MRC Does Radio With UVA Upward Bound!

Summer 2009 was the first time MRC partnered with the UVA Upward Bound teen program.  The partnership lasted for four weeks and consisted of two two-hour sessions a week. Upward Bound selected 13 students to attend our collaboration summer camp.

The students were involoved with a number of “crash course” training sessions.  They were schooled in digital music production, digital recording, audio engineering, recording techniques, audio editing and even drumming.  After the crash courses the group used their new skills to produce an hour long radio program.  I was impressed with how quickly they picked up all the skills and were able to complete the four week project with little helped needed from myself or other staff.

Upward Bound’s involvement with MRC was a complete joy.  Each student brought a positive and eager personality to the sessions.  They were so eager, in fact, that the majority came to the center even on days when they did not have class just to hang out and use what they had learned.  Some utilized the dance room, others the project studios and the rehearsal spaces, while others sat in on recording sessions.

My hat goes off to UVA’s Upward Bound program and coordinator Maurice Walker for nurturing such intelligent and creative young minds.  We look forward to having them back next year.