(L-R) Kurt Lesh, Jack Genthert, Madge Chroniger and Ryan Geesaman
Lancaster Bible College, in Lancaster, Pa., announces its Live Production program is on the verge of unprecedented growth under the helm of program director and Communication and Media Arts Department Chair Ryan Geesaman. Geesaman has worked with the program since its infancy; beginning as an adjunct professor and rising to the roles of program director and chair of the brand-new Communication and Media Arts Department.
One of the largest changes developed by Geesaman was to reorient the Live Production major to allow three specific focuses within the field, as well as the addition of a Live Production minor. These tracks are audio, video, and lighting and staging. He has also begun to increase the catalog of offered courses, which allows for greater specialties for the students to choose from, and to grow the network of adjunct professors on staff, to provide a more diverse and dynamic education.
LBC Student Ben Muller
Integral to the Live Production program is the comprehensive hands-on experience provided through on- and off-campus events. From their very first semester students are given opportunities to work alongside their peers and active professionals in the creation and production of a variety of media experiences. LBC regularly collaborates with prominent artists like Michael W. Smith, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, Francesca Battistelli, and the Ballet Magnificat to name a few.
Students provide all of the technical support for the chapels that occur three times a week. Chapels give students the opportunity to cycle through eight different roles as they collaborate with worship teams and guest lecturers to bring about a professional-grade worship experience comparable to those offered by local megachurches. These roles are audio (front-of-house and livestream technicians), monitors, lighting, camera operation, video director, video switcher, graphics and technical director. Students create all of the sound and lighting design for each chapel to match the theme or topic of the week. Video Directors craft every shot of the livestream and record each chapel, while the camera operators bring the shots to life.
Live Production majors regularly collaborate with the Music, Worship and Performing Arts Department of LBC on their annual fall, winter, and spring productions and concerts. Students work as stage managers, lighting and sound designers, stage hands, costumers, graphic technicians, and assist with set construction. Past shows include Fiddler on the Roof, The Music Man, Mary Poppins, Hello Dolly!, and Titanic. Aside from LBC sponsored events, students can get involved with video shoots for educational and promotional materials for the college, radio shows, student recitals and student-led groups to network and refine their skills.
LBC Student Evan Williams
Assisting peers with senior recitals and projects has been one of student Benjamin Muller’s favorite experiences in the program. “As a student, being able to help other musically creative students to express all they have learned is a great opportunity. With these projects, production students get to supplement the musician’s vision through audio, video, and lighting.” Now a senior himself who recently completed his own senior project, Muller adds, “Finally getting to create a senior project of my own has helped me combine all that I have learned at LBC into a production that draws people in and points them to God.” All Live Production students are required to complete a senior project prior to graduation, and they are given creative license to decide what that looks like for them with their passions and talents.
There are additional opportunities for learning and off-campus experience at the LBC-owned Trust Performing Arts Center in downtown Lancaster, with an expansion recently purchased and in development. The Trust hosts LBC’s Arts and Culture series, bringing in internationally renowned musicians and artists to perform throughout the season. Upperclassmen in the Live Production program have the opportunity to work with these artists and provide technical support through audio, lighting, and stage management. The Trust’s 6th season boasts artists that include Calmus, VOCES8, Amy Owens, and Kyra Xuerong Zhao.
LBC Live Production program senior project
LBC itself resides in a national hub for the live production industry. Local companies include Atomic Designs, Rock Lititz, Tait Towers and Clair Brothers, with clients including Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande. There are also several churches pioneering modern usage of live production into their services. Victory Church and LCBC are just two of these churches; Geesaman previously worked at the latter for fourteen years as the Video Production Director. LBC partners with Lititz-based company Stray Production Services for many events and technical needs, and students are regularly paired with Stray technicians to work alongside and learn from them. This relationship in particular was what initially drew Benjamin Muller to the Live Production program at LBC. He says, “Their connection and involvement [at LBC] has had a great impact on the program and student development. There is a great balance between real world production experience and relational impact that is biblically based.”
Overall, the Live Production major at Lancaster Bible College is designed to offer students a diverse, personalized, and dynamic education in multiple fields, with opportunities for specialization. Above all, the students are taught to do everything for the glory of God and to be witnesses for Him. Live Production majors earn a Bachelor of Arts in Live Production and a degree in Biblical Studies. The program is a traditional undergraduate four-year degree. For more information, visit www.lbc.edu/undergraduate/academics/majors/live-production.
*Elisabeth Phillips is an LBC Communications student in the class of 2020
