William Tate, an undergraduate music technology student at Georgia State University, has been named a finalist for the 10th Student Recognition Award by the Cinema Audio Society (CAS). The announcement was recently made as the CAS unveiled its finalists for the prestigious award.
Tate, along with four other talented students, has been invited to attend the 60th CAS Awards ceremony at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on March 2, 2024. The recipient of the CAS Student Recognition Award will be revealed during the event and will be presented with a $5000 check.
CAS President Peter Kurland expressed his excitement about this year’s finalists, stating, “Celebrating this year’s finalists illuminates the boundless potential within our craft and industry. The Cinema Audio Society is thrilled to not only recognize these exceptional students but also to actively engage and contribute to their evolving journeys.”
The finalists were carefully selected by the Student Recognition Award Committee, led by committee chair Sherry Klein CAS, along with volunteers who meticulously assessed each applicant.
In addition to William Tate, the other finalists include Allison Blum from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Shubhi Sahni, Doris (Yushu) Shen from the University of Southern California and Eunseo (Bella) So from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Currently pursuing his degree in music technology at Georgia State University, Tate has showcased outstanding achievements in the field of sound mixing. Reflecting on his experience, Tate expresses, “It’s truly exciting for me to be part of a program within the school of music that allows me the flexibility to explore diverse pathways in the world of audio. The idea of working in film hadn’t crossed my mind until a project I undertook in my Intro to Recording Techniques class. Now, a year and a half later, I find myself heading to LA as a nominee for an award open to college students worldwide. I am sincerely grateful for the invaluable support and guidance provided by my professor, Ben Yonas and the unwavering enthusiasm of other professors and administrators within the school of music, who have been open-minded about the possibilities of a music education.”
Music Production & Audio Recording professor at GSU, Ben Yonas, comments, “William is much deserving of this recognition as a finalist for the 2023 Student Recognition Award presented by the Cinema Audio Society. In the music industry area we urge our students to adopt the mindset of professionals, viewing their college years not just as a period of professional development but as the launchpad for their careers. None of our program’s students has exemplified this commitment more so than William, who, by the end of his junior year, had already served as the sound designer and sound mixer for two feature films [Rejuvenation (23) & Stalked Within (22)].”
For more information about the awards and the 60th CAS Awards ceremony, visit CAS Awards Information.
The 60th CAS Awards will honor outstanding achievements in sound mixing across various categories, including Motion Pictures – Live Action, Motion Pictures – Animated, Motion Pictures – Documentary, Non-Theatrical Motion Pictures or Limited Series, Television Series – One Hour, Television Series – Half Hour,and Television Non-Fiction, Variety or Music – Series or Specials. The CAS Achievement Award will be bestowed upon Joe Earle CAS and the CAS Filmmaker Honoree will be announced later in the year. Visit CAS Awards Timeline for the full schedule of events.