ALMA 2011 Winter Symposium

ALMA 2011 Winter Symposium Gala Keynote Speaker is CEA Chief Economist

ALMA is pleased to feature Shawn Dubravac, Chief Economist & Director of Research for the Consumer Electronics Association, as the keynote speaker at ALMA’s 50^th Anniversary Gala during the ALMA International Winter Symposium (January 4 & 5) to be held at The Orleans Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas on the evening of Jan 4, 2011.

The 2011 ALMA Symposium marks the 50^th anniversary of the founding of ALMA, the only international trade association dedicated to improving the design and manufacture of loudspeakers.  The symposium will feature new programs to mark the theme “Loudspeakers: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” highlighting the 50-year legacy of ALMA and the loudspeaker industry. 

Stu Lumsden, President of ALMA and Chief Engineer at Polk Audio said, “We’re honored that Mr. Dubravac has agreed to speak at our anniversary gala.  Our Winter Symposium will celebrate ALMA’s and the loudspeaker industry’s past 50 years and look forward to the next. Having CEA’s Chief Economist speak about future trends is a perfect complement to that theme. We are excited about this addition and grateful to the CEA.”

ALMA 2011 Winter Symposium Call for Papers

A “Call for Papers” has been issued for ALMA International’s 2011 Winter Symposium, “Loudspeakers: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”  The 22nd ALMA International Winter Symposium will be held in Las Vegas Jan 4-5, 2011.  This event marks the 50^th anniversary of the founding of ALMA, the only international trade association dedicated to improving the design and manufacture of loudspeakers.  The 2011 program will highlight the 50-year legacy of ALMA by looking back at historical accomplishments and projecting into the future.

Technical papers are invited and abstracts will be evaluated on the basis of their overall quality and relevance to the theme of the symposium, relevance and value to the loudspeaker industry, and practical feasibility and usage of topic and information presented.  Each paper session is scheduled to last 30 minutes, and up to 4 papers will be selected. Presenters should submit to ALMA:

• A title
• A 75 word or less abstract / summary suitable for reprinting in pre-symposium promotional literature
• The name, address, phone number and a short biography of the presenter(s)
• A list of any special equipment needed

Presenters must be able to supply copies of presentation in electronic format by November 30, 2011. (Powerpoint, MS Word or PDF) for inclusion on the show proceedings CD.  Submissions should be emailed to management@almainternational.org. The closing date for the submission of abstracts is August 15, 2010. 

The ALMA Winter Symposium is the largest event in the world entirely dedicated to both the intellectual and practical aspects of the loudspeaker industry.  It attracts visitors and attendees from around the world, and is an opportunity for loudspeaker engineers to expand their education in classes, seminars and discussions led by some of the foremost experts in the world.  It is where manufacturers of components, materials, test equipment and consultants to the industry meet with designers to unveil and discuss the latest loudspeaker products and ideas. It is also a great opportunity for loudspeaker OEMs to meet with senior engineers, purchasers and decision-makers from loudspeaker brands who will be attending the CES.  

To find out more about speaking, exhibiting or attending this show, please contact Carol Bousquet, Executive Director, ALMA International. Tel: +1 (978) 772-6977.  Fax: +1 (617) 848-9935.  Email: cbousquet@almainternational.org

ALMA Announces Student Loudspeaker Design Competition

ALMA announces its’ inaugural Student Loudspeaker Design Competition.  Entrants must be full-time students at an accredited college or graduate institution.  Students will be invited to submit their designs and measurements for a pair of loudspeakers by mail.  Finalists will be selected by an ALMA judging panel and will be invited to display their speakers and design data at the ALMA International Winter Symposium in Las Vegas Jan 4-5, 2011, two-days before the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).  The finalists will receive free admission to ALMA International’s two-day Winter Symposium and one free night at the Orleans Hotel and Resort.  The final awards will be presented at the ALMA 50^th Anniversary Gala on the evening of January 4.

Contest details will be posted by the ALMA Education Committee, chaired by Matt Lyons, adjunct professor at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, on the ALMA website www.almainternational.org starting June 1, 2010. Educators are encouraged to contact Matt Lyons through the ALMA web site for more information.  Design submissions will be due to ALMA in late October.

The ALMA Symposium theme “Loudspeakers: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the founding of ALMA, the only international trade association dedicated to improving the design and manufacture of loudspeakers.  The 2011 program will highlight the 50-year legacy of ALMA and the loudspeaker industry.  Stu Lumsden, President of ALMA and Vice President of Engineering at Polk Audio said, “The creation of this student design competition is an excellent opportunity to involve students in the real practical challenges of loudspeaker design today and highlight ALMA’s 50^th anniversary. This industry is one of the most interesting, fun and dynamic fields in which students can apply their engineering skills.  We need the best and the brightest, and as an industry we want to extend a hand to new talent.”

To find out more about the competition, speaking, exhibiting or attending this show, please contact Carol Bousquet, Executive Director, ALMA International. Tel: +1 (978) 772-6977.  Fax: +1 (617) 848-9935.  Email: cbousquet@almainternational.org

ALMA is happy to issue invitations to exhibitors and visitors from overseas to assist attendees with obtaining a visa.