Fulkerson Recital Hall is used daily for classes, lessons, rehearsals, and concerts and constitutes the heart of the campus arts community in many ways. It hosts thousands of Humboldt students, K-12 students, and community audience members each year. It has a number of acoustical problems that result in a harsh and brittle sound, lack of clarity of sound, and the performers not being able to hear each other well on stage. In 2019, the Music Department was able to bring some world-class acoustical experts from Kirkegaard Associates in Chicago to campus to assess Fulkerson Recital Hall and make recommendations for improvements. Part of the quest was that they identify changes that could make a significant difference for a relatively minimal cost. We are currently working towards implementing some of those small changes.

Currently, there is enough funding to rebuild the back wall of the hall into a shape that will improve the way sound waves are projected into the hall. Just a bit more funding is needed to rebuild the side walls with the same goals.

Your contribution to this project will help music students learn more effectively, as they will be able to hear each other better on stage. It will also reduce the risk of hearing damage for performers from the sound within the hall and make concert attendance more enjoyable for the members of the Humboldt County and campus communities.