Czech Republic - Set to take place during this year's Prague Quadrennial, Scenofest is an educational project of the Prague Quadrennial and OISTAT which looks at more than just sound and lighting design - it also presents workshops focused on the entire range of performative and theatre arts. As with the PQ's other projects, inter-disciplinarity plays an important role in the educational programme, meaning that audiences can look forwards to novel approaches such as the combination of sound and costume design in a workshop led by a team from Purdue University (USA), headed by professor Richard K. Thomas. Another workshop, Pop Up Your Ears (led by the réaltympanica arts group and Tania El Khoury) will aim to uncover the subjective perception of reality through sound. Sound compositions and their relationship to the visual aspects of performance will be explored

USA - Bill Groener has joined A.C.T Lighting as vice-president of business development.

"We're delighted to welcome Bill to A.C.T Lighting after a distinguished career in design, teaching, and management at well-known lighting companies," says Bob Gordon, president and CEO of A.C.T Lighting. "Bill is a seasoned industry professional and throughout his career, he has used his exceptional people skills and unique management techniques to achieve significant success in design, systems integration, sales/marketing, business development and general management. In his new role at A.C.T Lighting he will focus on the specifier market by introducing our product lines to theater consultants and architectural lighting designers and supporting their efforts to use them on projects."

Groener, who will be based in the NY Metropolitan Area, says "Bob Gordon and A.C.T

Turkey - The first TRT Music Awards, celebrating the best of Turkey's musicians, singers and music productions, took place recently at the Lütfi K?rdar Convention and Exhibition Centre, Istanbul. The inaugural event included performances from the ?stanbul Music and Jazz Orchestra and the ?stanbul Chamber Orchestra, on a stage illuminated by Robert Juliat 714SX 2.5kW profile spots which turned the TRT Music Awards Ceremony into a spectacular light show.

The RJ 700 Series zoom profiles were provided by local Robert Juliat distributor, Elit Light & Sound Technologies. "The lighting designers and technicians who worked at the award ceremony agreed that it is always problem-free working with Robert Juliat equipment," says Elit's Elif Defne Alp. "As one of the oldest manufacturers of theatre lighting equipment, Robert Juliat has adopted a policy of customer satisfactio

USA - Chauvet has announced the appointment of Stéphane Gressier as global sales director.

Gressier brings 17 years of international sales, marketing and management experience with him to the role. Originally from France, he moved to the United States in 1987 and studied international business at Cal State Fullerton. Gressier has held international sales, marketing and management positions at Skechers USA, Inc., Pagoda International, ClosetMaid Corporation and Clay Forever.

Gressier has lived in Vietnam, France, Jordan, Venezuela and Brazil and speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish and French. While living in Venezuela and California, he was a part-time DJ for 10 years.

"This is a very exciting time to be a part of the entertainment and architectural lighting industry," Gressier said. "The Chauvet presence internationally, with 120 distributors in 80 coun

India - PALM Expo, India's most established exhibition and conference on pro audio, lighting and musical instruments is scheduled for 2 - 4 June, 2011 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon (E), Mumbai, India. This June, the Expo will celebrate 11 successful years in operation.

With 15,000sq.m spread across two halls, the PALM Expo 2011 has increased 20% since its last successful staging in 2010.

"A 50% increase in exhibitors showcasing over 400 international and local brands will keep the show floor buzzing with action on all the three days. The 2011 Expo will not only see international product and brand launches, but also product clinics, workshops and an extensive three day Seminar and Conference programme. The Harman sponsored Performance Arena, an open-air line array demo area, an Indian Acoustic Musical Instruments Village, the Integrate Expo Kramer Technical Cla

Germany - The centenary festivities at OBO Bettermann's headquarters at Hüingsen, Germany, were a fiesta of superlatives. On hand for the celebration were an audience of invited guests and prominent personalities from 60 countries around the world.

Former German foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, along with former Volkswagen top manager, Peter Hartz, were among those on hand to personally present their congratulations.

While an OBO-orchestra formed from musicians specially engaged for the occasion played, actors and actresses performed a play portraying the 100 years of the company's history that was culminated by a laser show that bathed the interior of its manufacturing plant in a sea of light and colours.

(Jim Evans)

UK - It may have finished a few weeks ago but Philips Entertainment Lighting (PEL) is still receiving a steady flow of positive feedback in response to the latest Philips Selecon and Strand Lighting products, exhibited for the first time, at PLASA focus in Leeds.

