La Delio Valdez celebrated its 15th anniversary with an unforgettable show at Ferro, where lighting was key to transforming the music into a stunning visual experience. Behind this staging was Carolina Pelassa, stage designer and lighting operator, who, with Avolites technology, took the show to another level. With a combination of creativity, precision, and the support of a solid technical team, she achieved a perfect synergy between art and technology to make the orchestra shine.
Fifteen years of cumbia aren’t celebrated every day, and La Delio Valdez celebrated in style in Buenos Aires.
This Argentine orchestra fuses Latin American tradition with its own unique identity, turning each show into a total celebration where music, theatricality, and staging intertwine. For its anniversary, it took its orchestrated cumbia to an epic scale with an unforgettable show at the Ferro Stadium.
A night where every detail was designed to thrill the audience and reaffirm their spirit in an unprecedented show.
And behind that visual feast was Carolina Pelassa, stage designer and lighting operator, who turned each song into a journey of light and color. “Lighting is narrative, it’s emotion. It’s not just about turning it on and off, but about telling the story of each song,” says Carolina, with the passion of someone who has dedicated her life to this art.
Music was her first love. She studied stagecraft in Córdoba, where she discovered lighting as a form of expression. “From there, I started operating all my friends’ bands, in bars, clubs, and festivals. Each show was a learning experience, an opportunity to experiment.”
Her big break came in 2011, when she began working with Raly Barrionuevo. “That space opened doors to huge stages and gave me visibility to begin working with others.” But Carolina didn’t stop there with experience: she furthered her training in design, color, and console programming, key tools for perfecting her style.
Theatricality always fascinated her. For years, she worked on operas directed by Marcelo Lombardero, where she understood that light is much more than a technical resource. “There I learned to build atmospheres, to give depth to music with lighting.”
In 2016, she moved to Buenos Aires and began working at the CCK (Central Chamber of Commerce), but her path led her to La Delio Valdez in 2018, when she was called to cover some performances, and she hasn’t left since. “From the first show, I felt there was a special connection. The band has a unique energy, and the lighting had to match that celebration.”
Since then, her work has been key to transforming each performance into a complete spectacle.
“It has been and continues to be a very rewarding experience, one of great growth and learning, not only artistically and professionally, but also personally. Since I joined the orchestra, we’ve traveled countless miles, to a wide variety of venues and stages. We performed at our first Luna Park, went through the pandemic, and then came our first stadium.”
For Carolina, being part of this historic show at Ferro represented a moment of profound dedication and emotion. “I experienced it with great confidence, always supported by a solid team.”
AVOLITES on her journey
Carolina’s connection with Avolites began in 2010, when she first used a Pearl console. “From that moment on, I’ve been a user,” she recalls with emotion.
The system’s convenience, speed, and intuitiveness were key to making it her trusted tool. “At that time, I was touring a lot, and we didn’t always have stage time, but with Avolites, I could accomplish many things in the time available.” As the months went by, her relationship with the brand strengthened. “I find the software convenient, complete, and functional. It has a super-graphic menu that makes it very easy to access what I need.”
In 2019, she began touring with a Titan Mobile, and at the end of 2024, she made the switch to a T3, reaffirming her choice for a brand that accompanies her in every show.
Since she began working as a lighting designer and growing in the design of her projects, Carolina has had a very satisfactory experience with the brand: “Without a doubt, with the passage of time and the changes, I found in the software all the tools I need.”
For the La Delio Valdez 15th anniversary show, she used an Arena console in version 17.1, in session with a T3, which allowed her to carry out the complexity and visual richness of the show with complete confidence and precision.
The LD highlights the powerful improvement in performance and the versatility of Avolites consoles, especially when it comes to managing large productions.
“One of the main improvements I notice in the Arena model is the ability to “I can run up to 64 universes per network,” she explains. “It also has a larger control surface, with 40 faders, two touchscreens, 20 assignable buttons, virtual faders, among other things.”
Regarding the software, Carolina highlights several features that impress her. “The virtual faders are incredible, and the ability to create complex effects with the keyframe shape and pixel mapper has made my work much easier.” She also highlights the graphical interface: “The symbol menu speeds up programming a lot, and I can label my workspaces with text, images, or drawings.” I also really value the Remote app, which allows me to link the console via a phone or iPad, making my work flexible and accessible.”
When Carolina faced the challenge of designing and operating the lighting for the festival, choosing the Avolites console was key. “The main thing was that I had to set up 21 universes over a network, and I needed a larger control surface than what I had on my mobile phone, and the Arena console, with its capacity and versatility, provided the perfect solution to handle the complexity of the show.”
Avolites software also offers significant technological benefits that streamline her work. “One of the main advantages is the ability to open shows offline, which makes it easier for me to keep moving forward even when I’m not connected to the console,” she comments.
This way, she can preview her programming while on the road. She also highlights the built-in 3D viewer: “It allows me to see everything I’m programming without having to resort to other software.” And the Remote app lets me choose the console I want, which is very advantageous because it allows me to pre-set the work surface and carry all that information on a flash drive.”
Lighting design for an event like the 15th anniversary of La Delio Valdez, with its large number of musicians and a host of special guests, presents significant technical challenges.
“The orchestra has 16 members, and the show featured many guests. The biggest challenge was creating a spacious stage where everyone would be comfortable and contained by the lighting, screens, and platforms, and where everyone could also be seen from most of the stadium.” The solution came from detailed planning, with staggered platforms at specific angles to prevent the musicians from blocking each other. In addition, a lighting and screen layout was designed to ensure everyone had their moment on screen, including pre-prepared film content to maximize visibility.
