EXPANDED CV · Talaske

FASA

Rick is a co-founder of Consonant.  The desire to create great sound experiences for the public has been the personal driving force behind Rick’s noted career as an acoustical consultant.  Throughout four decades of acoustic design accomplishments, Rick has combined his love of music and architecture with technical and artistic sensibilities.  As a teen, he recognized his desire to design buildings for great sound and embarked upon a formal educational journey in math, science, engineering, music, and acoustics, supplemented with invaluable practical experience.  

Rick is experienced in the design of all building types, but specializes in performance and assembly spaces, as well as educational facilities.  He has been fortunate to collaborate with many of the design industry’s finest architects, theatre consultants, and engineers, while guiding clients and design teams on the intricacies of applied acoustics.

Pennsylvania State University

Master of Science - Acoustics

• focus on architectural acoustics + exterior sound propagation

University of Michigan

Bachelor of Science - Engineering

• concentration in acoustics  

• Numerous continuing education courses in music (theory and piano), architecture, computers, building industry contracts, and other topics.
• Preliminary employment with Blachford Acoustics Materials and Walker Muffler Manufacturing (late 1970s - mid-1980s). 
• Senior Consultant with Kirkegaard Associates (1980-1987).  
• Founder + Principal Acoustician for TALASKE | Sound Thinking (1988 -2023). The award-winning firm was acquired by Professional Audio Designs in 2020.
• Co-Founder + Principal Acoustician for Consonant Design (2023-present). 
• Chairman of the Technical Committee on Architectural Acoustics for the Acoustical Society of America (1992-1995).
• Co-editor of three books on acoustics design for the Acoustical Society of America : Halls for Music Performance : 1962 to 1982; Theatres for Drama Performance; Acoustic Design of Music Education Facilities
• Phi Kappa Phi award recipient for academic achievement.
• Elevation to the title of FELLOW by the Acoustical Society of America (1994). 
• Invited as the Vern Knudsen Lecturer in Acoustics by ASA (1998).
• Technical presenter and lecturer for numerous organizations including Acoustical Society of America, Riverbank Laboratories, International Organization on Acoustics, League of American Orchestras, US Institute for Theatre Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Illinois–Chicago, University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin, and other institutions. 
• Toured Europe with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and participated in room acoustic measurements in many of the finest concert halls (1987).
• Board Member and eventual President for the Oak Park River Forest Children’s Chorus, now called Pro Musica (1992-2003).

Prior to the formation of Consonant Design, Mr. Talaske guided the acoustic design or acoustics review of the following original design or renovation projects : 

Performing Arts Centers + Music Halls

• California Center for the Arts – Escondido, California
• Broward Center for the Arts – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
• Mahafey Theatre – St. Petersburg, Florida
• Wentz Concert Hall – Naperville, Illinois
• Bella Concert Hall – Calgary, Alberta
• Sauder Concert Hall – Goshen, Indiana
• Kleinhans Concert Hall – Buffalo, New York 
• Akron Civic Auditorium – Akron, Ohio
• Falls View Center Improvements – Niagara, Ontario
• Sylvee Center – Madison, Wisconsin
• Troy Savings Bank Music Hall – Troy, New York
• Ellis Marsalis Center for Music – New Orleans, Louisiana

Repertory + Drama Theaters

• Mead Center for American Theater at Arena Stage – Washington DC
• Guthrie Theatre on the River – Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Chicago Shakespeare Theater – Chicago, Illinois
• Goodman Theatre – Chicago, Illinois
• Lookingglass Theatre – Chicago, Illinois
• Alliance Theatre – Atlanta, Georgia
• Actors Theatre of Louisville – Louisville, Kentucky
• Globe Theatre – Regina, Saskatchewan
• Steppenwolf Theatre – Chicago, Illinois
• Harman Center,  Shakespeare Theatre – Washington DC
• American Players Theatre – Spring Green, Wisconsin
• A Contemporary Theatre – Seattle, Washington
• Ellis Marsalis Center for Music – New Orleans, Louisiana

Music Education Buildings

• University of Wisconsin, Mead Center – Madison, Wisconsin
• Goshen College, Music Building – Goshen, Indiana
• Mt. Royal Conservatory of Music – Calgary, Alberta
• Dalhousie University, Music Addition – Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Bibbins Hall Renovation – Oberlin, Ohio 
• University of Manitoba – Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Pennsylvania State University, Recital Hall – University Park, Pennsylvania
• Old Town School of Folk Music – Chicago, Illinois
• Central Michigan University, Music Building – Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
• Saginaw Valley State University – Saginaw, Michigan
• Brigham Young University, DeJong Hall Shell – Provo, Utah
• Western Illinois University, Simpkins Recital Hall – Macomb, Illinois

Outdoor Performance Venues

• Jay Pritzker Music Pavilion, Millennium Park – Chicago, Illinois
• Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre – Tuscaloosa, Alabama
• Hilde Center – Plymouth, Minnesota
• Aurora on the River – Aurora, Illinois
• Orion Amphitheater - Huntsville, Alabama
• Ford Center Peer Review – Coney Island, New York

Youth Performing Arts Centers

• Milwaukee Youth Arts Center – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra – Little Rock, Arkansas
• Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra – Madison, Wisconsin
• Music for My Baby – Calgary, Alberta
• Madison Youth Arts Center – Madison, Wisconsin
• Goshen College Youth Music Academy – Goshen, Indiana

Worship Facilities

• Elmbrook Church - Waukesha, Wisconsin
• St. Raphael's Catholic Church – Naperville, Illinois
• St. Mary’s Catholic Church – Joliet, Illinois
• First Presbyterian Church – Evanston, Illinois
• Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation – Evanston, Illinois

Studio + Production

• Moody Bible Institute, Chapman Center Studios – Chicago, Illinois
• WFMT Studio D – Chicago, Illinois
• WFLD Control Room – Chicago, Illinois 
• St. Ignatius, Sodality Hall – Chicago, Illinois
• Goshen College Recording Suite – Goshen, Indiana
• Guthrie Theatre Recording Monitoring Room – Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Goodman Theatre Recording Monitoring Room – Chicago, Illinois
• Troy Institute at the Savings Bank – Troy, New York 
• Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra – Little Rock, Arkansas
• Mead Center Recording Monitoring Room – Madison, Wisconsin 

Museums + Libraries

• National Freedom Railroad Museum – Cincinnati, Ohio
• Modern Wing at the Art Institute – Chicago, Illinois
• Museum of Contemporary Art – Cleveland, Ohio
• Indianapolis Central Public Library – Indianapolis, Indiana
• The Bud Selig Experience – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Corporate, Healthcare + Hospitality

• Exelon Headquarters – Chicago, Illinois
• Kirkland & Ellis – Chicago, Illinois
• GATX Railroad company – Chicago, Illinois
• Virgin Hotel – New Orleans
• Marriott Hotel Lobby – Chicago, Illinois
• Veterans Hospital Lobby – Denver, Colorado
• Christ Hospital – Cincinnati, Ohio

Legal Resolution

• Falls View Center Improvements – Niagara, Ontario
• Portera Residence – Chicago, Illinois
• 7Penn Apartments – Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• Mickelson Residence – Chicago, Illinois
• Amphitheater Noise Dispute – Sister Bay, Wisconsin
• Edgewater High School Stadium Noise Dispute – Madison, Wisconsin