Amber Tomlin, recently promoted to UK key account manager for PEL, comments, "PLASA Focus, Leeds was a wonderful opportunity to discuss, face to face, with our UK customers my new role in the company and the benefits it offers them. Even though my job title has changed I'm still very much the same person! However I'll be spending more time developing PEL's UK business in collaboration with our key UK account customers and distributors. I'll also be ensuring customers understand our current and 'new to market' product ranges and what they can offer the end user."

Alongside existing products such as the Philip

South Africa - Described as one of the best parties to hit Durban, some 3,000 people attended the Miller Experience 2011 held recently at the Durban Exhibition Centre. The festivities only ended at 5am the following day and featured DJs Fresh and Euphonik, Roger Goode, Gareth Cliff, Sasha Martenigo, Grant Nash and Sam Boylan.

East Coast Productions were the organisers and technical supplier for this event, with lighting design by Jacques Marais. Given free reign, East Coast Productions came up with the concept and design.

"The Robe beam lights on the circle truss were amazing," said Jacque Marais. "The truss was on an electric hoist and moved over the crowd. Miller were very impressed and extremely pleased with the exposure they received from this event."

All fixtures and trussing were suspended from the roof trusses in the Exhibition Centre using Loadgua

Nigeria - Nick Gray from UK based Renegade Lighting designed lighting for the first Arise Magazine Fashion Week in Lagos, Nigeria.

This completely new and high profile event showcased creations from 50 designers from all over Africa and others with African roots who are working internationally. Staged over three days at the Tents Federal Palace Hotel, in addition to the 50 runway shows, the event featured live performances each evening by a section of artists including Tinie Tempah, Estelle, d'banj and Keri Hilson plus the best local DJs. One evening also saw Arise Magazine present an awards show.

Nick Gray was asked onboard by show producers Bacchus, with whom he works on many fashion and style related events worldwide, including various London Fashion Week elements, to which his lighting designs have brought a fresh look.

"My brief was to produce

Namibia - The iconic British reggae group UB40 performed live in Windhoek for a three-day event at the Hage Geingob Stadium, in aid of the Hope Village Trust for the construction of a Hope Village in Rehoboth, Namibia.

LDR's Besio Fabiano reports that four canto 2KW MSR follow-spots were used for lighting the band in Windhoek. "The follow-spots provided superior performances in this extreme outdoor environment," adds Fabiano.

"LDR thanks dB Audio Namibia and Stage Audio Works - LDR agent for South Africa - for making what proved to be a very challenging three-day event a huge success."

(Jim Evans)

USA - At this year's Ultra Music Festival, grandMA2 full-size consoles were the dominant control solution on the Main Stage. The 13th annual Ultra Music Festival (UMF) held its first-ever three-day event at Miami's Bicentennial Park drawing more than 100,000 people to the celebration of electronic music.

"We used a grandMA2 full-size on the new Main Stage," says lighting designer Steve Lieberman of SJ Lighting. "The Main Stage had several acts per day that had full production riders to fill so, for the festival package, we decided to make the wings of the stage a very strong visual presence with large-scale video and heavy lighting effects. We also added 40-foot flame cannons on the top of the structure."

Lieberman adds, "As a designer the grandMA2 offers all the tools I need to put on a great show. In these environments, where the music is not scripte

Slovakia - Lighting designer Martin Kubanka specified Robe moving lights for the 2011 Miss Universe Slovak Republic beauty pageant, which was staged at the Sibamac Arena at the National Tennis Centre in Bratislava, and broadcast live on the main national TV channel, RTVS.

Slovakia's leading rental company Q-99 supplied lighting, sound and AV production for the event, and with Kubanka clocking up an impressive 13 years of lighting the show, the use of over 100 Robe fixtures ensured that he had all the creative tools he needed to keep reinventing and refreshing the show year on year.

The set was designed by Michael Klang and featured 75sq.m of high resolution LED surface, over 70sq.m of medium resolution LED surface and 60sq.m of LED floor as well as the extensive lighting rig. The set was 'stepped' on five different levels and the far wings were shaped to resemble speaker horns

The Netherlands - American DJ has unveiled the Micro Wash RGBW, a mini PAR can that's powered by seven bright 1-watt LEDs (2 red, 2 green, 2 blue, and 1 white).

