O’Donnell Auditorium Lighting Project

Thanks to early support from Liana Sandin ('81) and the Pearle Francis Finigan Foundation, this Bold Designs project is moving along at a steady pace. Work on the project began in July, and since then the lighting and sound booth has been completed. At this point, our team is conducting testing and prepping electrical and cabling in the ceiling. The goal is to start installing the lights over winter break and have the entire system ready to unveil for our annual opera in April.

This new system will allow for more hands-on learning opportunities for our students, more even and brighter lighting for both performers onstage and patrons in the house, and the ability to create virtually any color instead of solely white. And, with new LED lights, energy consumption will be reduced to a fraction of what it was previously.

The lighting project is the first phase of our plans to improve O'Donnell Auditorium. The second phase includes the installation of a new sound system, which will come to fruition through the support of future donors to Bold Designs.

These improvements to O'Donnell Auditorium will allow students to be able to perform, practice and learn in a quality space suited for their needs. And NWU will be able to elevate the quality of productions in this space. O'Donnell is home to many performances and events throughout the year:

• 3 symphonic band concerts
• 2 faculty concerts
• 6 vocal ensemble concerts
• 2 jazz ensemble concerts
• 2 opera scenes
• 2 full-length operas
• Up to 10 student degree recitals
• 2 Lincoln Civic Orchestra performances
• 1 Bosendorfer piano concert
• 1 Elizabethan dinner
• 1 Matriculation Convocation
• 3 Visions & Ventures lectures
• 1 Fawl Lecture
• 1 Wesleyan Honors Festival
• 1 children's choir camp
• 1 high school master class