Building on previous work within the North London Jewish community, Sound Division were recently asked to provide sound reinforcement for the induction of the new Senior Rabbi, Dov Kaplan, at Norrice Lea Synagogue presided over by the Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks.
Rabbi Kaplan has joined the post from Israel having previously been the community rabbi in Caesarea, Israel; he has also served as a Rabbi in Colombia. The Hampstead Garden Suburb community had been seeking a new permanent rabbi to fill the senior role for over a year and was excited to appoint Rabbi Kaplan calling him “an original thinker, committed to modern orthodoxy”.
The ceremony was held in the main synagogue hall at Norrice Lea and included speeches from the Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Kaplan as well as the vice-chairman of the Synagogue. The choir of Kerem School also performed several songs to begin and conclude the service. The service was attended by several important community figures including the President of the United Synagogue, Stephen Pack and President of the Board of Deputies Vivian Wineman.
To provide the highest quality sound reproduction Sound Division set up a pair of desktop Shure MX412D gooseneck microphones for the stage lectern to ensure that speeches from the incoming Rabbi, the Chief Rabbi and members of the congregation could be heard clearly. An additional pair of AKG C747 pencil microphones were supplied for the Bimah to give amplification to the religious service.
The ceremony also included interviews with senior members of the community by two members of the community’s youth. Sound Division fitted each person with a Shure WL185 wireless lavelier microphone, which are small but powerful tie-clip microphones that provide high fidelity audio pick up and use lightweight transmitter packs ensuring all those involved could speak and move freely.
An Allen & Heath PA 12-channel powered mixer was used for sound processing and 3 pairs of EV XZ90 compact speakers were set up on either side of the hall to provide clear Audience coverage to each of the seating sections in the packed hall. Sound Division also supplied a sound engineer to mix the audio ensuring that this prestigious occasion was executed perfectly.
Sound Division MD, David Graham, said, “It is nice to know that the quality production values we provide are called upon again and again for these high profile occasions”
February 2012