"The Micro Wash RGBW is a scaled-down - but not scaled-back --version of a larger LED colour-mixing par can," said Sebastian Mobers, sales manager Europe for American DJ Europe. "It's got all the features and amenities that you'll find on a professional LED stage par, only it's mini sized -and mini-priced.

"With lighting being more widely used today in entertainment, decorative and display applications, we're finding that there's a growing demand for professional-style fixtures that are smaller in size than conventional units. The Micro Wash RGBW fits right into this trend. Its compact size makes it great for spaces and applications where standard par cans would be too large, yet you get a full-feat

Czech Republic - Robe has introduced an App available as a free download to run on iPhone and iPod Touch.

The Robe Product ReferenceApp contains comprehensive information and statistics covering the full Robe product range, including an entire catalogue of 'key data' in the form of one sheet with all the essential technical information you need to know about Robe. The App also has user manuals, DMX charts, gobo layouts, etc. and allows users to download and hold as much reference information as they need.

Photometric charts, video demonstrations and assorted other information will be added in the coming weeks.

It is intended as "an invaluable tool for lighting designers, operators, programmers and technicians who are on the move, enabling them to have the crucial facts and figures at their fingertips wherever they are". These can then be used for a myriad of

USA - Luxeon A from Philips Lumileds received the Technical Innovation Award at Lightfair International. The award is given to the product that represents the best leap forward in lighting technology.

Luxeon A provides consistent quality of light from LED to LED, something that both luminaire manufacturers and the lighting design community can count on today and into the future, says the company.

Hot tested and specified at a junction temperature of 85°C ensures the LED's real world operating conditions performance and simplifies the design process. Freedom From Binning eliminates colour bins, typically a burden on luminaire manufacturers. All Luxeon A emitters fall within a single three-step MacAdam Ellipse at 2700K and 3000K and deliver superior quality of light with colour consistency from unit to unit that has never before been possible.

Luxeon A joins past winners o

UK - London-based show and event production company LarMac LIVE created a design and co-ordinated technical production for a 'silent' Scouting For Girls gig on the third floor of The Bargehouse exhibition venue at London's Oxo Tower. They were working for national radio station Absolute Radio and smart car.

Absolute Radio had signed a high profile deal with smart to promote the new smart fortwo campaign. This saw Absolute Radio run a promotion on the Geoff Lloyd Hometime show which culminated in the station staging the silent gig and one lucky listener winning a smart car.

Wanting a funky central London location with a special vibe, the venue - a charismatic stripped-out Victorian warehouse space peeled back to its raw RSJs and original brickwork - was chosen. There was one major logistical challenge - they needed to stage the show without violating the noise restrictions for

Isle of Man - Medieval ruin, Rushen Abbey was recently transformed by hire and event specialists Event Lighting Services (ELS). With the help of GDS LiteWare, the Isle of Man heritage site was spectacularly illuminated for a private function.

Event Lighting Services are a supplier of lighting, audio and special effects equipment based in the Isle of Man. ELS were commissioned in late April to provide the audio and lighting for a private wedding party that was held in a marquee at the medieval site. The client requested the ancient ruins be illuminated, creating a stunning back-drop for their evening event.

Rushen Abbey dates back to 1134 and sits by the Silverdale Burn in what is now Ballasalla. Acquired by the Manx Government in 1998, it is the most substantial and important medieval religious site in the Isle of Man.

ELS faced a host of challenges whilst specifying equipme

France / Sweden - Wireless Solution Sweden's W-DMX technology has been adopted by another OEM partner - the French lighting company Ayrton which incorporates the technology on some of its newest LED fixtures.

The new WildSun 500 has a factory installed W-DMX receiver. It's the first compact 4:1 zoom LED wash moving-head luminaire which provides a 10,000 lumen beam, advanced 4 in 1 RGBW full colour mixing and efficient 11° narrow beam. WildSun 500 is designed for TV studios, concerts, convention halls, theme parks and any other entertainment applications.

In addition, Ayrton also makes two static waterproof LED projectors factory fitted with W-DMX receivers, the Icecolor500 and Icecolor 1000.

These new products from Ayrton were launched at the 2011 Prolight + Sound Exhibition in Germany last month.

