In the southern corner of AU’s campus in the basement of the Kreeger building are the audio production studios, a hub passion for sound creation and production.
Perhaps unexpected at a university recognized for its international and political focus, AU’s Audio Production and Audio Technology programs are ranked among the best nationwide.
Alli Vega, a sophomore in the Audio Technology program, decided on AU because of the program.
“I knew AU had one of the best Audio Technology [and] Audio Production programs in the country, which really is what made me decide to come here, even though I'm here as a business and entertainment major,” Vega said in an email.
Audio Technology began in the 70s as a program under the physics department but has since evolved and expanded.
Both Audio Technology and Audio Production programs have seen enrollment grow significantly. The total undergraduate program in 2007 for both Fall and Spring semesters had 59 majors and intended majors. In 2014, that enrollment was 159, according to estimates shared by Professor Ana Cetina, the Director of the Audio Technology program.
Both Audio Production and Audio Technology are offered by the Department of Performing Arts under the College of Arts and Sciences. Audio Production, in which students can receive a Bachelors of Art, has a media and arts component whereas the Audio Technology focuses on the science of audio production and sound creation with tracks for Computer Science and Physics.
Vega considers the program’s ranking a tribute to its invested and dedicated community.
“I think it absolutely deserves that [ranking] because every professor I've had here so far has been nothing but passionate about Audio Technology [ATEC] and so have all the students,” she said.
Professor Mike Harvey, a faculty member for the Audio Production program who began teaching at AU in 2007, said the program at AU has more dynamic educational opportunities compared to other programs.
“There are other schools like Berkeley School of Music and Full Sail that are all about the recording side, but we occupy a unique niche,” Harvey said. “We have a more rounded education which allows students to bring liberal arts ideas to their recording.”
Dawson Bristol, a sophomore in the program, entered AU as an International Relations major but after a year realized that he wanted to pursue his passion for music and found the Audio Production program.
Bristol said there are many opportunities to use studio facilities and technologies, engage with skilled and experienced faculty, find a variety of internships as well as the ability to combine Audio Production and Audio Technology studies with other programs such as studio management, business and communications.
“When I started, I had no idea the program was so good. I am proud of the school and lucky to be studying Audio Production here,” Bristol said. “The state-of-the-art equipment and facilities as well as the incredible faculty contribute to the merits of the program."
Two of the major components that Harvey emphasizes as the specialties of the program are the access to the District's many opportunities, as well as its diverse music scene.
“I think it is a big advantage to be here in Washington,” Harvey said. “We have a diverse range of music, being at these geographic crossroads in the mid-Atlantic, we have recorded a 30s style big band, a reggae rock band with horns, an Americana roots rock band. If we were in Nashville we would have a lot of country music.”
Overall, Vega said the program, while stellar, is unknown to many on campus.
“It's definitely a hidden gem at this school,” Vega said.
