P.S. Don t forget to check out our new website at

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1 O C T O B E R WENGER INTERNATIONAL PARTNER NEWSLETTER In this month s newsletter, we are delighted to bring you the newest international CASE STUDY for the custom acoustical shell project Wenger completed with TAISM the American International School in Muscat (Oman) earlier this year. The challenge: to create an acoustical solution for a theatre/performing arts center in a K-12 international school by collaborating with the owner and project team for a beautiful, yet fully functional solution. Thanks to Paula Ulrich for her work to sell and coordinate this fabulous project! More information and photos about the TAISM project are found on Pages 4 and 5. Good selling! Nancy Wagner, Director International Sales I N T E R N AT I O N A L N E W S THANKS FOR THE COMMENTS RECEIVED ON OUR INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER FROM WENGER S PARTNER IN CENTRAL AMERICA The International Partner Newsletter Wenger sends every month encourages me to keep working hard for my goals. P.S. Don t forget to check out our new website at WENGER S CUSTOM CAPABILITIES FOR A FLOWN DIVA TOWER Recently, Wenger International was invited to the DIVA manufacturing area to see a demonstration of a flown wall sample that Mark Ingalls, Wenger s Product Manager for custom acoustical shells, was working on for a US customer. To provide some background: some customers may not have adequate room on stage to allow for a full DIVA tower, so Wenger offer alternatives, such as towers with foldable bases, DIVA panels that attach directly to the wall or in this case, a flown wall. This means that the rigging is used to lower the Diva wall directly into the performance or storage position. After the performance, the flown towers are usually stored off-stage or even in the loft. The picture below illustrates what a flown tower wall might look like, suspended from rigging cable. Imagine five, six or seven towers in a row and one can imagine seeing a full-stage DIVA shell from the customer s perspective, sitting in the audience. The acoustical properties will be the same as a standard DIVA tower; just that the application is different, not the function. Flown Diva Example Wenger prides itself that we can offer such custom alternatives to our performing arts customers. This service helps differentiate Wenger from our competitors and offers a unique sales advantage to our Wenger partners who sell our technical theatre products. Let our engineering and design department, along with our sales representatives, Sherrie Ulrich and Paula Ulrich, help solve these challenges for your customer! I want to give Wenger special thanks for the valuable effort you make to send the Newsletter. It is a valuable document that helps me manage the clients in my territory. Sent via from Carlos E. Galvez, Gerente General, Acoustic Projects S.A. de C.V., El Salvador Gracias, Carlos! Un gran abrazo! BRIEF FACTS ABOUT THE REPUBLIC OF EL SALVADOR Population 7 million Independence Day Sept 15 (from Spain in 1821) US $ is currency Country is about the size of the US state Massachusetts

2 I n t e r n a t i o n a l N e w s BLACK CAT MUSIC (UK) DEMONSTRATES ITS POWER OF MARKETING THE WENGER BRAND Wenger s Master Distributor in the UK, Black Cat Music, recently provided Wenger with a comprehensive list of the many trade shows and exhibitions that they participate in to sell, promote and market Wenger in the UK and Europe. Says Alice Dagger, Black Cat s Marketing Manager, We've had a busy Spring and we have a busy Autumn ahead. Our thanks to Alice for this information and the fabulous photos! March 2012, Musikmesse, Frankfurt, Germany Black Cat Music attended the Musikmesse in March and set up a hectic schedule of meetings with international resellers. April 2012, ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians Conference) We exhibited here in April. The conference was at St. Luke s, the home of the London Symphony Orchestra. Black Cat Music was able to renew important relationships with orchestras, including the LSO themselves. May 2012, MMA (Music Masters & Mistresses Association) We exhibited at this conference at the Rugby School (UK). It is a good conference for keeping in touch with many of our core customers from UK independent schools. Alice Dagger and Teresa Rogers, Sales Manager June 2012, FMS (Federation of Music Services) We exhibited at FMS in June, renewing existing relationships with state school music services. This was also a good opportunity to learn more about how the Music Hubs are going to work in practice. Black Cat s booth at the June FMS Conference in the UK June 2012, Kent SoundHub Conference (run by Kent UK Music Service) We exhibited and attended as delegates to renew brand awareness among Kent (UK county) music teachers. Although budgets will be stretched, an increased emphasis on gives us a selling opportunity for Wenger products. August 2012, ABCD (Association of British Choral Directors) Convention Held at Leeds Metropolitan University (UK), Black Cat will be exhibiting at this convention - this was good last year for promoting Wenger Tourmaster choral risers and the Conductors' stands. Alice Dagger and Martin Loft, Technical Sales Executive September 2012, SAME (Scottish Association of Music Educators) Conference We will be exhibiting here for the first time in Stirling University, as we have observed a growing interest from Scottish music educators and want to expand Wenger s presence in the Scottish market. October 2012, NAME (National Association of Music Educators) Conference We will be exhibiting in Staffordshire to renew our relationships with UK state school music teachers. November 2012, Deutscher Orchestertag (Orchestra Day), Berlin, Germany We will be exhibiting in Germany to keep up the momentum of interest from German orchestra managers. January 2013, ABO (Association of British Orchestras) Conference We will be exhibiting at the home of the Opera North next year to maintain strong relationships with UK orchestra managers. Black Cat Music has also just signed up for Platinum Sponsorship (including a large exhibition stand) at the new Music Education Expo taking place March 2013 at the Barbican Centre, London. Reports Alice Dagger: This is an exciting marketing activity as the Music Education Expo is a large new exhibition and conference for music educationalists. Black Cat Music hopes that by being at the forefront of this major new initiative, we can really stamp our brand and the Wenger brand across the UK education market.

