During the Annual CAS Awards, we are proud to celebrate all 5 finalists who exceed our expectations. These outstanding examples of the future of sound are listed below. We look forward to adding next year’s nominees and recipient to this group.
8th STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARD Presented at the 58th annual CAS Awards on March 19th 2022.
The recipient was—
Lily Adams iGraduating June 2022 and interning at Formosa studios for the summer.Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Georgia
Nominees were—
Berenice Chu iI am a post-production sound editor and mixer based in Toronto. Currently, I am working on independent projects to build my experience and portfolio of work. You can check out more on my website here: www.bernicechu.com Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Oakville, Canada
Lindsey EllisChapman University – Orange, CA
Shehryar Khan iI recently completed my Master’s program which is the Erasmus Mundus European Film Masters in Sound Design. I have worked as a sound designer on two short films recently which are submitted at a few film festivals. One short film is a Portuguese film and the other is Estonian. Pesently I'm based in Estonia and working as a freelance sound designer/re-recording mixer. One can also find my work on my website - www.thesoundwoman.comUniversidade Lusófona, Lisboa, Portugal
Karthik Vijay mohan i I've been working on a couple of features off late as Sound Editor and Foley Editor. I also cut dialogue on a pilot and joined the MPSE just recently. I've also applied to the CAS.Chapman University – Orange, CA
7th STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARD Presented at the 57th annual CAS Awards on April 17th 2021.
The recipient was—
Brandyn JohnsoniThe SRA immediately took my skills and career to the next level. I was able to network with accomplished sound professionals that truly wanted to support my growth as a production sound mixer. The prizes were also incredibly helpful! I've become more well-versed in sound editing because of the sound libraries and plugins I was given access to. I now work professionally in production and post sound! And SRA helped me get there!University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
Nominees were—
Anna CassadyUniversity of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
Lindsey EllisChapman University – Orange, CA
Yan “Carol” Li iI’m currently a graduate student of music technology program in New York University. I’m doing research on building procedural sound design models for my sound effects. I’m building up more sound design techniques and learning to use different tools for the projects I’m currently working on.School of Visual Arts – New York, NY
Vandana Ramakrishna iAfter graduation, I've been able to be a part of three varied sections of audio in the following ways - 1.Sound Design and Post Sound Mix - 13 American short films, 5 American feature films (both fiction and non-fiction), 3 British short films, 1 British feature film, 1 German film, 9 Indian short films, 1 Indian web series and 1 Indian feature film. 2. Production Sound Mixing - 6 Indian feature films, 3 Indian web series and 2 Indian short films. Website - www.thesoundwoman.com 3. Podcast Sound design + Sound Edit - 9 American podcasts, 6 Indian podcasts and 1 British podcast.Annapurna College of Film and Media – Hyderabad, India
6th STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARD Presented at the 56th annual CAS Awards on January 25th 2020.
The recipient was—
Bo PangiI am currently working as a sound designer, sound editor for film and television. After graduated from Chapman University, the pandemic came unexpectedly but I met many professionals at CAS and MPSE events, they offered me the most welcoming mentoring and encouragement online. Recently I worked on the NBC criminal TV show Law & Order and various features and short films.Chapman University– Orange, CA
Nominees were—
Jiaqing (Audrey) Gu iAfter graduation in 2020 - I worked as a sound editor and producer at Transported Audio. There, I had the opportunities to work on game trailers for Star Wars Battlefront and Legends of Runeterra, and other projects that taught me how to work within the industry's standards.In 2021 I went freelance, taking on more narrative projects and put together a small team.The most challenging project I did was an audio drama podcast with Lisa Kudrow. In 2022 after getting on the union roster. I started to work with Katie Halliday and Craig Henighan doing foley background editing.University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
Andree (Hsiao-Chu) Lin iI will soon start as a sound editor at Melody Gun, a small studio in Hollywood. Where I'll get to do narrative films. I'm also doing short films on the side. I recently sound designed a short that was mixed in Dolby Atmos.Chapman University– Orange, CA
Karthik Vijay mohan i I've been working on a couple of features off late as Sound Editor and Foley Editor. I also cut dialogue on a pilot and joined the MPSE just recently. I've also applied to the CAS.Chapman University– Orange, CA
Emma TrujilloEmerson College – Boston, MA
5th STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARD Presented at the 55th annual CAS Awards on February 26th 2019.
The recipient was—
Anna WozniewicziWould have loved to participate in a mentorship program, but unfortunately my path has led me out of the entertainment industry and into product management for tech startups.Chapman University– Orange, CA
Nominees were—
Maria Cecilia Ayalde Angel iI graduated with honours (and an award-winning dissertation) from Music with emphasis in Sound Engineering at the Pontifical Xaverian University (Bogotá, Colombia),That same year I had the opportunity of interning for a classical music studio in Vienna, Austria, called PDV-Records working in studio recording and live sound for several classical concerts, and festivals, Following this experience I obtained a full scholarship (granted by the British Council) to study Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Sussex, in Brighton, U.K. I culminated my degree with a distinction qualification and continue to reside in Brighton and Hove after obtaining a Global Talent Visa (under the official endorsement of the Arts Council England). I currently work as a live sound engineer at one of Brighton's most popular music and comedy venues: Komedia. I also work as an editing and mixing engineer for a music library, which has developed its own unique audio software: Filmstro. Finally, I also work as an artist & project manager at a classical music agency,, Polyphony Arts. Council England). In my free time (when I have any!) I perform as a singer, bringing traditional Latin-American boleros and ballads to UK audiences. Website: https://ayalde95.wixsite.com/mariaceciliaayalde.Pontificia Universidad Javeriana – Bogata, Columbia
Allison Ng iI freelanced on a few narrative podcasts and games, then worked a few months as a sound designer / foley artist at the old Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. In March, I joined Skywalker Sound as an apprentice sound editor and have been thoroughly enjoying my time ever since!University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
Bo Pang iI am currently working as a sound designer, sound editor for film and television. After graduated from Chapman University, the pandemic came unexpectedly but I met many professionals at CAS and MPSE events, they offered me the most welcoming mentoring and encouragement online. Recently I worked on the NBC criminal TV show Law & Order and various features and short films.Chapman University– Orange, CA
Kaylee YaconoSavannah College of Art and Design – Savannah, GA
4th STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARD Presented at the 54th annual CAS Awards on February 24th 2018.
