CRAS Staff and Students Worked Alongside Kids From the Club in Creating an Audio and Video Production for the Organization’s Annual Gala, Entitled “Be a Rock Star”
Gilbert, Ariz., March 24, 2025 – The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences recently opened its doors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley (BGCAZ) in order to help support the Boys & Girls Clubs’ annual gala, “Today’s Kids, Tomorrow’s Stars”, themed on “Be a Rock Star” for 2025.
“Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley is a terrific organization, and we are proud to not only introduce them to the world of professional audio production, but to help support an incredible event,” said J.R. Hamm, CRAS Director of Admissions and coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club production at CRAS. “I believe our staff and students had as much fun as the kids from the Club in putting together the audio and video production for the gala. Simply, it was opportunity for everyone involved.”
The entire production took place at the CRAS Gilbert campus, with Fernando Felix as the head engineer leading the project. During the event, Control Room C with the API Legacy console was utilized, setting up a session that allowed CRAS’ students to engage in a unique recording experience. They had the chance to play the piano in Studio Live A and even beatbox in an ISO booth.
“What J.R. Hamm and the crew did for these kids was above and beyond generous,” said Rich Berra of the Johnjay & Rich Show. “They have a first-class staff and the creativity to make actual magic. The kids had a great time and really felt special. You can literally see the awe in inspiration forming on the kids’ faces. The Conservatory is more than just a college… it’s possibility coming together and living color…inspiration…palpable Inspiration.”
The culmination of CRAS staff and the participating kids from Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley was presented to all attendees at the gala on March 1, held at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Ariz.
“Boys & Girls Club members truly enjoyed their time, getting a taste of what it’s like to work in a multi-million dollar recording studio and understanding the creative process behind music production,” Hamm concluded. “The production honored Glenn Pahnke for his long-standing involvement with the Boys & Girls Clubs, and the rock and roll theme resonated perfectly with his passion.”
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.
Original article published by MixOnline.com
