the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps.
That wealth of experience ultimately led him to Mapex as the perfect fit for all his marching drum needs. “All of the Mapex drums have such a unique characteristic sound,” says Pyles. “Pair that with the entire catalog of options available and the combinations become almost limitless.”
Excelcia Music Publishing’s 2024 String Orchestra Music
Story-driven works with themes of emotions, strength, and dreams, are featured in this year’s String Orchestra Music 2024-2025 new release from Excelcia Music Publishing. Filled with pieces from many popular composers as well as exciting new voices, the new works are fun and engaging, making them excellent teaching pieces as well. Orchestra Directors will find sophisticated works for the earliest to the highest grade levels. The new release offers a piece for every concert, be it for Back-to-school, Holiday, Festival, and more. As it has done in prior years, the publisher’s 2024-2025 release includes live professional recordings and ScoreVideos of each piece, as well as unique Composer Insights videos, all of which can be used for easy review by directors as well as for tools with students. Professional recordings of the new music are streaming on all major platforms and on the publisher’s website.
“The works in our string catalog this year are an introspective look into the imagination and passion of our composers,” says Tyler Arcari, Director of Music Production and Editing. “Music can uncover so much of ourselves and our world, and our composers this season have certainly leaned into the idea of unlocking the strengths that reside within all of us.”
The publisher’s 2024-2025 String Orchestra release includes new pieces from composers and arrangers Alan Lee Silva, Sean O’Loughlin, Yukiko Nishimura, Caryn Wiegand Neidhold, Laura Estes, Larry Clark, and Tyler Arcari. The publisher welcomes composers David Samuel, Christina Huss, and Jeffery Hart to its orchestra catalog this year.
Each score, and its accompanying parts, are meticulously edited and beautifully set for ease of reading and include unique features to increase accessibility and help facilitate efficient rehearsals. Optional bowings have been carefully selected, and optional percussion parts have been added to certain pieces to provide an additional layer to the orchestra’s sound. Published in Excelcia Music Publishing’s signature color-coded series, the string orchestra music follows the strict and consistent six-part grading system: Prelude (grade .5), Da Capo (grade 1), Harmony (grade 1.5), Intermezzo (grade 2 to 2.5), Rhapsody (grade 3 to 3.5) and Maestro (grade 4 and up).
Excelcia Music Publishing’s 2024-2025 String Orchestra music is available from music retailers and from the publisher.
Guitar Center Celebrates Grand Opening of New Location in Hialeah, Florida
Guitar Center, the world’s largest musical instrument retailer, celebrates the opening of its latest retail location, a 17,995-square-foot facility in Hialeah, Florida (3886 W. 18th Ave., Hialeah, FL 33012, in Westland Promenade). The store offers an expansive set of services and gear to serve the music needs of the community.
The Hialeah store is Guitar Center’s 22nd location in Florida and marks the retailer’s first all-new store grand opening in 2024. The grand opening took place on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
The newly opened Hialeah store features modern showrooms equipped with the latest products for musicians — from guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments and keyboards to live sound, DJ, lighting and recording equipment, along with helpful support in-store from our expert gear advisors.
In-store services include:
Guitar Center Lessons, a convenient and affordable music education experience for players of all ages and skill levels, offering students the opportunity to learn to play the music they love
Guitar Center Repairs, an on-site maintenance and repairs service
Guitar Center Rentals, providing easy rentals of instruments and other gear
Hands-on electronic music experience, where shoppers can try their hand at modern DJ techniques using the latest gear
Now musicians in the Hialeah area are able to conveniently experience Guitar Center’s full offerings with a seamless experience via convenient access to the store, over the phone with a gear advisor, online at GuitarCenter.com, or using the Guitar Center mobile app.
Guitar Center Hialeah store and studio hours:
Monday – Friday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Trade Regrets: Rick Walters
Hal Leonard has announced the loss of their esteemed friend and colleague, Rick Walters.