The recipient was—
Xiang LiiI got two Daytime Emmy Outstanding Sound Editing nominations two years in a row and just wrapped on a big movie called 'The Gray Man', which is one of the biggest Netflix Original movies in 2022. I've received so much help from CAS so far and I don't quite know how to show enough appreciation for all those good things. Even with the pandemic and the ups and downs it brought, I still appreciate all the things that have ever happened to me and look forward to my adventures in the future!Chapman University– Orange, CA
Nominees were—
Hayey BowersSavannah College of Art and Design – Savannah, GA
Brendan Gates iI have been working at Formosa Group since graduating, presently I'm an assistant producer in the commercial sound dept. assisting the executive commercial producer in coordinating mix/sound design sessions and making sure clients receive requested deliverables.Loyola Marymount University – Los Angeles, CA
Danielle Price Savannah College of Art and Design – Savannah, GA
Anna Wozniewicz iWould have loved to participate in a mentorship program, but unfortunately my path has led me out of the entertainment industry and into product management for tech startups.Chapman University – Orange, CA
3rd STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARD Presented at the 53rd annual CAS Awards on February 18th 2017.
The recipient was—
Wenrui “Sam” FaniI’ve been busy since last year and got some lucky opportunities and worked on some big shows like Spider-man no way home, Uncharted, the Lost City, and now I’m on a final stage for a Netflix show Your Place or Mine at Paramount for the month.Chapman University– Orange, CA
Nominees were—
Jeremy CulverBaylor University – Waco, TX
Sammy DuffSavannah College of Art and Design – Savannah, GA
Lauren Johnson iAfter graduation I worked for Avid as a product specialist, then to Disney Studios where I was part of the engineering team, and presently at Warner Bros Studios as a mix-tech and engineer.University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
Matthew KluchinThe University of Texas – Austin, TX
2nd STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARD Presented at the 52nd annual CAS Awards on February 20th 2016.
The recipient was—
Matt YocumiSome of the shows I've worked on include : Venom, Let There be Carnage - Sound Effects Editor, Hotel Transylvania 4 - Sound Effects Editor,The Devil's Light - Sound Designer ,Devotion - Supervising Sound Editor. I also did the worlds first ever narrative podcast mixed in Dolby Atmos for headphones (binaural) . This lead me to become a consultant for Dolby for a time .For that first ever narrative podcast mixed in atmos, I also won the first ever Ambie Award for best sound and production. Lastly, I got to do sound and mix my first ever super bowl commercial which was for LeBron James and Crypto.com. My website - mattyocumsound.com Savannah College of Art and Design – Savannah, GA
Nominees were—
Joseph ElfanbaumSavannah College of Art and Design – Savannah, GA
Lauren Johnson iAfter graduation I worked for Avid as a product specialist, then to Disney Studios where I was part of the engineering team, and presently at Warner Bros Studios as a mix-tech and engineer.University of Southern California – Los Angeles, CA
Gerrald Vazquez iAfter I was a CAS SRA finalist in 2015, I was fortunate enough to be selected and subsequently win the MPSE Verna Fields Student Award in 2016. That opened a lot of doors for me and introduced me to many talented editors and mixers, some of whom I'm grateful have become my mentors. I got a job at a non-union studio where I honed my skills and accumulated my hours, eventually started working on union features and TV shows. I'm currently working as sound effects editor at Formosa Group, mainly in their Broadcast division. I also run a freelance business through which I take on commercials, documentaries, short films, and occasional indie feature film. My goal is to work my way up to Supervising Sound Editor. Website: gerryvazquezsound.comChapman University – Orange, CA
Joanna ZachariaszEdinburgh Napier University – Scotland, UK
1st STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARD Presented at the 51st annual CAS Awards on February 14th 2015.
The recipient was—
Danny MaurerUniversity of Colorado-Denver
Nominees were—
Michael Cullen iAfter being nominated for the 2015 CAS Student Recognition Award, I worked as a Post Sound Intern with the Television Academy at NBCUniversal StudioPost.. Afterwards transitioning to sound designing for video games and immersive experiences eventually landing at Zynga full-time as a a video game developer and presently a Principal Sound Designer managing a team of sound designers and composers, and is responsible for the audio production, implementation, and mixing for multiple mobile phone games. I am also an Adjunct Professor at Chapman University, teaching a Spatial Audio class and just completed a youtube video explaining tips on how to get into the audio industry for films and video games. You can watch that video here: https://youtu.be/p4u6tfAxzfs.Chapman University – Orange, CA
Heather FinkNew York University – New York
John Harton iI’ve been working as a sound utility and boom operator primarily on feature films and new media streaming shows in Atlanta.Savannah College of Art and Design – Savannah, GA
