Metalworks Institute 2012 Graduation!

We celebrated the 2012 Graduation Ceremony this past Saturday, January 28th at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. The ceremony, hosted by the Institute’s Music Performance and Technology Program Chair, Don Quarles, went off without a hitch. Take a look at some of the photos we took!

Key Note Speaker, Alan Cross, gave a provocative and inspiring speech, which included anecdotes from his life and career; as well as his exciting contentions about the future of the industry. He wished the best to the graduates and provided them with some great advice as they set out on their journeys.

Our Graduation Ceremony was organized by the Academic Department, headed by Academics Director, Craig Titus. Students were welcomed on stage by Program Director Pier Di Biase and Educational Outreach Manager Kayla Durish to receive their diplomas by program, by honours distinction. Following the distribution of diplomas, the very special Mentor Awards were presented.

The recipients of these awards are given a one-hour mentoring session with one of Canada’s leading music industry professionals. We would like to thank our mentors for their generous donation of knowledge and time to our graduates.

Mentor: Alan Cross
Recipient: Sean Andrews

Mentor: Allan Reid
Recipient: Tiana Feng

Mentor: Bob Spencer
Recipient: Christopher Pink

Mentor: Chuck Jackson
Recipient: Tyler Warris

Mentor: David Bottrill
Recipient: Jake Deodato

Mentor: Deane Cameron
Recipient: Victor Cartagena

Mentor: Denise Donlon
Recipient: Erik Sodonis

Mentor: Gary Slaight
Recipient: Lia Glover

Mentor: Gil Moore
Recipient: John Benz

Mentor: Jake Gold (o.b.o. Music Managers Forum)
Recipient: Kayley Szanto

Mentor: Lenny DeRose
Recipient: Don Vandenheuvel

Mentor: L. Stu Young
Recipient: Kiril Travinski

Mentor: Noah “40” Shebib
Recipient: Riley St. Hilaire

Mentor: Paul Gross
Recipient: Matthew Andrade

Mentor: Ralph James
Recipient: Randall Cruz

Mentor: Randy Lennox
Recipient: Henry Fonseca

Mentor: Richard Mills
Recipient: Eric Greene

Mentor: Rik Emmett
Recipient: Tal Vaisman

Mentor: Steve Baird
Recipient: Jasmine CarvalhoMount

In addition to the Mentor Awards, an array of Outstanding Achievement Awards were presented to deserving graduates:

Sennheiser / Neumann Award
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Production & Engineering Program
Recipient : Jake Deodato

Canadian Music Week Award
Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Business Management Program
Recipient : Henry Fonseca

Long & McQuade Award
Outstanding Achievement in the Show Production & Event Management Program
Recipient : Eric Greene

Sennheiser / Neumann Award
Outstanding Achievement in the Professional Sound & Business Program (Studio Major)
Recipient : Kiril Travinski

Sennheiser / Neumann Award
Outstanding Achievement in the Professional Sound Program
Recipient : Jasmine CarvalhoMount

Sanderson Law Award
Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Law
Recipient : Sean Andrews

McDSP Award
Outstanding Achievement in Music Production
Recipient : Kiril Travinski

Tom Cochrane & Takamine Guitar Songwriting Award
Outstanding Promise as a Songwriter
Recipient : Alexandra Soumalias

ole Music Publishing Award
Outstanding Achievement in Music Publishing
Recipient : Lia Glover

Norris Whitney / Music Books Plus Award
Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Marketing
Recipient : Tiana Feng

AVID / Metalworks Institute Faculty Award
Overall Highest Average in 2012 Graduating Class
Recipient : Jake Deodato

Faculty member, Richard Stone was honoured with our Instructor of the Year Award.

Finally, the Founder’s Award – presented to the student who has made outstanding contributions to the quality of student life, has demonstrated balanced life values and has maintained high academic standards – was awarded by Metalworks founder Gil Moore to graduate Alexandra Soumalias!

Congratulations to all of our grads – we wish you all the best and look forward to hearing of your successes!