CRAS Crashes Music City for Current and Future Student Placement

From May 13-18, the Student Services Department of the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences Traveled to Nashville, Tenn. and Met with Representatives of Leading Pro Audio Recording Studios on Behalf of its Students for Future Internships and Employment

Gilbert, Ariz., June 5, 2019 – Making connections is everything, especially in this business.

From May 13-18, the Student Services Department of the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (CRAS; www.cras.edu) travelled to Nashville, Tenn. on behalf of its current and future students. CRAS also once again sponsored the 22 Annual Audio Masters Benefit Golf Tournament, held in Nashville.

“We sent members of our staff to Nashville to connect with and develop ongoing and new relationships in order to help place our students in their mandatory internships prior to graduation, and then open potential graduate job placement opportunities,” explained Kirt Hamm, CRAS administrator. “We were able to meet with some of our graduates who are already interning and working in many of Nashville’s top studios, as well as make new contacts in others. All of this helps our current and future students get a leg up when positioning themselves near or after graduation in some of the industry’s best available pro audio environments.”

During the visit, CRAS staff visited and met with personnel from NPALL Audio, Skyway Studios, Brantley Sound, Morris Light and Sound, Sound Image, Epicentre Mastering, Castle Recording Studios, Paragon Studios, Layman Drug Company Studio, Sound Stage Studios/Black River Entertainment, Beaird Music Group, Station West, The SmoackStack, Starstruck Studios, and Addiction Studios.

“Our experiences with CRAS graduates has been nothing short of stellar,” said Zachariah Orbin, director of operations at Brantley Sound. “The amount of knowledge they possess and seek to gain is only eclipsed by their motivation to achieve and only accept excellence.”

William Warren, a 2015 CRAS graduate and currently technology administrator, motion graphics, and animation assistant at Sound Stage Studios/Black River Entertainment, added, “CRAS interns definitely stand out. They’re always super knowledgeable, quick to adapt, and first to jump on any new assignment.”

Keegan Hestdalen, warehouse manager at Sound Image, said, “Thank you for your dedication to the education of young engineers and for being with them throughout their journey. CRAS is unique in its approach to post-grad success and it’s something to be admired. Please keep sending us your best and brightest.”

Added Lance Van Dyke, studio manager at Castle Recording Studios, “In my experience, interns from CRAS have a great blend of practical skills and realistic expectations that set them apart in this highly competitive field. It’s also great to see the CRAS faculty checking in on their past students and exhibiting genuine interest in their continued success.”

CRAS also once again participated in the 22nd Annual Audio Masters Benefit Golf Tournament in Nashville. All proceeds go to the Nashville Engineer Relief Fund, which provides emergency relief funds for medical and living expenses for Nashville engineers in the community.

“CRAS is always proud to participate in this golf tournament,” Hamm continued. “We sponsor a hole in order to contribute to this great cause, and we serve our famous Sonoran hot dogs, with CRAS’s famous hot sauce. It’s a great time every year!”