At the same time, to avoid overloading the stage and complement La Delio Valdez’s visual identity, constant dialogue with the other areas involved is important. “Musicians, VJs, stage crews, and sound technicians—starting from the basic needs of each person,” he explains.
In the case of La Delio, the priority is for all the musicians to be visible, without losing their essence or overloading the design. “Everything is based on a collectively created script, where we mark each moment of the show. That gives me the guidelines to design accordingly.” Thus, specific “photo moments” were developed for each song, along with a color progression to accentuate the music without creating a visual shock for the audience.
Carolina’s overall experience in lighting for this show was undoubtedly very positive.
However, it wasn’t all easy: one of the biggest challenges a lighting technician faces is operating at large festivals, where they connect to other brands’ consoles via a network. And Carolina highlights how Avolites makes her daily work easier: “It makes it much easier for me to have my console and be able to arrive at any venue, with my show ready to connect and run. Avolites is a complete, intuitive system with quick visual associations that empowers the development of those of us who love combining art and technology.”
In addition to the excellent operation and results achieved, the choice of luminaires was also key to achieving the vision. For this show, several high-quality luminaires were used that perfectly complemented the design and staging.
“For this show, I used 24 BMFL Wash/Beams, 63 Robin Spiders, 40 Robin ColorStrobes from Robe, plus 107 Clay Paky Scenius Unico luminaires, 24 Neo Stormer 1200IPs, 32 LED Blinders, 4 Stron Gladiator 4K Followers, as well as 4 fog machines and 4 smoke machines.”
A Great Support Team
Teamwork is essential to the success of any production, and in the case of LD, the collaboration with Avolites and its support team has been fundamental to achieving the impressive result. show.
Carolina highlights the importance of her relationship with Francisco Yañez, Area Manager for Latin America at AVOLITES, who has been a pillar of her work. “Through him, I met TSD, who gave me support and helped me change my life.” They installed my console, and arranged for me to have an Arena at Ferro. And Francisco is a person who shares all his knowledge, who is always available to collaborate, teach, and share.” He is undoubtedly a key element in the support I receive from the brand: “He’s the best. He’s a kind, attentive, and super dedicated person.”
Regarding training, Carolina has attended several sessions, both online and in person: “They were very enriching. I emphasize the way in which knowledge is shared, always using highly understandable language, with practice sessions and accessible, up-to-date tools.”
Part of this training and support, representing the Avolites distributor in Argentina, is Gastón Claver, a renowned lighting designer with a long history in the theater world.
Gastón has worked on prominent productions such as The Hunchback of Paris in Buenos Aires and is a key member of the local Avolites technical support team. With more than 15 years of experience, he began his career in technical support when TSD took over as the brand’s representative, which led him to specialize in its products ever since.
His in-depth knowledge and expertise in lighting systems have made him a key player in the proper functioning of major shows, such as the one at La Delio Valdez, where he supported Carolina.
Gastón Claver, who has extensive experience in the lighting world, met Carolina when she was chosen as an Avolites ambassador for Argentina, excelling on an exam. International. “Her advanced level caught our attention, and when she told us about the show, we saw an opportunity to support her,” says Gastón.
Regarding collaboration on large-scale events, Gastón emphasizes that this was the first time he worked with her and the experience was highly positive. “I consider her work to be of the highest professional caliber,” he notes.
The Arena console used in the show stood out for its exceptional versatility and technical performance. Gastón highlights its robustness and ease of use, with multiple network connections, two screens, and an extensive number of faders, which allowed for precise and efficient control throughout the show. Furthermore, the v17 version of the software greatly facilitated programming, streamlining corrections and optimizing the workflow.
He also praised Carolina’s programming level, calling it “very advanced” and highlighting her skills as a Lighting Designer (LD). “She programmed the show on Titan Mobile, ran it in an Arena, and backed it up with a T3. She has exceptional talent and the ability to handle events of this magnitude.” and even larger ones,” he says admiringly.
In his view, Carolina not only has the technical prowess to manage complex productions, but also an artistic vision that positions her as one of the foremost lighting designers in her field.
From a technical perspective, Gastón emphasizes that what makes Avolites unique compared to other brands is the way the console provides intuitive tools for creating and executing a show. “Avolites is neither better nor worse than other brands; it depends on your knowledge and creativity. What it does is provide you with all the tools in a very intuitive way, which makes the console a very user-friendly option,” he notes.
Furthermore, he highlights the specific benefits of the consoles for large-scale events, highlighting their integrated visualizer, connection to video servers, and their great stability and networking capabilities—crucial factors for the success of productions of this magnitude.
It’s a given that the importance of building a solid technical team to support the Lighting Designer (LD) during large-scale productions like this is a priority. “The LD, at this point, is usually exhausted and focused on very specific aspects of the show. We stay behind her, resolving details so she can continue with programming and corrections without wasting time.”
Gastón is also a constantly learning professional. He mentions that he has received direct training at the factory in London and around the country using the brand’s own materials, and he continues to constantly update himself.
For Gastón, AVOLITES is more than a work tool; it’s a fundamental part of his career: “I consider it my lifestyle; we’ve been one for several years now. And I see a lot in the future of the brand. They’re on the right track, and the change will soon be noticeable, as their new internal goals are ambitious within the market.”
Synergy and passion for lighting
The use of Avolites in this type of event not only highlights the power of the technology, but also the team spirit the brand fosters globally.
From its headquarters in London to its implementation in every corner around the world, has managed to create a tool that gives color to music and unites teams passionate about lighting.
The collaborative work of designers like Carolina, the tireless support of Gastón and Francisco, and the fundamental support of the TSD team have been key to ensuring an unparalleled show.
All of this is possible thanks to the constant collaboration between teams, where the passion for lighting and transforming each show into a unique experience is combined with technology, generating a perfect synergy between art and technique.
