UNews - music technology

Significant And Mentionable

trevor.kenney — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:46:20 +0000

Chancellor named Citizen of the Year

Widely known as one Alberta's most influential people, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Chancellor Richard Davidson was recognized in May as the Lethbridge Citizen of the Year by the Rotary Club of Lethbridge and the Lethbridge Herald.

"Clearly in his law practice, his work with the Chamber of Commerce, his work with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and his work with virtually every other volunteer organization you could imagine, this is one cool dude," says Lethbridge Mayor Bob Tarleck, who also presented Davidson with a key to the city. "This is the highest honour we can bestow upon anyone, and Richard is extremely deserving."

Davidson was appointed a Queen's counsel in 1986 and is a partner at the law firm of Davidson & Williams. In recognition of his many contributions to the community, he has received numerous awards including the Commemoration Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada by the Governor General, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Alberta Centennial Medal and the Law Society of Alberta Distinguished Service Award for Service to the Community.

U of L at forefront of water hub

World Water Day, on March 22, served as the perfect occasion for federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice to announce $1.5 million in funding for the creation of the Water and Environmental Sciences Water Hub at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The Hub, which will be developed over the next two years, will serve as a data repository and will be an authoritative public source of information, providing tools to analyze water and environmental data. This data will be used by governments, industry, academia and the public to make more-informed decisions regarding water, and will create a better understanding of this resource by these stakeholders.

Prentice explains that the government needs reliable water data to make better decisions concerning water.

"To make good decisions, governments in Canada need good information – and it's not as though you can just turn on a tap to get it. We need knowledge generated by scientists and researchers who can provide the evidence for informed decisions about freshwater use," says Prentice.

Ellis welcomed as new management dean

On July 1, Dr. Robert (Bob) James Ellis will join the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the new dean for the Faculty of Management.

Originally from Vancouver, B.C., Ellis is an accomplished administrator who successfully bolstered business programs at both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Northern British Columbia and Wilfrid Laurier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

With a collaborative and visionary approach, he has a strong record of attracting accomplished faculty and raising the research profile of programs. His current research focuses on increasing educational opportunities in society, specifically for aboriginal students in a business environment.

Ellis is looking forward to the creative atmosphere he sees within the Faculty.

"Throughout my career, my focus has always been to try and increase opportunities for students through the development of new courses or new programs," says Ellis. "The faculty at the U of L are very innovative, and I think at the forefront of management thought and action."

Ellis succeeds Dr. Murray Lindsay, who spent the past five years in the position and is returning to the academic community at the U of L.

Education dean O'Dea passes leadership to Loewen

After 10 years of incredible success, Dr. Jane O'Dea will step away from her role as dean of the Faculty of Education at the end of June. And while she is handing the reins of leadership over with plans to return to the classroom, she has no plans to leave the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Dr. Craig Loewen

"Absolutely not. This is a tremendous ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. I love its size, I love its entrepreneurial innovative spirit and its emphasis on community and student engagement," says O'Dea.

Taking over the Faculty, Dr. Craig Loewen (BEd '84) will serve as acting dean for a two-year term.

A veteran faculty member, Loewen admits he will miss the classroom, but stands firmly in a belief that whatever the setting, teaching is an important calling.

"You're looking after the path, building for the future, caring about the kids of today. I find it really hard to see anything much more important than that," he says. "The person who you are can, at some point, be traced back to a teacher or mentor."

CREATE funding translates to employment opportunities

On June 10, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) announced the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as the recipient of the CREATE program award. The U of L will be the only institution in Alberta to receive the award this year.

With more than $1.6 million, the CREATE program award provides funding for approximately 50 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral candidates working in satellite and other imaging programs, including photonics, climate change, civil engineering and optical networks.

Through the program, 20 projects will receive $32 million over six years, support that will help science and engineering graduates upgrade their skills to make a successful transition to the workplace.

As part of this, participating students will complete work placements with local, national and international organizations including companies such as Iunctus Geomatics, the Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Corporation, Natural Resources Canada, NASA and several European research institutes.

U of L Vice-President of Research Dr. Dan Weeks says this will give students a strong mix of professional skills development and workforce preparation.

"The exciting aspect for me is the employment rate for graduates," says Weeks. "It isn't unreasonable to expect 100 per cent employment, because we are looking at this as a model that will provide for sustainable training for research workforce preparation."

