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With a long summer Proms season until the famous ‘Last Night’ in September, it is not only a busy time for musicians and the ‘promenaders’ but can be tough on music stands as well. Unless that is they are Wenger Classic 50 and Roughneck stands from Black Cat Music.

Several sharp-eyed viewers of the televised ‘Proms’ have noticed the Classic 50 Music Stands at the Royal Albert Hall. A music stand tough enough to handle the hardships of regular use thanks to a formula of advanced polymers offering inherent tensile strength that will not bend or dent like metal stands. Its elegant design makes it quiet and rattle-free during performances. And the scratch resistant desk surface also incorporates a unique recess for keeping pencils in place. The patented one-hand height adjustment of the music desk is simplicity itself, requiring no screw or locking collar adjustments. Also in service at the Proms is the Roughneck, a rugged all-metal music stand which is designed for general practice and performance. With its welded base, the Roughneck music stand always stands straight, won't lean or wobble and will never need tightening. Evidence shows the Roughneck is a great investment – a music stand that will last and last.

Tonbridge School recently installed Wenger’s new Edge Storage System, supplied by Black Cat Music.

Storage can be a problem with instruments being in a variety of shape and sizes, some delicate, some cumbersome, all needing a dedicated space where they can be stored neatly, safely and securely. Black Cat Music has been providing instrument, costume and sheet music storage solutions for years - both custom-built, and from the well-respected and trusted Wenger range. With budgets under pressure everywhere the Edge™ Storage System has been developed as an economical product, but without compromising quality or durability and is supported by Wenger’s ten-year warranty. It is also eco-friendly being constructed from fewer materials, and includes an FSC wood option amongst the choice of styles.

This flush-to-wall instrument storage system cuts down on the amount of material used, as does the open back concept between the unit and the wall behind it. These design elements help to make cost savings, while maintaining the long-lasting quality and elegance for which Wenger products are renowned - hence the ten-year warranty. The system can be custom-designed to accommodate the number and size of instruments required by the school; it can also be designed to store costumes, theatre props or sheet music.

Doors are available with the option of wood or grille fronts. Either way they are pretty tough. Experience has shown that students have a tendency to hang on locker doors, so doors are load-tested with more than 300 lb (136 kg) of pressure on the outer edge. It is also the case that easy theft is the most likely theft, and to prevent that the patented lock-bar is 12-gauge steel, the strike plate heavy-duty, and locks tamper-resistant.

Earlier this year we announced the introduction of the fully redesigned Diva full-stage acoustical shell, from Wenger Corporation. Martin Loft a member of Black Cat acoustics technical team recently returned from in-depth product training with the engineering team behind the acoustic shell development.

Martin’s busy two day intensive training with the Applications Engineering Department included time spent with Ron Freiheit, Wenger’s Director of Engineering and Denny Meyer, Wenger’s Product Manager for acoustic panels. Then accompanied by Mark Ingalls, Wenger DIVAProduct Manager, Martin took a short trip to a Wenger “hometown” installation at Owatonna High School, featuring a beautiful shell of cherry veneer, 4 towers and a flown back wall set including rigging by parent company JR Clancy. Easier to handle, larger and with greater aesthetic flexibility for architects and designers, the New Diva incorporates numerous functional and aesthetic improvements built on the heritage and operational experience gained from hundreds of custom acoustical shells installed around the world.

Martin, recently earned a diploma over an 18 month-long course from the Institute of Acousticians (IOA), an international body known for setting global acoustic standards. Martin’s diploma was capped by a 2-day final written exam, which encompasses general principals of acoustics, plus two electives. Martin chose to study Building Acoustics and Noise & Vibration Control. Martin says when it comes to music, he plays “a little bit of everything”, including guitar and keyboard. Martin has been with the Black Cat team for 20 months and returns from America better equipped to address customer needs and with a greater understanding of Wenger’s manufacturing capabilities. Martin also received training on StageTek™ and Fixed Audience Seating during his visit.

During July, Black Cat Music is offering a 10 per cent discount on the Wenger Conductor’s Upper Podium which is supplied complete with a safety handrail.

Stable, stylish and sturdy the Conductor’s Upper Podium is ideally suited for use in an auditorium or performance venue and is equally at home in the rehearsal room. Designed for use with a companion base podium to which it locks securely it includes a detachable safety rail finished with black, scratch resistant powder coated paint. The platform surface enjoys the benefit of a hard wearing but stylish grey carpet, while the one-piece steel framework provides strength and rigidity. Rubber pads ensure stability and thanks to in-built wheels mobility when moving the podium from one location to another is made easy.

Take a look at the video demonstration on the Black Cat Music YouTube channel or go straight to our online offer page

Following their visit to Showtech billed as the ‘world forum for the stage’, the Black Cat team of Brigitte, Martin and Myke are back from a busy exhibition and conference season.

Showtech is held every two years and described as the “International Trade Show and Conference for Theatre, Film and Events.” Showtech 2013 took place at the Berlin Exhibition Centre from 18 to 20 June.

Brigitte Downs, said, “The Berlin show provided a great opportunity to network with many of our valued customers in technical theatre and it was particulary good to meet our suppliers Wenger who were exhiting as part of the J R Clancy presence at the show.”

Black Cat Music has exclusive distributorship of Wenger Corporation’s extensive product range in the UK, Europe and Russia - acknowledged as the largest manufacturer of fully guaranteed staging and music performance equipment in the world.