The L. Austin Weeks Center for Recording and Performance, named in honor of the late L. Austin Weeks, a generous donor to the university, houses the L. Austin Weeks Recording Studio and the Victor E. Clarke Recital Hall.
Known as one of the best academic recording studios in the world, the Weeks Recording Studio is home to the Music Engineering program. Recording sessions and recital recordings are held there, with students participating in the maintenance, modification, installation, and design of all systems. Hands-on laboratories provide students with practical experience in recording studio techniques. The Weeks Studio’s sound chamber features a 20-foot ceiling, two isolation rooms, assignable microphone panels, audio/video playback, and a Steinway grand piano. The audio equipment in the studio was installed by students working under faculty supervision; this included installation of components, console wiring, fiber-optic network. Students are also responsible for general maintenance and improvement.
The Victor E. Clarke Recital Hall is a 147-seat recital hall used daily for recitals, concerts, and ensemble performances. Designed by noted acoustician Charles Boner, The Clarke Recital Hall provides an intimate performance setting and is equipped with heavy draperies that can be opened and closed to provide optimal acoustics and recording conditions for a variety of musical styles. This recital hall is provided with a small adjacent recording studio and also interfaces with the larger Weeks Recording Studio. In addition, a Real Audio server computer is used to stream live concerts from this hall on the Frost School of Music website.
