Project
Eagan High School was chosen as the beta site for Wenger’s new Transcend Stage Virtual Shell.
Location
Eagan, MN
Completion
2025
Description
The Solution: A Virtual Acoustic Shell
Transcend Stage is designed to provide the acoustic effect of a full bandshell without requiring heavy movable towers or ceiling panels.
Instead of physical shell pieces, the system uses:
Suspended microphones to capture the natural ensemble sound
A network of overhead and lateral speakers to return sound reflections back across the stage and out to the audience
Presets and calibration tools to adjust for different stage configurations
- The goal is to emulate the supportive reflections of a traditional shell while eliminating many logistical barriers.
Impact on Ensemble Sound and Balance
For Eagan’s band program, the improvement was immediate.
Pearson noted that percussion balance—often a challenge in school auditoriums—became “absolutely phenomenal,” with harsh frequencies softened and integrated naturally into the full ensemble sound.
He described the overall effect as comparable to performing in a brand-new auditorium with a full physical shell and ceiling panels:
“If I had closed my eyes… I don’t think I could tell any difference.”
Audience clarity also improved, with listeners hearing a sound closer to what the director hears on stage.
Benefits for Choir and Student Confidence
The choir program also found unexpected advantages.
Vocal Music Teacher Amy Jo Cherner explained that Transcend allowed singers to feel supported even when spread farther apart, changing how she arranged students on risers.
She noted that, “Transcend also provides more sense of ensemble for the choir; each singer can hear everything. Wherever they are standing, each gets a complete audio story of all the parts around them.”
System Design and Control
Transcend Stage installations include professional design, commissioning, and calibration. The system at Eagan uses:
Column line-array speakers to provide lateral energy across the ensemble
Overhead speaker rows to simulate ceiling reflections
Wall-mounted subwoofers for low-frequency support
Control is handled through a touchscreen panel with multiple acoustic presets, allowing directors and staff to select different acoustic responses depending on ensemble size and stage setup.
A High School-Centered Outcome
Eagan High School’s experience reflects a situation many band and choir directors recognize: strong programs performing in multipurpose auditoriums where traditional shell systems are difficult to store, staff, or deploy consistently.
Transcend Stage offered Eagan:
A more supportive onstage acoustic environment
Improved ensemble balance and clarity
Faster changeovers and reduced labor demands
Greater flexibility for technical production
As Ratzlaff summarized:
“We’re really happy with it… I’m sold on Transcend.”
