UCI Sound Design class of 2026

After a thorough search and interviewing lots of exciting candidates, Mike and I are happy to introduce our incoming class of sound designers!  Here they are!

Eric Backus (he/him) is a composer and sound designer, joining UC Irvine’s sound design cohort from Chicago. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Eric received a B.A. in Theatre from Arizona State University. His original music and sound designs for theatre have been heard around the country, Off-Broadway, and in many Chicago theatres including The Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf, Writers, and Northlight. In addition to theatre, Eric composes and sound designs for podcasts and film. He is beyond thrilled to be back in the West Coast sunshine, and to join UCI’s MFA Class of 2026! www.ericbackus.com

Andrew Yoder is a sound designer/producer/DJ from Boise, Idaho. His start in sound began with his passion for music and DJ culture inspiring him to blend aspects from all across the musical spectrum and applying them to the theatrical world. Starting his sound design journey early in his undergraduate career with Sam Shepard's True West. Since then he has gone on to receive 3 awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival('19, '20, '21) for excellence in sound design for his work on A Kind of Alaska, Drowning Ophelia, and The Moors. He was also a nominee for the Don Childs' Collaboration Award in 2019. Outside of sound design, he enjoys disc golfing, yoga, and DJ-ing.
 

Welcome, Andrew and Eric!  We can't wait to start working with you in the fall!

UCI Sound Design is Recruiting MFA students!

It's January, which means that UCI Sound Design is officially recruiting for our MFA class of 2026.  Have you been thinking about grad school for sound design, we want to hear from you!

If you think that a Sound Design MFA may be the next step in your career and/or creative life, we think you should give UCI a look.  We're proud of our program and the students who study with us, and we want to talk to you about what we can offer your education and whether we might be a good fit!

If you're interested in learning about UCI Sound Design, here's what you should do:

1. email Prof. Vinnie Olivieri at olivieri@uci.edu to introduce yourself and set up a time to chat
2. head over to our program website to read about the program.
3. bookmark the application page for all UCI graduate admissions.

Drop us a line!  We'd love to chat with you!

And, for the algorithm, here are some photos of UCI MFAs doing awesome things in our program.

Students at Meow Wolf's Omega Mart on a field trip for their Themed Entertainment Class.

Kissing the duck brings good luck.

Walking from building to building on a tour of the Meyer Sound Lab facilities.

Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and a significant other at our annual Holiday Party!

Was the Escape Room trip part of Themed Entertainment research or team-building?  Why not both?

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni at USITT's 2022 conference.

A student mixes on L-ISA at L'Acoustics' North American HQ.