Lawrence Today magazine, Spring 2009
When Brian Pertl ’86 returned to Lawrence in September 2008 as the new dean of the Conservatory of Music, there was never a question that greater emphasis on technology would follow. Having spent the previous 14 years as an executive at Microsoft, the World Wide Web had been Pertl’s ballpark and Lawrence conservatory students and faculty were his new team.
Scarcely two months later, plans for webcasting conservatory performances via Lawrence’s internet radio station, WLFM, were in place, and on November 15 the beta-test of a Lawrence Symphony Orchestra webcast streamed to a select group of 50 LSO fans. One week later, with the live webcast of the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band concert, the conservatory’s audience grew from the 1,148 seats in Memorial Chapel to a worldwide audience that is rapidly expanding.
“Our global WLFM broadcasts have a huge benefit for prospective students, alumni, and parents, Pertl said. “Now a high school cellist from Seattle who knows of Lawrence but is wondering about the quality of our orchestra can tune in and be amazed. Similarly, an alumnus who sang in Concert Choir but has had no ability to keep up with the ensemble, can pull up a virtual seat in the chapel and reconnect with professor Bjella and the choir.”
“Amazed” describes the reaction from prospective students and alumni alike. The sound quality of the webcasts has been extraordinary thanks, in part, to Larry Darling ’76, recording technology engineer. “When Brian suggested that we webcast major ensemble concerts I was a bit skeptical because I was afraid the audio quality would be substandard. I was happily proved wrong on our first beta test and have been enthusiastically behind the idea ever since,” Darling said.
Darling and Alvina Tan ’06, assistant director of recording, produce a 30-minute preconcert program, synchronizing the timing with the beginning of the live concert webcast. Tan does preconcert music research, selection, script writing, and acts as the second engineer during the concerts. Darling hosts the programs, interviewing faculty guests. “We try to make it professional and informative, but the main objective is to bring more people into our chapel performances,” Darling said.
Predictibly, the concert webcasts are only the first step for the technology-oriented dean. “Our dream is to create a second WLFM stream that is dedicated to music and life in the conservatory,” Pertl said. “Besides playing pieces from our vast archives of recordings, we could have music-related lectures and discussions, interviews with faculty and students, or even call-in shows. The possibilities are endless. We don’t have the funding or manpower yet to make this a reality, but we are committed to aiming high!”
To receive e-mail notices about upcoming webcast performances, send an e-mail to recording@lawrence.edu and ask to be added to the list of subscribers.