Top 40 Under 40

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk, a biological sciences and epigenetics researcher at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, can now add recipient of Canada's Top 40 Under 40TM to an already long list of accomplishments.

Dr. Olga Kovalchuk

Canada's Top 40 Under 40TM, a prestigious national award program, annually honours 40 Canadians in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors under the age of 40.

With more than 1,200 nominees, honourees were selected by an independent advisory board based on five key criteria: vision and leadership; innovation and achievement; impact; community involvement and contribution; and strategy for growth.

"This is an outstanding award for Olga, the members of her lab team, for her research collaborators here and literally worldwide – and for our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says U of L President Dr. Bill Cade.

"Olga has worked very hard to bring new research and new programs to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and has influenced countless young researchers. With her husband and research collaborator, Dr. Igor Kovalchuk, they have brought new people with a wealth of international talent to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community. It is an understatement to say that we are extremely proud of her achievement."

A ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Research Chair, as well as a Canadian Institute of Health Research Chair in Gender, Sex and Health, Kovalchuk focuses her research on the effects of long-term exposure to radiation, and how that exposure changes cellular and molecular structures in animals and people.

Inspired by her experience as a high school student living in Ukraine, only 600 kilometres from the nuclear Chernobyl blast, her work examines how radiation induces secondary tumours in cancer patients, the different effects radiation has on women and men, and what can be done to protect the children of radiation-exposed parents from contracting cancer.

Kovalchuk has also played a key role in working toward establishing an Alberta Institute for Epigenetics at the U of L.

Sakamotos give back

Ron and Joyce Sakamoto

Ron Sakamoto (LLD '03), or "Sak," as he is affectionately known, has presented shows from KISS to Shania Twain. In March, the concert provider and his wife, Joyce, announced a $200,000 donation in support of students in the U of L Digital Audio Arts (DAA) program. The gift will be matched by the Government of Alberta's Access to the Future Fund, bringing the total to $400,000.

Launched last fall, the DAA program is the first of its kind in Canada and produces graduates who are experts in music technology and have skills to integrate with visual media, audio and advanced research.

"The role of audio across all media has changed monumentally from the traditional broadcast media of the past. The culture of audio and visual media is growing and evolving rapidly," says Sakamoto.

"Joyce and I are happy to support students in the DAA program. These are the people who will be superstars in the years to come, and I look forward to the contributions this group will make to the music industry."

To view the entire issue of SAM in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Sakamoto support invests in students

trevor.kenney — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:47:43 +0000

Ron Sakamoto (LLB '03), or "Sak," as he is affectionately known, has presented shows from KISS to Shania Twain and has been a constant champion of Canada's entertainment scene, helping build it into the thriving industry it is today.

His time in the business has been marked by change: he's watched the careers of countless rock and country artists blossom and grow; he's seen the size of the arenas and the magnitude of the shows increase exponentially; and he's witnessed the monumental growth and rapid evolvement of audio and visual media.

"The role of audio across all media has changed significantly from the traditional broadcast media of the past," says Sakamoto. "It is now more important than ever for young people entering the field to have the skills, knowledge and confidence to effectively navigate the changing landscape of the industry."

Responding to the globally expanding communication environment, the U of L launched the bachelor of music in digital audio arts (DAA) in the fall of 2009. Building on the U of L's highly successful bachelor of fine arts in new media, this innovative program produces graduates who are experts in music technology and whose skills integrate with visual media, audio and advanced research, matching the needs of industry – today and into the future.

"I am very excited to have a program of this quality and stature in my hometown," says Sakamoto. "When my son was looking for training, he ended up in Nashville. We were fortunate enough to be able to afford the costs associated with sending him to study down south, but not every student is that lucky."

Ron and his wife Joyce are happy to help fill that gap. The couple recently donated $200,000 in support of students in the DAA program. The gift will be matched by the Government of Alberta's Access to the Future Fund, bringing the total of the contribution to an impressive $400,000.

While Ron and Joyce hope the award will help students along in their educational journeys, Ron explains that establishing the scholarship is also a way of giving back to an industry that has been so good to him.

