Sauder Concert Hall
Sauder Concert Hall (1,000 seats) has been described as one of the top venues for classical music in the county by leading ensembles such as Chanticleer, Canadian Brass, and Apollo’s Fire Chamber Orchestra. These ensembles, and all others who perform here, appreciate the outstanding reverberation and liveliness, as well as their ability to hear themselves and others in the ensemble while performing together on stage. Audiences universally appreciate the “ring,” as well as the way in which the sound envelopments them—surround sound at its best.
Furthermore, Sauder Concert Hall is acoustically adjustable. An adjustable overhead reflector, or canopy, as well as large curtains make the performing space suitable for a wide range of desirable acoustical situations—from single voice or instrument to a small ensemble, to a larger ensemble and to a group with modest amplification support.
The gross geometry of Sauder Concert Hall is a narrow rectangular shape, characteristic of traditionally successful concert halls. In addition, the sidewalls are gently reverse fan-shaped to direct lateral reflections to the center of the room and promote running liveliness. A single wrap-around balcony and a technical ledge create acoustic shelves that contribute to listener envelopment by reflecting sound down to the audience plane from the sides of the room.
The performance platform is located in the same single space as the audience, not separated by a proscenium arch, nor requiring the use of a temporary enclosure, so that none of the music is lost into a stage house or absorbed by thin materials. A permanent choral seating terrace surrounds the platform and melts seamlessly into the side balconies.
The curved overhead reflector, or canopy, is situated 45 feet above the stage and provides essential cross-platform reflections for musical communication among performers, also projecting sound to the audience. This reflective canopy has six “wings”—three on each side—that can be adjusted, depending on the need. For a performance using amplification, where performers get their feedback from monitor speakers instead of live sound, the wings can be moved to the “up” position, allowing the sound to “escape” from the stage area.
The retractable curtains are incorporated on the side and rear walls of the hall and on the wall behind the platform in order to control the overall reverberation in the hall when necessary. Implementing all curtains can reduce the reverberation from over three seconds to approximately one second. Adjustments to the curtains configuration can be made easily as ensembles shift during a concert program.
All of the good music inside Sauder Concert Hall can only be truly appreciated if all outside sounds are kept out. This is fully accomplished by the exterior 13-inch concrete walls that surround the interior 10-inch concrete block walls, separated only by air space.