IAR students Anthony Collier and Angelo Davila captured 2nd place in the Audio Engineering Society (AES) Student Recording Competition. AES is the leading professional association worldwide for professionals and students involved in the audio industry. Students from around the world submitted recordings into one of several categories (Classical, Pop/Rock, Jazz/Blues, World/Folk, Sound for Picture).

There were over 100 submissions this year in the competition; Anthony and Angelo came in 2nd in the Sound for Picture category. The submissions are evaluated and judged by industry professionals and three finalists are chosen before the annual AES Convention. On the first day of the convention, each finalist delivers a presentation covering the recording setup and procedure to the judging panel and convention attendees. This year, the judges were from Canada TV and Sony Pictures. Each finalist is asked questions and given comments by the judging panel and, on the last day of the convention, the awards are announced. Anthony and Angelo received a Certificate of Achievement and the complete Sony Sound Effects Library, valued at over $500.

The competition began in 1999, and a student from IAR has placed in the top three in a category every year. IAR was the only audio institution represented this year; the remaining entries were from students of four-year colleges and universities. This amazing feat is a testament to the level of education IAR provides and the consistent high-quality work that students and faculty produce. A special acknowledgement must be given to Anthony and Angelo’s PPA instructor Zack Goldberg for his support and assistance.