Florent Francois, chief product engineer for Ayrton commented, "We

Germany - The Falcon Flower made an impression at the 56th Eurovision Song Contest recently held at Düsseldorf Arena in Germany.

German lighting designer Jerry Appelt specified masses of lighting to deliver different looks for the 43 competing countries, three interval acts and opening act for the Final broadcast. Over 2,100 moving lights were incorporated into the design, with the majority hung overhead, spanning the entire space of Düsseldorf Arena.

Twenty-four Falcon Flower 3000Ws made a massive impact at floor level with four placed on each side of the stage at its widest position and another 12 lined along the back LED stage wall. Four more were placed on the catwalks in front of the stage.Sixteen Falcon Flower 7000Ws were placed in the ceiling, with eight hung on a moving truss directly behind the stage. Lighting control was delivered via grandMA2 full-size consoles, t

Brazil - The Axé Brazil festival took place recently when an audience of around 80,000 people gathered at the local arena in Belo Horizonte over the two days.

Dedicated to the Brazilian music genre known as Axé, with its roots in Salvador de Bahia, the event featured popular Brazilian artists such as Ivete Sangalo, Cláudia Leite, Chiclete Com Banana and Asa De Águia.

The 12-strong technical team from production company Estação da Luz ensured that the promoters - DM Promoções e Eventos - had a first class sound and lighting infrastructure (as they have for the past 10 years) - with SGM lighting providing the bulk of moving heads.

Marcelo Claudio Cesar's company has been building up an inventory of SGM fixtures, supplied by local distributors Hot Machine, over a number of years, and today runs 112 Giotto Spot 400, 24 Idea Beam 300 and 12 Ribalta LED colour

Olympic Countdown - BBC Radio 1 have announced that they will hold their annual free music festival in east London in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics. Leona Lewis and Plan B are among the artists confirmed for the two-day event at Hackney Marshes. BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012 will take place on 23 and 24 June with 100,000 tickets available.

The event, more than double the capacity of previous Big Weekends, will feature six stages of music. The majority of the tickets for BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012 are being allocated to people living in Hackney and the surrounding boroughs. The announcement was made during a special simulcast broadcast by BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra from the Olympic Park.

Radio 1 and 1Xtra's controller Andy Parfitt said: "This is the most ambitious event in the station's 44-year history. We aim to enhance the overall London 2012 s

UK / USA - PLASA will update its members on a significant 12 months when it meets for its AGM and Members Lunch in a couple of weeks' time in central London.

It's just a year since members of PLASA and ESTA voted to merge the two Associations, and in the intervening 12 months, PLASA has reinvented key elements of its operations introducing a new membership structure, a new Governance system and election process, granting the vote to Organizational and Individual members, and launching a complete new PLASA logo and identity.

Whilst the day will reflect on the achievements of the last year, it will also invite members to feedback on what they'd like to see PLASA doing for their specific business sectors, additional services they feel should be offered and the role they'd like to see PLASA taking in the wider industry.

The formalities however, are a relatively small part of the

UK - With two billion people around the world reported to have tuned in, the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton has been billed a global media extravaganza with one of the biggest audiences in television history.

Lighting director Bernie Davis commented: "As soon as it was announced that the marriage ceremony was taking place in Westminster Abbey I knew that ELP were the right crew for the job. Over the last eight years or so I've used ELP as the lighting supplier on so many high profile broadcasts from the Abbey that by now ELP riggers and electricians know every square inch of the building. They are trusted by the facilities staff at the Abbey and virtually on first name terms with the Vergers...so when thinking about risk management, who else was I going to use?"

With so much cutting-edge digital technology on display from the words broadcast media - hi

Sweden / Slovenia - LumenRadio has confirmed the appointment of MK Light Sound as distributor for CRMX in Slovenia.

"MK Light & Sound have impressed us by their dedication to supporting their customers and partners and we believe they will do very well in representing CRMX wireless lighting controls in Slovenia," says Anders Ardstål VPO of LumenRadio.

MK Light & Sound have already started a demonstration tour of CRMX products in Slovenia and the customer response so far has been" extremely positive".

"CRMX is the given choice for us in offering our customers reliable wireless lighting controls," comments Dean Karov at MK Light Sound . "The customers want something that always works, and CRMX is the only brand that can deliver on that promise as we see it. We are naturally excited to have started marketing CRMX products in Slovenia and alre

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