Recruiting students into the MFA Sound Design program is always tough for us. We can only take two students each year, and there are always terrific students out there that we have to decline. This year was particularly difficult - the number of exceptional candidates was four times higher than it usually is, which made our decision much more difficult.
That said, Mike and I, along with the rest of the program are delighted to welcome our incoming students for this fall: Melanie Lopez and Jeremiah Turner. Melanie and Jeremiah stood out to us with exceptional combinations of talent, creativity, curiosity, professionalism, and experience. We're looking forward to working with them for the next three years!
I asked each of them to submit a short bio, so here they are, in their own words:
Melanie Lopez is a sound designer and theatre maker born and raised in Pomona, California. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. She has worked for the Southern California Shakespeare Festival and is the head audio engineer for the podcast Trek Table. Sound is imperative to every story and a valuable piece of the puzzle that completes the picture. Melanie has an interest in new work development and telling authentic diverse stories that help amplify voices of different perspectives. When she isn’t creating a concept playlist and spontaneously field recording, she enjoys spending her time developing her skills as an amateur puppeteer, geeking out to sci-fi shows, and playing video games with interactive narratives. She is looking forward to her journey honing her craft as a designer at UCI.
Jeremiah Turner is a Sound Designer/Engineer from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Since graduating from Louisiana State University in 2015, he has been serving as a Teacher’s Assistant and Sound Technician for LSU’s Sound Design program. Designing in the realms of theatre, and podcasting, Some of his notable works in theatre include, The Hangar Theatre’s “Stoo’s Famous Martian American Gumbo”, assistant designer for Swine Palace Theatre’s “Oil”, and LSU School of Theatre’s “Brooklyn Bridge.” Notable works in podcasting include, Dreams & Screams’ “The Somnilyte Sessions” and KB Saine’s “Black Theatre History Podcast”.
When not designing, Jeremiah is a stand-up comedian. Producing and headlining shows around the state of Louisiana. He also enjoys baking and cooking.
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