3 I n t e r n a t i o n a l N e w s JUST SOME OF THE INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS WENGER IS WORKING ON AROUND THE WORLD. CHINA Working together with Wenger s technical consultant partner in China, HOAC, we are close to closing on a project for a DIVA shell for the Harbin Grand Theater which will consist of a large theater with 1500 seats. Harbin, located in the northernmost province of China, is famous for its annual Ice Festival. Wenger is also working with HOAC on another DIVA project in the city of Kunshan in Jiangsu provence (close to Shanghai). The population of Kunshan is 1.6 million and is home to several large multi-national manufacturers, such as FoxConn, which sub-contracts for Apple and makes Ipods, Ipads and Iphones. For both projects, Wenger and HOAC are working with one of China s premier rigging companies. The Kunshan project will be installed in early MALAYSIA Wenger s Asia-Pacific Sales Representative, Sherrie Ulrich, worked for several years on a DIVA shell for an international school based on the island of Penang in Malaysia that finally came to fruition earlier this year. The school, known by its abbreviation as POWIIS or Prince of Wales Island International School, is a British-style secondary school for children aged 11 to 18. It is Wenger s first custom acoustical shell installation in the Republic of Malaysia. WENGER JOINS THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR MUSIC EDUCATION Wenger is proud to announce its new affiliation with the ISME, a worldwide organisation that seeks to celebrate the diverse ways that people engage with, and develop in and through, music. Founded in 1953, ISME represents a network of international professionals who strive to understand and promote music learning. The Gibson Foundation and the NAMM Foundation are key sponsers of this organization and provide education and develop programs to advance music and the arts. For more information on this organization, go to

4 THE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MUSCAT, OMAN PROJECT CASE STUDY DIVA FULL-STAGE ACOUSTICAL SHELL The Diva shell surrounds you with a natural warmth it s a very fulfilling experience. As a performer, projection requires less effort; your energy starts going toward being more musical. Pianissimos are truly pianissimos, and fortes truly are fortes. Kevin Schafer Director DIVA FULL-STAGE ACOUSTICAL SHELL CHAL L E NG E Create custom acoustical solution for theatre/performing arts center in K-12 international school. WEN G E R S OL UT I O N Collaborating with owner and project team to design and manufacture full-stage acoustical shell and auditorium wall panels. BEN E F I T S Enhances acoustical environment Complements theatre architecture Provides easy setup and handling 800-4WENGER ( ) wengercorp.com Inspires excellent musicianship Facilitates different shell configurations

