The Tones on the Stones production team brought a well-trained group of thirty-five candidate lighting designers, of which only six passed the selections and secured a place at the final evening. Among those present and the members of the jury were the well-known lighting designer Giancarlo Toscani, the Tones on the Stones lighting designer Nevio Cavina, the event organization manager Tobia Piazza and Clay Paky's lighting designer Marco Zucchinali.
The two days at Clay Paky were very busy and were marked by a course for the budding lighting designers on controlling moving lights from the lighting desk. The course was held by the sales support engineering managers Massimo Piccinini and Giulia Sabeva in Clay Paky's spacious showroom, where all the products the Bergamo-based company sells are on display, including those that will be used to light up the four Tones on the Stones evenings.
The course also included a very thorough tour of the Clay Paky plant and research and development departments, conducted by Italy sales manager Paolo Dozzo.
The second day was devoted to selecting the six finalists: each candidate lighting designer had half an hour to program their thirty-second light show, assisted by Clay Paky's lighting designer and programmer Marco Zucchinali.
The shows were performed in the afternoon before the jury, who - just like in any self-respecting talent show - expressed their unquestionable verdicts during the final stage.
The six finalists chosen are Violeta Arista, Marco di Febo, Lorenzo Pagella, Mauro Pujia, Edoardo Falasco and Lorenzo Campana.
They will perform in two different shows during the Tones on the Stones festival: the first involves the interpretation of a piece of electronic music with lights during the Nextones evening on 18 July, and the second will focus on a selection of instrumental music concert on Sunday 20 July, American Sweets show, which will see a host of international jazz musicians performing the most well-known musical themes of American cinema.
(Jim Evans)