"Programs like this one play a crucial role in creating the next generation of sound engineers," explains Sakamoto. "Joyce and I are happy to support students in the Digital Audio Arts program, as they work to meet their educational and professional goals. These are the people that will be superstars in the years to come and I look forward to the contributions this group will make to the music industry."

Sakamoto makes major gift to DAA program

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:03:30 +0000

On Tuesday, Mar. 23, officials from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge announced $400,000 in support of students in the Digital Audio Arts (DAA) program in the Faculty of Fine Arts.

A $200,000 gift from Ron and Joyce Sakamoto will be matched by the Government of Alberta's Access to the Future Fund, bringing the total of the contribution to the impressive $400,000 figure.

"For some students, the costs of post-secondary education prohibit them from pursuing advanced studies," acknowledges Dr. Bill Cade, the U of L's President and Vice-Chancellor.

"As a result of the Sakamotos' support of students in the DAA program, we are going to see even more students graduate with the skills, knowledge and confidence to effectively navigate the ever-growing and changing landscape of music technology – these are the very people who will be leaders in the field in years to come."

Responding to the globally expanding communication environment, the U of L launched the DAA program in the fall of 2009.

Building on the U of L's highly successful Bachelor of Fine Arts in New Media, this innovative program produces graduates who are experts in music technology and whose skills integrate with visual media, audio and advanced research, matching the needs of industry – today and into the future.

"The role of audio across all media has changed monumentally from the traditional broadcast media of the past. The culture of audio and visual media is growing and evolving rapidly," says Ron Sakamoto.

"Programs like this one play a crucial role in creating the next generation of sound engineers. As I built my company and moved through my career, I have always been struck by the lack of high-end, formalized training available in Canada for young people wanting to move into a career in sound engineering. I am very excited and motivated to now have a program of this quality and stature built in my hometown. Joyce and I are happy to support students in the Digital Audio Arts program, as they work to meet their educational and professional goals and eventually contribute to growing the industry that has been so good to me."

The DAA program was the first of its kind in western Canada when it launched last fall and offers students a unique experience.

"The DAA program – which includes experience in professionally designed studios and labs featuring industry standard hardware and software – provides a unique experience to students interested in pursuing a career in music technology," says Dr. Rolf Boon, the chair of the department of music at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Rebecca Holmes is a DAA major and is excited by the possibilities offered by the program.

"As someone who's always been interested in music, this program was an ideal fit for me because it offers such a broad scope of education and training: I am learning music theory, history and ear training, in addition to the technical skills required to capture, manipulate and reproduce sound," explains Holmes.

"I want to thank Dr. and Mrs. Sakamoto on behalf of DAA students for their generous donation to the program. It's extremely encouraging to receive support from someone so respected in the music industry. Your support will enable more students to complete their degrees in this exciting field."

Creating a space unlike any other

trevor.kenney — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:30:45 +0000

The tag line, "If you build it, they will come," doesn't exactly work for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's Digital Audio Arts (DAA) program. They (as in the students) are already here, and they can't wait for it (the new Digital Audio Arts Studio) to be unveiled.

"It will definitely be the crowning jewel of the program," says Chris Morris, the technical specialist with digital audio arts. "It will be a state of the art recording facility as well as a critical listening and practice facility. It will be a collaborative environment for the Faculty of Fine Arts."

Digital audio arts is in just its second semester. With a full complement of 32 students and a healthy waiting list of applicants, the program is off to a rousing start. Dr. Rolf Boon and Dr. Arlan Schultz started the process six years ago. The program was created with an eye to the future, and students have definitely responded.

"Dr. Boon likes to say, 'We're preparing people for careers in music technology that may not even exist yet,'" says Morris. "Right now we're finding a lot of students are mostly interested in music production and working in a recording studio. But it's not just a music production program – it's defining audio research for the future.
"When you really open your mind, the sky's the limit in terms of what you can do. Media is everywhere and wherever there is media, there's audio, there's sound, so there will always be an opportunity with this kind of degree."

The studio is currently under construction and is scheduled to open in late March or early April. An entirely custom built facility, it has transformed what was once a static, drab, concrete-walled area into a dynamic teaching and recording space complete with hardwood floors, custom speakers and a top shelf audio console.

"Basically the whole place is custom except for the console itself," says Morris.

California-based studio designer Jay Kaufman, a specialist in working with odd spaces, was brought in to recreate the area. The result is a studio that will allow students the opportunity to learn in a professional setting, and similarly attract outside labels and recording artists.

