On the Heels of Successful Online Manufacturer and Speed Mentoring Sessions for its Students, the Forum Will Consist of Three CRAS Graduates
Gilbert, Ariz., May 12, 2020 – The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS; www.cras.edu), the premier institution for audio engineering education, is proud to announce that even during the current COVID-19 crisis, it will continue its tradition of hosting Grad Panel Forums for its students. But instead of an on-site session which has been customary, the next CRAS event will be held via an on-line ZOOM session between its students, faculty, and three CRAS graduates on May 15.
“Although we’ve had to delay our next Open House because of the coronavirus pandemic, we are still able to connect our current students with graduates who are making a name for themselves in the pro audio industry,” said Kirt Hamm, CRAS administrator. “There are a host of opportunities for our students once they graduate, and we want to give them an idea of what’s out there first hand for them once they enter the open market. What better way to do just that than by getting them in touch with our graduates who either are working for others, or who have made the leap into self employment? That’s what this grad panel is about. We’ve hosted other on-line ZOOM sessions recently, which have all been successful, so we are expecting the same for the May 15 event.”
So far this year, CRAS has conducted a number of on-line events for its students with manufacturers, including with Waves, Presonus, and Warm Audio. In conjunction with Karen Dunn, CRAS has also recently conducted two wildly popular Speed Mentoring events between its students and industry professionals.
The May 15 ZOOM Grad Panel Forum will include:
- Billy Reardon; EIC (Engineer in Charge) at Mobile TV Group. Reardon oversees all technical aspects of a live television broadcast. He’s responsible for the maintenance of all equipment required for a broadcast and is available throughout to assist and troubleshoot any issues that may occur.
“[CRAS] was the most fun I have ever had while also learning,” said Reardon. “Make sure before you go that you know what you want out of CRAS and that you want to learn everything there is to know about audio engineering.”
- Austin Love; producer, mixer, songwriter based out of Kingsize Soundlabs in Los Angeles. Love does it all and his work varies depending on the project. Some of his most mentionable credits include Last Young Renegade by All Time Low, and mixing credits on Origamiby Vinyl Theatre.
“You get out of it what you put into it,” said Love. “[CRAS] can be a great learning experience and lead to a career in audio if you’re willing to put in the work and effort.”
- Brandon Schuster; recording engineer and editor at Bang Zoom! Studios. Schuster’s day-to-day consists of setting up sessions, mic’ing and recording talent. He also makes sure the clients in the room are taken care of throughout the day. On days he’s not recording, he is editing dialog for shows before going into mix.
“Make sure you have an idea of what you really want to get out of the [CRAS] program, and that you take it seriously,” said Schuster. “If you put in the time and the work, there are countless opportunities and resources to help you succeed in the industry.”
Hamm concluded, “Continued education, networking, and learning what it takes for going out on one’s own by those who have done it already is of enormous value for any student.”
The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences is composed of two nearby campuses in Gilbert and Tempe, Ariz. A CRAS education includes broadcast audio, live sound, film and TV audio, music, and video game audio, all taught by award-winning instructors who have all excelled in their individual fields, including sound reinforcement, audio recording and production, digital recording, troubleshooting/maintenance, and music business.
CRAS structured programs and highly qualified teaching staff provide a professional and supportive atmosphere, which is complemented by its small class sizes allowing for individual instruction and assistance for students in engineering audio recordings. CRAS has been providing quality vocational training in audio recording for more than three decades. The curriculum and equipment are constantly being updated to keep pace with the rapid advancements in the music and sound recording industries. CRAS’ course offerings and subject matter have always centered around the skills and knowledge necessary for students’ success in the audio recording industries.
The 11-month program is designed to allow every student access to learn and train in all of the Conservatory’s studios which are comprised with state-of-the-art audio recording and mixing gear, the same equipment used in today’s finest studios and remote broadcast facilities, including Pro Tools 12, API Legacy consoles, SSL AWS consoles, Studer Vista consoles, and much more. All students must complete a 280-hour industry internship to graduate from the Master Recording Program II that may ultimately lead to industry employment.
For more information on the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences, please visit www.cras.edu, contact Kirt Hamm, administrator, at 1-800-562-6383, or email to info@cras.edu.
About The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences
Based in the heart of The Valley of the Sun with two campuses in Gilbert and Tempe, Ariz., The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS) is one of the country’s premier institutions for audio education. The Conservatory has developed a unique and highly effective way to help the future audio professional launch their careers in the recording industry and other related professional audio categories.
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