Digital Audio Student Represents UVU as Finalist at Cinema Audio Society's 59th Annual CAS Awards

By: Jenna Berndt

Sophie White, a Digital Audio student Utah Valley University (UVU) was one of the five selected finalists for the Cinema Audio Society’s (CAS) Ninth Annual Student Recognition Awards. Alongside the winner of the student competition, White and the three other finalists were invited as guests to attend the 59^th Annual CAS Awards in Los Angeles, California.

For the past nine years, the CAS has operated the Student Recognition Awards Competition. The Student Recognition Awards competition is to encourage students’ interest in audio production and post-production, while also recognizing the next generation of sound mixers and their passion for the field.

Additionally, the CAS hosts an annual award ceremony to celebrate and recognize the amazing achievements of sound mixers within the industry. This year, the CAS Awards was held on March 4, at the InterContinental Hotel.

Before the event, White flew out a day early for a tour of the Warner Bros. lot that the CAS arranged for the finalists. During the tour, the group was able to explore the behind-the-scenes of film and audio production, a few locations included the backlot and a soundstage. At the event itself, White and the four other students had the opportunity to network with some of the industry’s most prestigious sound-mixing professionals.

“It was really invaluable, the event was insane,” White said. “I met a lot of really cool people, and everyone was so nice and excited to talk to students to share their knowledge.”

As well as attending the CAS Awards, White received $1,000 and an accumulation of $6,000 in audio equipment and software. The CAS also put together workshops and a zoom mentorship with professionals from the industry to answer any questions and to offer some guidance.

At first, White admitted to being uncertain about applying for the competition.

“I never expected it to happen,” White said. “Owen Peterson my professor was the one who told me to apply for the award, he sent me a text telling me ‘You need to apply to this, I think you have a shot’ and I was like I don’t think so, but I applied anyways.”

And the rest is history.

To learn more about UVU’s Digital Audio program please visit:

https://www.uvu.edu/digitalmedia/audio/ & for further information about

Cinema Audio Society visit:

https://cinemaaudiosociety.org/about-us/