The Client

Following the Sound Division Group’s recent sound and lighting installation at the American Community School in Egham, Surrey, Sound Division continues to build upon its reputation in the educational market with the completion of another comprehensive sound and lighting installation at Islington Green school in north London (since renamed to City of London Academy Islington).

Project Brief

Islington Green is a large county comprehensive facility that educates over 1,000 girls and boys in the heart of one of the most culturally diverse areas of London. Sound Division’s brief was to provide a system for the main hall that was capable of handling everything from speech reinforcement to live and pre-recorded music in a variety of situations – including awards ceremonies, assemblies, and drama productions.

System Solution

Sound Division specified and installed a Crown-driven Electro-Voice sound system based on EV Sx300 loudspeakers supplemented by Sx100A powered monitors with a Behringer DSP1124P feedback destroyer. A number of Sennheiser EW112/22 lavalier radio microphone systems were also supplied, plus a pair of E664 overhead ambience mics, and a further K6-P and ME66 ambience mic, also from Sennheiser. As the final element of the audio system, Sound Division supplied a Soundcraft FX8 16-channel mixing console – a very flexible option for the school, being ideal for both stage and studio use, and particularly suitable for live recording.

The lighting system installed was made up of a selection of Selecon Fresnels and zoom spots, and two Selecon stage follow spots, all controlled through a Zero 88 Alcora mixing desk.

According to Sound Division’s David Graham, the installation went very smoothly. “We’ve always made a point of being prioritising local business because we feel it’s important to be on hand for service and back-up, and this instils a level of confidence in the customer that might not necessarily exist if we were further away. In this case, the school is just ten minutes’ drive away, so if anything should be required in a hurry, we can be there with no problem.”

The Result

Head of Drama for the school Mike Harpham agrees. “Sound Division had been recommended to us by a number of people, and the fact that they already have experience of the educational market and are so close to hand really made our decision very straightforward. I’m delighted with the system they’ve put in for us. It’s a vast improvement over what we did have, and so far has proved itself admirably.”