(Pictured above): Tiaan Gillomee of PRDGY Group with DWR’S Duncan Riley and Callan van Zyl.

Johannesburg, South Africa – Tiaan Gillomee, a dedicated South African freelancer lighting designer of PRDGY Group, has proudly taken delivery of his first-ever lighting console – a grandMA3 from DWR Distribution – marking a major career milestone.

Tiaan’s journey in lighting began over a decade ago at The Ridge School, using a simple Titan One system and parcans. Through high school, his passion grew, evolving through dot2 systems and Robe fixtures, and earning recognition with a few wins at Battle of the Bands and FEDA competitions.

While he pursued studies in Electronic Engineering, theatre and lighting always remained his true passion. “It’s what challenges me creatively every day,” says Tiaan, who’s known for bringing technical innovation to the stage, such as DMX-controlled windmills for Afrikaans productions!

After years of working with various consoles, including Avolites and grandMA2, Tiaan began transitioning to the grandMA3 platform in 2023. “At first, it was challenging, but with help from DWR’s Jaques Pretorius and the MA support community, I’ve found my stride,” he says. “The MA3’s advanced features like Recipes and powerful Timecode capabilities have massively improved my workflow.”

The sale was facilitated by Callan van Zyl of DWR. “Tiaan is a fantastic individual, and it’s inspiring to see him grow and take the next step by investing in his own console,” said Callan. “It’s the perfect choice for a young, up-and-coming lighting designer who’s constantly on the move.”  The grandMA3 onPC command wing offers a portable control solution for the grandMA3 onPC software. Connect the command wing to a computer or laptop running the onPC software via USB, and the user is ready to start programming. The command interface mirrors the layout of the grandMA3 consoles, featuring five dual encoders and 40 dedicated playbacks, providing direct control over 4 096 parameters.

Now, 90% of Tiaan’s work – from theatre and corporate gigs to high-end concerts and festivals – is programmed on the grandMA3. “It’s the most versatile console for my diverse work. I can go from a conference setup to a full rock show in the same day, and the MA3 handles it all.”

With upcoming timecoded shows involving lasers and complex pre-visualization, investing in his own MA3 is a new and exciting chapter in his career.  “It’s no longer just renting – I’m ready to deliver full production packages,” he says. “The console gives me creative freedom and technical precision, all in one.”

For Duncan Riley of DWR, it’s been incredible to witness the journey—first meeting Tiaan when he was still in primary school! “In moments like this, you really feel how time flies. It’s inspiring to see someone who showed such passion as a child grow and pursue that passion into a career. Thank you for your support over the years!”