Walters, a key figure at Hal Leonard for 39 years, began his journey as a keyboard editor and ascended to the role of VP of Classical & Vocal Publications. In 2011, he pioneered the Hal Leonard Vocal Competition, the industry’s first all-YouTube contest for vocal students. This groundbreaking initiative earned widespread respect and propelled numerous students into successful singing careers. Rick’s dedication was evident as he personally reviewed tens of thousands of videos until the competition concluded with his retirement in 2023. Even after retiring, he continued to make a difference in the music community, particularly with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, where he served on the board and mentored budding composition students.
Hal Leonard chairman Larry Morton stated, “Rick’s impact on the world of classical and vocal music publishing was immense. His unwavering passion and commitment to preserving and presenting repertoire for students and their teachers have left an indelible mark. No vocal competition or audition happens without singers using materials Rick helped create with our editorial teams. He closely worked with some of the greatest musical theater composers of all time, including his close, personal relationship with the late Broadway icon, Stephen Sondheim.”
Memorial service plans are pending.
Row-Loff Productions Welcomes Keegan as Executive Assistant
Row-Loff Productions recently welcomed Matthew (Vinny) Keegan to the family as Executive Assistant of the company’s Southeastern branch.
As a native of New Orleans, Matthew’s playing is a melting pot, or a gumbo, of instruments and world music. He recently studied under Dr. John Wooton and received a Master of Music from the University of Southern Mississippi. While at USM, Matthew focused on jazz theory, vibraphone, drum set, percussion ensemble arranging and composition, arranging music for the front ensemble of the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, teaching private lessons, and performing. Matthew is honored to have studied with rudimental drumming legend, Marty Hurley, who was inducted in to the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame in 2012. His real-world experience on the bandstand, paired with his academic studies, give Matthew a holistic perspective of percussion and its role in music.
On September 1st, 2023 Matthew moved to Nashville Tennessee to share his expertise and passion for percussion with the music community in Nashville! Welcome, Vinny!
Martin Audio WP Rigged in Just 12 Minutes for UB40 Show at St. Andrews Stadium
Within 15 minutes of completing victory over Preston North End on Easter Monday, Birmingham City’s St. Andrews stadium had been transformed into a rock concert venue.
The production team behind the staging—enabling local legends UB40 to kick off their world tour and announce their new UB45 album release—was Martin Audio partner, 22live.
At the same time the football club was able to reveal its new branding. Henceforth known as St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, the stadium provided the perfect setting for this post match entertainment. But first 22live, led by Paul Timmins, had many challenges to overcome—not least where to site the 15 ground stacks of Martin Audio WPC and WPS line array, as well as the speed of deployment to get the show underway immediately after the final whistle.
“I always wanted to do this really unique event with the Martin Audio option,” Timmins admitted. “Over the years I’ve put out many perimeter pitch-side systems, delivered half-time shows, and presented playback gigs at sports events … but there has been nothing quite like this.”
The story begins when UB40 production manager Sean Busby-Little, having been approached by the football club about the proposed event, contacted 22live. “We’ve worked a lot together in the past, including military work in Afghanistan, so I’ve known Sean a long time,” continued Timmins. “The fact we were based locally helped, as with the odd timings there was always likely to be a lot of running around.” The fact that the date was suddenly brought forward 12 days from the originally scheduled April 13th date.
Two days’ rehearsal in Digbeth helped new monitor engineer Harry Le Masurier settle in, while staging options were debated and the fact that 56 channels were required, choice of stage was paramount. He also knew this was no mere playback event … the band were going to perform live!
After dismissing other options they decided to construct the staging in the ‘sterile’ area—or empty block of seating—segregating the home and away fans in the Gil Merrick stand.
“The seats were removed, and the staging company built a two tiered stage because of the raking—set high up to avoid obscuring sightlines. Although big LED screens and lighting were able to be flown from the roof, in view of weight loading, audio was always going to be a pitch side perimeter speaker system.”
From past experience Paul Timmins was aware of safety implications, cabling challenges and the fact the speakers would need to be located behind the LED wall or advertising hoardings without blocking the access.
But because of distance variations each stand required its own unique treatment. The Main Stand is quite shallow and didn’t need as much power as the Kop side, so I chose WPS,four stacks high. On the Kop stand I used WPCs, four high because I needed more power. At the Tilton End I used WPC, three high, because I knew I could get away with less, with just two stacks WPS four high required on the Gil Merrick stage end—because coverage was only required on either side of the large center section.” Each stack was supported by an SXH218 sub.
