Queensland Performing Arts Centre refurbishment
Posted on 30th June 2009Pro Audio Asia Magazine - July/August Issue 2009
Based in Brisbane, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) further cemented itself as a world-class performance space and facility with a recent $34.7 million refurbishment. Comprising the 2000 seat Lyric Theatre, the 1800 seat Concert Hall, the 850 seat Playhouse and the 312 seat Cremorne Theatre, this is the first major renovation and upgrade since it opened its doors in 1985.
For QPAC director John Kotzas, the whole refurbishment was about inclusion, a strong desire to include as many people in the refurbishment as possible. With past experience as a freelance stage and production manager, and a 20-year career with QPAC (starting out as an education officer), Kotzas has a great understanding of the physical shape and layout of the facility and the need to upgrade.
When I think of country music in Australia, I conjure up images of the outback, cattle stations, country pubs, blokes and sheilas strumming guitars, dusty utes, large weather-beaten Akubra hats, western shirts, blue jeans and Tamworth. I think of artists such as Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley, James Blundell and Gina Jeffreys. I certainly don’t think of inner-city Sydney, a vintage analogue audio gear collection to knock your socks off, and the iconic 1970s Australian band Sherbet. However there is a connection, and that is Rancom Street Studios in Botany. 
Hear first-hand on how the sound for the film Australia came together from executive music supervisor Anton Monsted, supervising sound editor/sound designer Wayne Pashley, supervising music editor Simon Leadley, composer David Hirschfelder and Deluxe StageOne Sound sound manager Angus Robertson. 
Revelations from the past shake Nicolas Cage’s on-screen world in Knowing, while its sound calls on classic past and present technology in the studio..jpg)
Situated in Circular Quay, neighbouring Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House, resides The Basement. Opened in 1972 as a jazz club, The Basement developed over time into a venue offering an eclectic mix of musical styles six to seven nights a week. Hence, many famous artists from different genres have performed here including Muddy Waters, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and James Morrison, country stars Keith Urban, Kasey Chambers and Jimmie Little, as well as contemporary rock and pop favourites Jimmy Barnes, The Whitlams, Tex Perkins and Neil Finn.
With live performances on TV, songwriting credits for film and TV programmes, a recently released album and regular live performances five nights a week on the Singapore bar circuit, the vocal/ guitar-playing duo Jack & Rai are living and breathing the music dream.
Australia’s Gold Coast is famous for its sunshine, golden sands and stunning surf beaches. A popular choice for local and international students, the recent installation of a Solid State Logic AWS 900 console into Griffith University’s Gold Coast Campus might have students swapping surfboards for mixing boards.
Having already lined up telephone interviews the next morning with Australia’s Executive Music Supervisor, Anton Monsted; Composer, David Hirschfelder; and Scoring Mixer, Shawn Murphy, I thought it might be wise to see the film first. Rushing down to the local cinema with pen and paper in hand, I felt like a real ‘Nigel no mates’ sitting on my own in the dark. I didn’t know what to expect.
Nestled in the hillside overlooking the picturesque Karekare beach, 40km from Auckland, New Zealand and made famous by the movie The Piano, sits Karekare Recording. Built in 1992 on land originally purchased from pioneer explorer Sir Edmond Hillary to record pioneer New Zealand band Crowded House, it is no surprise the facility opted for an upgrade with the new Fairlight Constellation XCS fully integrated large-scale digital recording, editing and mixing system, pioneers in digital audio technology.
