What makes an educational institution strong is its ability to stay on the cutting edge. The Conservatory accomplishes this by forming strategic alliances with audio manufacturers. This in turn gives students the opportunity to work with real-world gear from an impressive list of manufacturers including Digidesign, TC Electronic, Waves, Hafler, Neumann, Fender and more. Administrator Kirt Hamm expands: "It seems that there's always some new 'next best thing' coming down the pike and it is our job to weed out the developments that are simply flash-in-the-pan and to create curriculum that addresses pertinent technologies and methodologies. We cannot afford to jump on every new bandwagon. We are charged with the task of looking down the road to see what new gear and techniques will be in use in the years to come and offering a curriculum that will give our students an advantage in the work force." At the recent NAMM show in January of 2002, Hamm had the opportunity to visit some of the many companies allied with the school and to form some new ones.

NAMM Photo Gallery