CRAS’ Latest Zoom Session Features Graduates Now Living and Working in New York City and Los Angeles Discussing the Transition and What to Expect with Current CRAS Students
An education and internships are great opportunities to get one started in the field they choose. But what should one expect during the transition from student/intern to professional, especially when it comes to moving to another city?
The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS; www.cras.edu), the premier institution for audio engineering education, is proud to announce New Beginnings, its latest Zoom event focusing on what current students should expect when starting their new careers and moving to either New York City or Los Angeles. And who better to prep them other than CRAS graduates who have already experienced the transition when they made the move to the two largest markets in the United States?
New Beginnings is being held on March 31 at 7:30pm PST. Register here.
“We did a panel similar to this many years ago with CRAS instructors, so when one of our students mentioned to me that it would be helpful to know more about living in New York City or Los Angeles before moving there, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to host a panel with recent CRAS graduates,” explained Nancy Scharlau Murman, CRAS Instructor / Faculty Advisor for Women of Audio (WOA). “The road from internship to paid work is never easy, especially when you’re moving to a new city. This panel will give our students a greater perspective of what it’s like to live and work in these two major audio markets, and how to best prepare for the journey ahead. We plan to host additional city-focused events in the near future.”
The inaugural New Beginnings panel features the following CRAS graduates now living and working in New York City and Los Angeles:
- Chance Hubbard; Recording/Mixing/Mastering Engineer at Penthouse Studios, FLK Studios, and Studio 17 in NYC; He has worked with Lil Tjay, Sheck Wes, Don Toliver, King Von, Sheff G, Toosii, Dave East, Summer Walker.
- Frank Lenz; Mastering Engineer and Freelance Engineer at Engine Room Audio in NYC; He has worked with Left Lane Recordings, Def Jam, Cleopatra Records, Sir Patrick Stewart, George Takei, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Dr. Anthony Fauci, and First Lady Jill Biden.
- Karla Marroquin; QC Technician at VSI GROUP (Voice & Script International) in Los Angeles; She has worked with VSI client’s such as Netflix, HBO , Amazon Video, WarnerMedia and Sony Pictures.
- Hannah Kacmarsky; Runner/Assistant at East West Studios in Los Angeles; She has worked with Brandy and Ty Dolla Sign.
- Chad Henderson; Freelance Audio Engineer at DailyBurn 365 and Dubway Studios; He has worked with DNC Convention, Pete Buttigieg, Senator Cory Booker and Andrew Yang.
“I’m really excited to talk about adjusting to a new city and new ways of life that come from working in the music industry,” said Kacmarsky. “I’m also looking forward to sharing advice on maintaining self care when you’re working in a rigorous and fast paced environment.”
Commented Lenz, “I want students to understand that no one is ever going to tap them on a shoulder an offer them an opportunity. You have got to tell people what your passion, motivation and goals are…then you get thought of and get opportunities. I’d also like to emphasize what the intern culture is like in the East Coast and how to adapt to that and start moving up the ladder.”
Added Henderson, “I’m very excited to share my journey through many various avenues in audio in New York City, and to give advice on potential jobs that aren’t the most obvious out here. I’m looking forward to discussing how some jobs can fall into place when you least expect it if you have the right work ethic and find yourself in the right place at the right time.”
Hubbard continued, “I’m excited to share how to navigate, exploit, and execute the recording/mixing process as well as how to create a sufficient career in Hip Hop and RnB recording. I am looking to give advice on what to expect, what to do, and how to progress when entering such an agile industry in the big cities. I want to inform the students on what I wish I knew when I first set foot into the recording arts of such a fast-paced environment.”
Marroquin concluded, “I’m excited to talk about my experience with looking for a job at the beginning of the pandemic, the differences/similarities between interning at a music studio versus working at a post production facility, and to talk about the world of Dubbing!”
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.
