Waikato opens new performing arts academy

By KEVIN TAYLOR

Waikato University's $10 million performing arts academy is already drawing praise from musical experts, and interest from recording artists.

Prime Minister Helen Clark formally opened the academy on Saturday, starting a week-long festival of music, dance and theatre called "Towards the Light."

Academy manager Annika Shelley said a big feature of the facility was its 340-seat concert chamber, which had "phenomenal" acoustic qualities.

That had been acknowledged by leading acoustics experts, and the chamber was already in demand as a recording studio.

"I think we are going to get groups coming in here to record CDs," she said.

The academy's reputation was spreading despite the opening having been only on Saturday, she said.

"It means Hamilton is coming of age - and recognising arts and culture plays a significant part in the community."

The academy - sited at the university - was paid for by corporate and local body sponsors.

The WEL Energy Trust, which contributed $1.7 million, has naming rights for 17 years

The university and Hamilton City Council each contributed $2 million.

As well as the concert chamber, the academy features a 240-seat theatre, a dance studio, and Te Whare Tapere Iti, a room designed for Maori performing arts.

The building was jointly designed by the Hamilton office of architectural and engineering consultants Meritec, and the Auckland office of Warren & Mahoney.

Construction started in late 1999.



Project manager Peter Wootton, of Meritec, said the concert chamber was an "almost perfectly controlled and designed music environment," and was the best chamber music venue in the country.

With four performing arts venues at the academy, the public would be able to see a diverse range of performances, he said.

The feature event of the opening festival was on Saturday when New Zealand musician and composer Hirini Melbourne performed "Whitiwhiti Ao Turoa - Towards the Light."

The academy technical manager is former Warratahs drummer Michael Knapp.

He will join the band on Thursday when it performs in the concert chamber.

The festival runs until this Saturday.