Elation and French distributor Best Audio & Lighting were delighted and honored to have provided lighting for the final of this year’s CQLP (C’est Qui Le Patron) lighting design competition in France. A demanding yet exhilirating competition that showcases lighting designer talent, this was the first time the competition was held outdoors, this year at the magnificent Collégiale Notre-Dame de Mantes-la-Jolie outside of Paris.
Using the grandeur of the medieval church’ s architecture as a centerpiece, lighting design teams produced beautiful light shows that combined quality, creativity and technique. Following an elimination tournament round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals, two teams advanced to the grand finale January 20. There, the two teams had 40 Proteus Maximus LED profile moving heads, 24 Proteus Excalibur sky beam moving heads, and 40 Paladin Panel floodlights at their disposal to awe judges as well as an enthusiastic crowd of onlookers. As CQLP is a non-profit organization, the Elation lighting fixtures were generously provided for the final by Best Audio & Lighting.
Thomas Béra and Adrien Alibert of the winning Blue Cicada team expressed their enthusiasm for the lighting rig. “The kit offered by Best Audio & Lighting and Elation during the CQLP 2024 championship was just crazy! The Proteus Maximus, which were used to light the facade and the central stained glass window, are superb machines with many graphic possibilities. The shutters are really great! And the luminous flux is impressive! The Paladins are sufficiently powerful for lighting a facade. And the highlight of the show is the machine that we really loved: the Proteus Excalibur. The power of this machine is truly impressive! To conclude, the kit really met our needs.”
Frederik Afif, International Sales Manager at Elation, sat on the jury with other lighting professionals and was impressed with what he saw. “It was an unforgettable and historic evening and a real pleasure to witness firsthand the incredible talent and creativity showcased by the finalists using the Elation lights. The displays were just mesmerizing and I’m immensely impressed by the dedication and innovation demonstrated by all the teams involved. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to our valued partner, Best Audio & Lighting, whose collaboration and support played a vital role in the success of this event.”
CQLP has taken place since 2018 with the primary aim of promoting lighting professionals and the lighting design profession. The competition also presents an excellent opportunity for aspiring designers to access a network of established industry professionals. This year’s final was broadcast live on social networks and for rebroadcast and can be viewed here.