In June, the Audio Engineering Society (AES) International Conference on Audio Archiving, Preservation & Restoration was held at the U.S. Library of Congress (LOC) National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virginia. Several music production and recording technology (MPRT) students participated in the conference and also worked as a “team” volunteering and supporting the staff at the Library of Congress. It was a three-day event comprising presentations and workshops on audio preservation. The conference presented a remarkable opportunity to bring researchers and practitioners together to discuss critical preservation issues and focus on strategies that support and encourage collaboration and interoperability between industry and the preservation, restoration and archiving communities for audio.
MPRT students met with professionals in the audio industry, attended workshops and presentations, and worked alongside the Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center staff during the conference.
“Spending the week at the Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper was an incredible experience. I learned about the niche field of audio archiving and was able to network with some of the biggest names in audio and audio archiving.”
– Logan Parker ’26 (Bachelor of Music in Music Production & Recording Technology)
“The AES conference held at the Packard Campus in Culpeper, Virginia, was an incredible opportunity to learn from and connect with prominent archiving experts. The facility was also home to so many important pieces of our cultural history, and we were given the opportunity to see and hear some collections during our time at the conference. As someone interested in pursuing a job in audio archiving, it was one of the most insightful and educational events I’ve ever attended.”
– William Strickler ’24 (Bachelor of Music in Music Production & Recording Technology)
“I met so many wonderfully brilliant people within the audio archiving world during the conference from many different backgrounds, countries, and previous careers. I got to not only help run the sound and video for the events but also since the audience members understood what running an event entails, the mistakes made along the way were received with understanding and assistance when needed. I also came to fully grasp the idea that everyone started from the beginning at one point or another, even those who are well-known and respected within the field, and so I shouldn’t be afraid to try and take opportunities to grow in my skills and knowledge to one day get to their level.”
– Adaugo Ejekwu ’23 (Bachelor of Music in Music Production & Recording Technology)
The Audio Engineering Society and the Library of Congress provided an exceptional experience for Shenandoah University’s (SU) MPRT students. They have asked to have SU students participate and work alongside them at the next conference.
“We were so fortunate to have professors Golder O’Neill and Graham Spice, and a group of their top students to help us record and chronicle the conference. The most accomplished experts came from around the globe to push forward the science and practice and this was a wonderful opportunity for the Shenandoah students to be so engaged in this undertaking.”
– John Krivit, Past President of AES and Conference Chair of the 2023 AES Conference on Audio Archiving, Preservation & Restoration at the U.S. Library of Congress
“The LOC Culpeper facility is one of the most impressive buildings that I have ever been in. The facility preserves and provides access to the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of films, television programs, radio broadcasts and sound recordings. The employees there are wonderful and at the top of their game.”
– Director and Associate Professor of Music Production & Recording Technology Golder O’Neill ’92, M.M.E.