"In terms of post-secondary education, nobody has what we'll have. We're definitely on the cutting edge of everything," says Morris. "It'll position us in a way where this is a showpiece that will attract a lot of attention."

Internally, the studio will benefit the entire faculty. Besides the hands-on learning opportunities for DAA students, new media students will be able to use it for audio work on film, the art department can utilize it for sonic art studies and music students will walk off campus and into the job market with professionally-mastered portfolios.

Externally, Morris says positioning a recording studio in an educational facility
allows recording labels to bring in artists for extended stays, housing them on campus to complete projects quickly. This opens up internship opportunities for DAA students.

"Labels always want to bring their own engineers in to work with their artists," says Morris. "To use the space, it will be mandatory that they take a few of our students as assistant engineers so that they can get experience in the studio with real engineers and real artists."

Already off to a flying start the new DAA studio promises to set the U of L apart from other music programs in the country.

"The first semester of the program was an absolute success," he says. "The feedback from the students has been great, and they love to be able to use the audio research lab we have. Once the new studio is on board, it will be that much better."

GET THE FACTS

• The DAA studio is described as a room within a room within a room. The centre room is pressure-fitted and the entire facility "floats" on neoprene pucks at all points within the concrete cavity of the space.

• The recording area is designed to be completely soundproof with lead-lined walls that are 18 inches deep and floors made of an extra-thick hardwood.

• All the walls, including the glass and the roof, are angled. "There are no parallel walls in the space," says Morris. "It's all about not having any standing waves that would be bouncing back and forth. They'll get scattered in all directions, and therefore create an acoustically sound space."

• The studio's console is the latest from Solid State Logic. The 48-channel Duality allows students to work with both analog and digital audio.

• The entire studio will be connected to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall via 16 channels of audio, a CCTV camera and LCD screens. This allows for the recording of concerts and performances or the use of the hall as a larger recording venue for larger groups of artists, such as orchestras.

Official launch of new DAA program

trevor.kenney — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:20:42 +0000

The role of audio across all media has experienced monumental change from traditional broadcast media of the past. With worldwide Internet usage reaching upwards of 160 terabytes of information per second and innovative digital devices being introduced daily, the culture of audio and visual media continues to grow and evolve.

"We are living in times of exponential change," says Dr. Rolf Boon, a Digital Audio Arts faculty in the Department of Music, and director of the Audio Research Lab at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. "Without a doubt, future demands in communications and information technologies will experience unmitigated growth."

In response to globally expanding communication environments, coupled with interest from students, industry, and the public, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has implemented a new Bachelor of Music degree program in Digital Audio Arts (DAA). It is officially being launched Friday (11 a.m., room W700) in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Centre for the Arts.

"This program responds to the increasing demand for expertise in advanced audio technologies as well as yet undefined media interfaces and artistic possibilities," says Boon.

Commencing in September 2009, the Digital Audio Arts program will be unique to Western Canada as the only undergraduate degree program of its kind.

"Building on the U of L's highly successful Bachelor of Fine Arts in New Media, this innovative degree major will produce graduates who are experts in music technology and whose skills integrate with visual media, audio, and advanced research, matching the needs of industry today and into the future," says Boon.

The Bachelor of Music in Digital Audio Arts is a demanding degree major that combines academic courses with rigorous hands-on training for careers in the digital arts such as: audio production, composition (film and electronic), sound engineering, advanced audio synthesis, multi-media sound design, software design for music applications, sonic art, technology in education and the potential for graduate research in the Arts, Humanities, and Sciences.

Digital Audio Arts majors have the opportunity to apply their production skills to enhance the studies and artistic experiences of students in music performance, video, film, and digital animation streams at the U of L.

Students who earn a Bachelor of Music in Digital Audio Arts will graduate with a distinctive degree and a professional level portfolio for presentation to graduate schools and prospective industry employers.

New DAA program to fill demand

trevor.kenney — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:03:40 +0000

"This program responds to the increasing demand for expertise in advanced audio technologies as well as yet undefined media interfaces and artistic possibilities," says Boon.

Commencing in September 2009, the Digital Audio Arts program will be unique to Western Canada as the only undergraduate degree program of its kind.

UNews - music technology

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