Director of Design

Jeff Human came to Kirkegaard following a 13-year career as professional sound engineer and designer. His designs and mixes have been heard across the world on international Broadway musical tours, at world-renowned performing arts festivals, and in regional theaters. Jeff draws on his extensive experience to inform his designs for Kirkegaard’s clients. His system design and room tuning philosophy focus on the audience, artist, and end user experience with a heavy emphasis on speech intelligibility. Outside of Kirkegaard, Jeff continues to sound design for professional theater. His most recent sound design for Clue was a box office record-breaking success at the Cleveland Playhouse and has been licensed in productions at La Mirada and Papermill Playhouse. Jeff also serves his community as a planning commissioner for Scio Township in Michigan.

What is one of your favorite performing arts spaces?

Proctors Theatre

Do you or have you played a musical instrument? If so, which and why?

Guitar – Family tradition, Bass – I attended a rural middle and high school whose band programs had anemic low brass sections. I played in concert band and marching band and first attended Clemson University as a music concentration on jazz bass.

Sousaphone – I learned sousaphone in high school to continue in marching band at Clemson University. Drum set – Self-taught to play in a band after we could not find a drummer.

Which artist inspires you and why?

Tiny Tim. His work as an archivist preserving vaudeville and vintage American pop songs was a great service to keeping otherwise forgotten music alive.

Jeff Human

Education

  • BA in Production Studies in Performing Arts with a concentration in Music Technology, 2007, Clemson University

Memberships

  • Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA) / Member
  • Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA) / Member