Shippensburg University’s H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center (LPAC) has received a $74,000 Tourism Product Development grant from Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC), administered through Shippensburg University Foundation, to upgrade audio equipment.
The project will replace the monitor control that sends an audio signal to each monitor position and purchase complementary amplifiers, which will allow the Luhrs Center to continue attracting top-tier performances. James Bicknell, production manager for the Luhrs Performing Arts Center, is overseeing the installation and equipment selection process. Robin Dolbin, the director of the center, is leading the project.
Bicknell shared that the performing arts center is purchasing a new Yamaha sound mixing console (Yamaha Rivage PM3 CS-R3), which will work in concert with the center’s current sound mixer to create the front-of-house and monitor mixing system. He also shared that this purchase, along with other grant-funded purchases, will supplement and replace existing sound equipment in the LPAC, and will include new amplifiers for stage wedge monitors.
The new Yamaha console systems will offer increased processing speeds and input/output resources between monitor and front-of-house positions, a major upgrade from the previous systems. Improved monitor capabilities will positively impact both performers and crew.
Bicknell emphasized that on-stage musicians rely on accurate and flexible monitor mixes to perform at their best. “While not directly guest-focused, a band on stage requires good monitors and a great monitor engineer to be able to hear one another effectively,” he said. By providing high-quality on-stage sound, musical performances can go more smoothly and create a top-notch experience for the audience.
The equipment upgrades are also expected to affect staffing and training. Modern consoles will streamline workflow systems, which will allow for smaller crews to operate shows more efficiently while offering training opportunities to student and staff technicians. The updated systems will also make the integration for touring engineers’ rigs less complex, in turn reducing setup time and complications backstage.
Bicknell acknowledged several people and organizations that helped make the upgrade possible. He thanked Dolbin for securing the grant and expressed gratitude to the CAEDC for awarding the grant. He also recognized local technical partners, Jon Roth and Jon O’Neal at Black Walnut Productions in Chambersburg, for facilitating the ordering process.
Doblin noted that since the Luhrs Center’s opening in 2005, it has enriched the Cumberland Valley region by presenting professional theater, symphony orchestra, world-renowned speakers, live music, dance and more. She also highlighted that the center has hosted over 830 in-person events attended by 760,320 people, drawing in local audiences and visitors across the state and country. With the audio upgrades underway, the center’s quality of performances and presence throughout the region are expected to expand even more. “A recent study by the Americans for the Arts AEP6 estimates the annual impact of the project at 1.5 million dollars on the economy of the Cumberland Valley and the surrounding region,” said Dolbin.
Installation and commissioning are expected to follow the procurement process and vendor scheduling. Once complete, the upgrades will position the LPAC to a wider range of touring artists and provide audiences with enhanced sound quality.