TORUS T1230 speakers filled dead spots in corners between the Gil Merrick and the Kop stands and further T1230s and an SX118 subwoofer provided reference sound at the FOH mix position, which was located underneath the stands.
Critical to the success of the optimization was tilt angles. 22live knew that since they would be raking the system back into the stands, rather than have it tip forwards as would be customary, they could dispense with the standard WP grids in favor of straps. After verifying this custom approach with Martin Audio deployed this ingenuous solution, which would also ensure each stack could be deployed swiftly as a single self-contained unit.
Crew boss Glen Little worked closely with extra local crew, who were experienced in dealing with Martin Audio boxes. “The beauty with the weight of the Martin Audio system, was that with four people we could move each stack as a single block, keeping the bottom box strapped to the sub.”
Unlike a typical average home gate of around 19,000 this event drew 25,000 (since there was no increase in ticket price). This double header was clearly a success as the best part of 20,000 returned from the bars within 15 minutes of the end of the match to be confronted by a different scenario, with DJ Jenny Powell leading into the band, who played a full hour long set.
Summing up Paul Timmins said “It was one of those days where everything worked. To have the PA rig built and deployed in just 12 minutes from the final whistle was remarkable.”
Production also had to remain nimble, and responsive to 11th hour requests. “In addition to the live sound we discovered we had to provide a broadcast mixdown from stems to Birmingham FC TV, and at the last minute they also wanted to record it—so we brought in Phil Wright, who is such a safe pair of hands, with his own kit to do the streaming.
“On top of it all, Birmingham City, after a wretched run of form, won the game, the sun came out for the concert and UB40 played a blinding set. Sean was over the moon and I’m happy for the club because they went out on a limb to do this.”
Other key personnel who contributed to the event’s success included experienced tour manager Yaron Levy, with Russ Tite mixing at front of house. Jason McAvoy was control tech, Rylan Machin and Ryan Bass were the two system techs on duty, while other techs were Chris Wilcock and Jack Davis.
Earth Day 2024: Focusrite Group’s continued commitment to decarbonization
This Earth Day, Focusrite Group is proud to announce that it has achieved the prestigious Ecologi “For Our Planet” Gold Award and has committed to setting science-based emission reduction targets through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), underscoring its dedicated efforts towards sustainability and climate action
This Earth Day, Focusrite Group is proud to announce that it has achieved the prestigious Ecologi “For Our Planet” Gold Award and has committed to setting science-based emission reduction targets through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), underscoring its dedicated efforts towards sustainability and climate action.
In the past year, The Focusrite Group has calculated its environmental footprint down to individual component level on products and communicated transparently about its emissions in their first Environment and Climate Report published last year. This has established a solid baseline for how the Group will decarbonize moving forward. This steadfast commitment to the environment has led to the Group being honored with the Ecologi “For Our Planet” Gold Award, signifying its successful reporting, target setting, decarbonization work, and substantial funding of climate action projects.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Focusrite Group as one of their sustainability partners, aiding their support for a portfolio of high-quality, validated climate projects from around the world,” says Joshua Price, Key Account Manager at Ecologi. “Additionally, it is our pleasure to honor them with a gold award in the ‘For Our Planet’ awards. Focusrite Group is advancing impressively towards net zero through ambitious emissions reduction goals and a robust net-zero strategy.”
Furthermore, Focusrite Group has responded to the urgent call for corporate climate action by committing to align with the 1.5°C and net-zero targets through the “Business Ambition for 1.5°C” campaign. “The Focusrite Group has committed to set near-term and net-zero company-wide emission reductions in line with climate science with the SBTi,” states the Group proudly, with work underway to develop near-term and net-zero targets to be submitted for validation within 24 months.
“Aligning the Focusrite Group with this effort has been a key part of our environmental strategy,” says Andy Land, Global Head of Sustainability at Focusrite Group. “We started by looking at our internal operations, then our products, and now how we fit within our industry and beyond.”
“By committing to setting science-based targets for decarbonization we are following the latest climate science and plan to publish our ambitious targets in full. These will include annual reduction goals, ultimately forecast towards achieving net-zero emissions as early as possible. However, any actions we take on our own will not prevent global temperature rises, so we call on other companies to take the same action by committing to science-based 1.5°C and net-zero targets.”
