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You are here: CSU, Chico | CSU, Chico News | Archived News | Fall 2010 | Renovated Recording Studio Named for Founder of Recording Arts Program

Renovated Recording Studio Named for Founder of Recording Arts Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 10-14-2010

Kathleen McPartland
Public Affairs
530-898-4260
Brooks Thorlaksson
College of Humanities and Fine Arts
530-898-5351

Raymond Barker, founder of the Recording Arts Program at California State University, Chico, was surprised two times at the unveiling of the Department of Music’s renovated recording studio on Oct. 8: he heard, for the first time, that the studio will be named after him, and he learned of the creation of the endowed Raymond Barker Recording Arts Scholarship. The scholarship already has more than $18,000 in donations and is earmarked exclusively for recording arts students.

The unveiling event for the $125,000 renovated studio was also a reunion for recording arts alumni. Among those alums was Dan Craik, the marketing manager for Yamaha Commercial Audio. Craik worked with Barker in the mid 1980s to make sure students were prepared for the growing impact technology was having on the industry.

In 1998, the program expanded to include a new music industry and technology option. Today the Music Industry and Technology Major is one of the most popular majors on campus, with more than 300 participants, and the Recording Arts Program is one of two impacted majors at CSU, Chico.

“This was a special celebration for our department, our alums and Ray Barker,” said Keith Seppanen, chair of the Department of Music, who was hired by Barker to help establish the Music Industry and Technology Program. “Naming the studio in Ray’s honor is an appropriate honor for an educator who has touched so many students’ lives.”

Many of the graduates from the programs have gone on to successful careers in the audio world with such groups and individuals as Mettalica, Toby Keith, Clint Black, and Digidesign. Graduates have received recording-engineering Grammy awards for work they did with Eminem and Kelly Clarkson.

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