The URG recording studio features a top-of-the-line control room. The studio has been entirely built by Rio Grande students (and professors).

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RIO GRANDE — Award-winning video game and media composer, Sean Beeson will be speaking at the Music Technology and Entrepreneurship Conference hosted by the University of Rio Grande (URG) Songwriting Club and the University of Rio Grande Saturday, January 26.

Beeson’s music can be heard on film and television, and in games such as “Mecho Wars”, “Eternity’s Child” and “Rage of the Gladiator”, with soundtracks recorded by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Moravian Philharmonic, among others. His music has been featured in film trailers, including Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland” (Johnny Depp and Tim Burton), the 2007 musical film “Hairspray” with John Travolta, as well as TV shows on Fox and NBC.

The day-long conference, which kicks off at 11 a.m. with an open house of the student recording studio, is the brainchild of URG music professor Scott Michal, who launched the Songwriter’s Club in 2012 and has lovingly nurtured and watched it grow since that time. Michal said the club has more than 40 members now, and his new songwriting class at URG has 17 students — a nice showing for a campus of around 2,000 students total.

Michal said that he is excited about the conference and the idea of bringing so many creative types together on campus.

“It’s already a success because people are excited about writing music,” explained Michal. “Songwriting and music creation taps into something [students] didn’t have before, and it is a source of confidence.

“This is exciting to me because any style of music is welcome here. We just want to connect with other musicians and do what we can to support one another,” added Michal.

Other speakers at the conference include record producer Bob Lord (joining the panel via Skype), who has produced hundreds of in-studio sessions in the U.S. and Europe with artists such as Pete Townsend, Chick Correa and Richard Stoltzman.

URG alumni Adam Bush, director of technical/production ministry at Gallitan First Baptist Church, Gallitan, Tennessee, will also address those in attendance. Bush has over ten years of experience working as a freelance audio and recording engineer and musician at major studios in Nashville.

Several local musicians will be performing throughout the conference including Logan Black, Gary Tolley, Joshua LaBello and Echo Mecca. The day will conclude with an open mic session.

The festivities begin at noon with Sean Beeson. An open house of the new URG Recording Studio begins at 11 a.m. All events will be held at the Berry Fine Arts Center at the University of Rio Grande.

Schedule

11 a.m. — URG Studio Open House and ‘How to Build Your Own Home Studio’

12 p.m. — Sean Beeson, video game composer

1:30 p.m. — Live music

2 p.m. — Adam Bush, director of technical/production ministry at Gallitan First Baptist Church, Tenn.

2:45 p.m. — Panel discussions

3:30 p.m. — Bob Lord (via Skype), producer

4:45 p.m. — Live music

5:30 p.m. — Studio Open House and ‘How to Build Your Own Home Studio’

7 p.m. — Open mic

(All times are subject to change.)

For more information, contact Scott Michal at smichal@rio.edu, or 740-649-6000.