Andrew Stirling managed the project personally, specifying a Nexo PS15 system to meet the diverse programme requirements, ranging from orchestral recitals to rock concerts. "The brief for the concert hall was to provide a good quality utility sound reinforcement system that would principally fulfil the vocal requirement," said Stirling. "It needed to be sufficiently powerful without being overly-intrusive, and so we opted for the Nexo PS15."
A pair of the compact PS15s and PS15Bass (LF extenders) are flown in clusters on either side of the proscenium arch, using Nexo's active full-range processing to enable a 2-way passive 8 ohm design to deliver bi-amped performance from a single amplifier channel. Andrew Stirling's solution was to use the Camco Vortex 6, which uses a switched-mode power supply and delivers a more than adequate 1300W per channel (at 8 ohm).
"As cosmetics were important, we needed to mount the speakers high up - to the left and right of the lighting gantry," he said. "But because the horn is easily rotatable for vertical or horizontal PA usage we were able to create a dispersion pattern that enabled the sound to be squirted down and provide even coverage of the 250 fixed seats."
Stirling has also provided 32 tie-lines to a 32-channel Audient console, enabling the school to undertake show recordings, and also specified an Allen & Heath live console, which can be moved from the sound booth to the front-of-house position, Audix mics and Sennheiser IR assisted hearing system.
The new building also houses 20 piano rooms, rehearsal rooms and production studios, which have also been specified and equipped by Stirling Audio. "Millfield take everything they do very seriously," summarised Andrew Stirling. "They wanted the best and we have managed to provide them with a major concert hall which is complementary to their existing theatre on the main campus."
(Jim Evans)
