MEIS in Germany Part 1: Audio Engineering Society Convention

Left to Right: Andrew Apple, Elias Vigil, Cameron Sargent, Karl Gunselman, Paul Fleetwood, Eugene Landini, Rachel Lichty, Simon Claudius-Wystrach, Leslie Gaston-Bird

On May 19, 2017, seven students from the University of Colorado Denver's Music and Entertainment Industry Studies program arrived in Berlin, Germany for a two-week course devoted to music technology. Rachel Lichty, Elias Vigil, Eugene Landini, Paul Fleetwood, Karl Gunselman, Cameron Sargent and Andrew Apple joined Associate Professor Leslie Gaston-Bird for the course. The first order of business was to have a meal together and get to know Simon Claudius-Wystrach, an audio engineer and native German speaker who helped coordinate some of the course's activities.

"Berlin: Center of Electronic Music" panel

The 142nd Audio Engineering Society Convention was a place for professional and aspiring audio engineers to network and learn about the latest technology. In Berlin, students got to network with professionals and other students. The Convention featured several lectures, workshops, exhibits, and student-centered activities, such as recording competitions, student delegate assemblies, and student parties.

Thomas Görne from the University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg was there with students from his university. We will be working with his group next week in the studio so they invited us for a big dinner at a nearby restaurant. It was a chance for students to meet with their European peers and socialize.

Dinner with HAW Hamburg students

UC Denver and HAW Hamburg students

The students fully enjoyed the Convention. They have been expressive of their appreciation of this incredible opportunity. As one student stated in a journal assignment: "the more I write about the convention the more lucky I feel that I got to experience it. That was a top tier experience. Everybody there was super intelligent and pushing the industry forward. I am so inspired and I'm sure you all are, too."

All of this was just the beginning, click here for part 2 and read more about our adventures!
-Prof. Leslie Gaston-Bird