Monthly assemblies have been a cherished tradition here at Harwood since the late 90s, but we’re beginning to experience more and more technological issues with our equipment that hasn’t been properly updated since the early 2010s. This year, with the combined efforts of the Assembly Crew and Highland Media Works, we are excited to see what they will improve upon.
The Harwood auditorium has been left mostly untouched since the 90s with the exception of a new soundboard this year and minimal maintenance done over time.
What improvements are being made to our aging auditorium?
Improvements have already started, beginning with a new sound board this year and microphone antennas, but that’s not enough. Harwood is still experiencing sound quality issues related to the cordless microphones that haven’t been properly updated since 2010.
Unfortunately, updates to the sound system are expensive, so Highland Media Works created the Harwood Auditorium Revitalization Program fundraiser. H.A.R.P. began last spring with the goal of raising $2 million in the next four to five years. The money raised from this fundraiser will go to new lights, a sound system including microphones, and cosmetic improvements.
As the assemblies have only just started, we have yet to see the exciting new ideas and talents being displayed at the assemblies to come.
As these long-term improvements take shape, attention has also turned toward the people who bring the auditorium to life each week: the Assembly Band and Highland Media Works.
This year, the Assembly Band has gotten off to a strong start. “There is definitely a lot of talent and people who are invested,” said senior Sawyer Popowicz.
Despite facing a newer group of students, “Everyone is getting along way better than last year, and the group dynamic has definitely improved,” Assembly Band drummer Nick Casey said.
Alongside the promising start, the band is also working on adapting to new equipment this year. These upgrades include a new soundboard and several new microphone antennas. This transition has been accompanied by a few challenges though: integrating the new equipment with the existing older gear has caused occasional sound issues during performances. Fortunately, many of these challenges are simply a result of the learning curve associated with new technology.
“Any audio troubles we’ve had come from figuring out how everything works with the new setup,” band member Acer Thompson explained. “ It’s always a rush at the start of the year to get everything together, but things are trending in the right direction, and we’re ironing out the kinks as the year goes on.”
Alongside the Assembly Band, the students of Highland Media Works are making their own improvements, including a new short movie series and fun new spirit challenges. All of these immediate improvements are intended to boost student interest in assemblies.
In the past two years, we’ve seen a decline in student interest in assemblies. This year has been worse than the past. There’s a noticeable number of students skipping the assemblies altogether, as well as an increase in conversation throughout the crowd.
“It makes it hard for us to want to be there,” the Assembly Band said when asked about audience behavior this year. The large amount of talking and disruptions during the assembly performances and presentations makes it difficult for performers to stay focused.
The Assembly Crew’s intention this year is to bring more student voices into the assemblies to hopefully grow the student body’s interest. It has many new crew members working on the assemblies this year, including the new emcees Nicky Service and Nolan Larkin.
With the inclusion of new voices as well as feedback from audience members, the assemblies have the potential to gain the student body’s interest back.
When Common Ground sat down with seniors Nicky and Nolan for an interview on this story, they said, “We want to make the assemblies fun and entertaining for the students again. The constructive feedback from viewers has helped us improve our stage presence.”
As the assemblies are only just starting for this year, the new team is still learning to work together. With the Assembly Band and crew having a lot of students joining for the first year, communication between the stage departments is still in the works.
Members of the Assembly Band and Highland Media Works ask you to “be respectful and mindful of our time and effort in putting on these assemblies for you,” and to “be patient while we iron out the kinks” to make the assemblies as enjoyable as possible for the student body.