5 HIGHLIGHTS When planning our new theatre, our first call was to Wenger, recalls Tim Willson, Instrumental Music Teacher at the American International School of Muscat (TAISM) in Muscat, Oman, located near Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf. Confidence in Wenger was rooted in a long history. I ve purchased Wenger equipment for over thirty years for music programs around the world, Willson explains. I ve learned to trust the quality and durability of the products and the professionalism and integrity of the people at Wenger. Willson, who served as TAISM s project manager for the theatre construction, said acoustics were a top priority, in part because they knew changes would be difficult later. Wenger agreed to supply the full-stage acoustical shell and recommended the involvement of an acoustical consultant and theatre designer. After evaluation, TAISM selected Threshold Acoustics and Schuler Shook. The theatre and its interior were designed by architect Navjit Singh Matharu, the Principal Designer and Owner of A+D Canada in Toronto. His history with TA- ISM began with developing the school s master plan in 2000; he is also the design architect for entire school campus development. The overall vision for the TAISM campus, which currently enrolls 725 students from over 50 nationalities, called for an architectural style blending local Arabic influences with modern elements. The 522-seat theatre, called the Bosch Center for the Performing Arts, includes interior finishes of wood, stone, fabric and glass, designed for acoustical support, visual interest and low maintenance. Building Teamwork From the start, successful teamwork was a hallmark of this project. Michael DiBlasi, Partner with Schuler Shook Minneapolis, praised the working relationship between his firm and both Tim Willson and Kevin Schafer, TAISM s Director. We all had a lot of confidence in each other, and we challenged each other on different ideas and options, DiBlasi states. The school wanted a great facility that could really nurture students, while also serving as a community asset, he says. Together with Threshold Acoustics, Schuler Shook designed a multipurpose theatre particularly suited for TAISM s musical ensembles. Schuler Shook s services included both architectural lighting design and theatre planning from stage lighting and rigging to dressing rooms and shell storage. Acoustical shells require a number of coordinated elements, including the acoustician s criteria and client s expectations, explains Jody Kovalick, Project Theatre Consultant with Schuler Shook Minneapolis. Ceiling panels must hang from the rigging properly, along with moving and storing easily. Built-in lighting is coordinated with the theatrical dimming system. The TAISM theatre s shallow fly loft incorporates rigging with a safety interlock mechanism to prevent the shell s ceiling panels, in their performance position, from contacting the catwalks that provide lighting access above the stage. Wenger does a fantastic job providing all the information we need to design and develop a shell s support system, declares Kovalick. During the shop drawing and construction process, he says Wenger coordinates everyone s information to ensure everything works as designed, while also being very responsive when something needs attention or tweaking. DiBlasi believes an experienced project team can often anticipate and avoid potential problems. Whether differences in culture, material procurement or construction methods, asking the right questions can help minimize surprises. These skills were particularly important on the TAISM project because local contractors and suppliers were largely unfamiliar with theatre construction techniques and procedures. Contributions from local firms were blended with outsourced elements from companies like Wenger to achieve a successful result. Hitting Sweet Spot Acoustician Carl Giegold, Partner with Threshold Acoustics of Chicago, Ill., says his firm has worked with Wenger for at least 15 years. I appreciate talking through ideas with Wenger and the value they add to the design process, Giegold remarks. On the TAISM project, he says some simple suggestions from Wenger helped manage the budget while meeting the desired acoustical performance and the architect s requirements. Giegold requested a double layer surrounding the Diva tower s honeycomb core more mass to enhance the bass response. The heavier shell design gives a warmer sound off the stage, he explains. The ceiling panels were standard to avoid overloading the rigging s manual counterweighted system. He describes the TAISM Diva shell s configuration as fairly typical three pairs of sidewall towers, four upstage towers and three ceiling panels. The option of multiple shell configurations was very important to accommodate a wide range of performances. For choral concerts, the common setup would be a short shell consisting of one pair of sidewall towers with the rear wall towers located 10' (3 m) upstage of the proscenium. Giegold prefers to keep smaller ensembles far downstage, with the upstage wall as near to the ensemble as possible. This is very important for clarity and communication between the musicians onstage, he notes. Most instrumental ensembles will use the mid-sized configuration, consisting of two pairs of sidewall towers and all four upstage towers. Joint concerts or large festival ensembles will use the full shell. The Diva shell hits a sweet spot, comments Giegold. It s lightweight enough to be maneuverable, but heavy enough to speak with authority and support the musical efforts on stage. Uniting Interior To enhance the theatre s acoustic response, Giegold wanted an acoustic device to narrow the upper volume of the audience chamber. The narrowed volume creates soffits along the side walls that emphasize acoustic intimacy. Because the soffits are cantilevered from the side walls, they can support only limited weight. Finding a material heavy enough to serve acoustically without overtaxing the structure was a challenge. Masonry would have been too heavy. Giegold says they considered having the local millwork contractor create auditorium panels from a stick-built framework covered with veneered plywood. For a number of reasons, we ultimately decided the best solution was asking Wenger to adapt their laminated Diva-panel technology, he recalls. The custom panels were constructed of 3 /4" (19 mm) plywood on each side of a 3" (7.62 cm) honeycomb core, with panels incorporating slight curvature on a 20' or 30' (6 m or 9 m) radius. Overall, Wenger supplied auditorium panels totaling 2,340 square feet (217.4 square meters) approximately half the combined square footage of the Diva shell s towers and ceilings. Additionally, Wenger provided more than 1,800 square feet (167.2 square meters) of veneer for other theatre surfaces. I appreciate Wenger s contributions to this project, explains Matharu. I was very particular about coordinating the color of the Diva shell with the wall panels and other finishes. He adds that Wenger patiently supplied numerous samples until he was satisfied. Wenger helped achieve a harmonious interior in the theatre, Matharu notes. Fulfilling Experience Kevin Schafer, TAISM s Director, is equally enthusiastic about the outcome. We feel like we re completely surrounded by a Wenger shell, exclaims Schafer, who plays with Tim Willson in a brass quintet. There s a natural warmth that is a very different feeling than in many places I ve played, comments Schafer. It s a very fulfilling experience. As a performer, Schafer says projection requires less effort. Your energy starts going toward being more musical and your expectations are immediately raised. He thinks student musicians also sense this and are going to start working harder to play more musically. Schafer also appreciates how the Diva shell s functionality makes setup work easy. It s really important we can handle the shell ourselves because we re a K-12 school, not a university with a large operations staff, he remarks, adding it s amazing they can move such a massive shell on their own. Concludes Schafer, That s the joy of working with Wenger products that are so well-engineered Wenger Corporation, Printed in the U.S.A./7-12/2M/W/LT0358A 800-4WENGER ( ) wengercorp.com