When I think about December, I typically think about… well, all things holiday-related. Spending time with family, the year coming to an end, and the beginning of a new year filled with potential and possibilities. But I have to admit, this year was different. With the help of Board Members Bradley Plesz and Dr. Jan Dommerholt, I could not help but be thrilled with all Global Z achieved in 2018.
During 2018, we collaborated with our educational partners to produce some remarkable results:
- Frederick Children’s Choir – Lee Fuhr: Provided vocalists to deliver lead vocals for Phase I which provided an opportunity for them to experience recording a commercial-quality song virtually and face-to-face
- Frederick Community College Audio Arts Program – Dr. Jonathan Cresci: An FCC student wrote the song selected for Phase I; two FCC student musicians were recorded on the Project; FCC audio arts students received hands-on experience testing microphones and recording musicians; Audio Arts Director, Dr. Jonathan Cresci, served as Lead Audio Engineer and Associate Producer on the Phase I Project
- North Bethesda Middle School Chorus – Jason McFeaters: This award-winning chorus worked with Global Z to test microphones allowing us to discern which mics performed best while recording a middle school chorus; students learned fundamentals of digital audio production and related equipment; twenty six members of the chorus provided backing vocals in and experienced recording a commercial-quality production virtually
- The Academy for the Fine Arts-Frederick County Public Schools – Jonathan Kurtz: AFA provided two student musicians who were recorded for the Project
- University of New Mexico Organization, Information & Learning Sciences – Dr. Damien Sanchez: Graduate students researched and created a virtual Learning Management System (LMS) space that will be used during Phase II. Dr. James Honeycutt of Louisiana State University provided content was uploaded into the course for successful beta testing
- Matthew Podschweit – provided superb choral arrangements
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs Visual and Performing Arts – Dr. Glen Whitehead: VAPA sponsored our organization and provided a state-of-the-art studio space in the new Ent Center for the Performing Arts from which we recorded a drum kit and keyboards (thanks to VAPA staff, the UCCS IT Department, and Dr. Glen Whitehead – a longtime supporter of Global Z)
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs Bachelor of Innovation Program – Dr. Jenifer Robertson: Collaborated with four student teams resulting in four separate outcomes.
- Students produced an online resource that provides guidance with how to treat common spaces in preparation to record audio
- Microphone database – students produced an online microphone database where data about the characteristics about each microphone can be stored including photos and audio samples
- Microphone placement application – students produced an application that illustrates how and where to place microphones to record specific instruments
- Event fundraising strategy – students produced an event planning strategy as to how best to plan for and manage a 5K fundraising event near our home base in MD
A special note of thanks goes out to our sponsors. DreamHost continued to provide excellent, trouble-free, and easy to use Internet hosting services. We had yet another year of collaborating with sE Electronics who provided us with exceptional quality microphones for our Phase I recording sessions. And a big nod of thanks to Hampton Inn & Suites (Ft. Detrick, MD) for providing a live room for our Maryland-based musicians to perform from.
I also want to thank the 32 musicians as well as their families for the trust and support you have extended us to work with your talented young artists.
The song is nearly done. Dr. Cresci and I are working through January to put the final touches on it, so look for a release toward the end of the month! We will also release exciting news about Phase II in the near future. It will be a very cool Project!
Happy New Year One and All.