The SBTi, a corporate climate action organization with notable partners such as CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, and WWF, provides the standards and tools for companies to set greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science. Focusrite Group aligns with this mission, aiming to play a vital role in limiting global heating and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.
Focusrite Group encourages other companies to join in this imperative endeavor by also committing to science-based 1.5°C and net-zero targets, reinforcing the collective call for a sustainable and equitable future.
For more information about the Science Based Targets initiative, please visit www.sciencebasedtargets.org or follow @sciencetargets.
Eventide Appoints Mahtab Neptune as Chief Marketing Officer
Eventide Audio, at the forefront of audio technology for more than 50 years with award-winning studio processors, effects pedals, plug-ins, and broadcast products, is proud to welcome Mahtab Neptune as its Chief Marketing Officer. Neptune is a seasoned marketer with over 16 years of experience at the intersection of music and technology. Eventide General Manager ,Tony Agnello, announced Neptune’s appointment, commenting, “Mahtab Neptune brings a sharp understanding of customer behavior, an ability to predict market trends as they are developing and a dedication to music creators and innovation in their interactivity with the tools that channel that creativity. We are delighted that Eventide now has the benefit of her insights.”
In her new role, which she began at NAMM time this year, Neptune reports directly to Agnello. “I’m honored to have joined the Eventide Audio crew and collaborate with such an innovative team,” said Neptune. “I have long admired the ingenuity of their products and how it has shaped the world of music production. Now speaking from the inside I am truly blown away by the company’s innovative mindset and the passion everyone shares. As the CMO, I plan to continue to cement the brand’s leadership in pro-audio, push creative boundaries and contribute to the evolution of the music tech landscape.”
“Eventide has been an engineering-driven company since its inception,” Agnello continued. “While our fascination with and commitment to developing and deploying new technologies for audio manipulation are unwavering, we recognize that there’s more to be done to expand our presence in the marketplace and help even more end users make great music. Mahtab has the perfect perspective and experience to guide that expansion.”
Most recently, as the VP of Marketing at the all-in-one music creation solution provider Beatclub, Neptune was at the forefront of ensuring Beatclub’s strong presence as a SaaS startup and driving the company’s growth, including spearheading key collaborations with Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Def Jam, Mastercard and ESPN. Within the first year, she achieved a massive spike in customer acquisition and retention.
Prior to Beatclub, Neptune spent nearly a decade at Native Instruments, where she honed her pedigree as a global marketing expert with strategic storytelling formats that set benchmarks for the pro-audio industry at large. Neptune took a bottom-up approach at NI, aggressively expanding its marketing efforts into new countries and markets across the globe, resulting in consistent and substantial year-over-year growth.
Throughout her career, Neptune has demonstrated her skills as a hands-on brand builder, participating in developing products that foster both inspiration and education in the music and pro-audio space. As a thought leader in the music creation and professional audio spaces, Neptune has contributed to industry conferences and mentored non-profits such as SXSW, Queensfest, Intersessions, Notes for Notes, and Girls Make Beats.
Music & Arts announces the latest developments regarding Project Imagine. In an equal partnership with the Guitar Center Music Foundation, Project Imagine addresses issues related to access and equity by providing underserved music programs the opportunity to perform high-quality pieces entirely free of charge. Crafted by noted film and television composer JoAnne Harris, Courage is the series’ fourth composition (and second work for band), and is an inspirational, educational, and accessible work that will challenge any young musician. Demand for the piece exceeded previous compositions, with requests for the score exceeding capacity in only four hours following launch. The piece has been distributed to 250 band programs nationwide and will impact over ten thousand students this year alone.
Roland
Benjamin Pyles, one of Texas’s premier percussion educators, is set to make his mark as the newest addition to the 
Story-driven works with themes of emotions, strength, and dreams, are featured in this year’s String Orchestra Music 2024-2025 new release from 
Hal Leonard
Row-Loff Productions
Within 15 minutes of completing victory over Preston North End on Easter Monday, Birmingham City’s St. Andrews stadium had been transformed into a rock concert venue.
Eventide Audio
