Honolulu CC's Mele Program is Making Music
"As a music business student of the MELE Program, the project gave me the opportunity to build on the foundation of music business and publishing knowledge I have acquired in the classroom. It was a great learning experience which helped me to better understand the business and licensing aspect required in creating an album. After working as the licensing assistant on the project, being able to see the finished product in hand was a really rewarding experience."
Joseph Gosalvez, a music business major and Grammy U student representative of the Hawai‘i Chapter received a $500 scholarship for his leadership on the CD project
Students of the Music & Entertainment Learning Experience, (MELE) have engineered and produced MELE’s first CD compilation entitled, Island Music: Gifts of Aloha. The CD was created for non-commercial use and will be distributed as a calling card for the program.
Through a generous gift from former Bank of Hawai‘i CEO, Al Landon and his wife Sue Landon, MELE students were given this meaningful opportunity to put their in-class knowledge into hands-on application.
“There are many great things about Hawai‘i – one is the wonderful music. The students of the MELE program have assembled and produced this exciting selection of Hawai‘i music, covering a broad range of styles, performed by talented and popular island artists,” explained Al Landon.
Interim Director of the MELE program Eric Lagrimas added, “The project provided our students with an opportunity to work alongside MELE faculty and engage in activities found in the real world music industry.” Lagrimas continued, “Music business students helped develop licenses required for use in the project as well as interact with record companies and publishers, while audio
engineering students learned about the fundamentals of audio mastering.”
The Honolulu CC MELE program is the only program in the state that offers students Associate of Science degrees in Music Business or Audio Engineering. The goal of the program is to invest in local talent to grow Hawai‘i's music industry and broaden its reach to the world.
MELE utilizes a comprehensive music business and production curriculum meeting the requirements for entry level training of music industry and production professionals. The curriculum focuses on combining academic experience with real-world applications to prepare students to work in the rapidly evolving global music industry of the 21st century.
Examples of MELE graduates working in the industry creating and promoting music include:
- Assistant Engineer with Island Sound Studios who worked with rap artist Kanye West;
- Assistant Engineer with Blue Planet Sound
- Assistant Engineer with Soulsound Studio
- Audio/Media Specialist at ‘Iolani Schools
- Entertainment Coordinator with Hawai‘i Pacific Entertainment
“It is through the generous support from individuals such as Al and Sue Landon that give students the invaluable experience that will best prepare them for careers in the music and entertainment industry both within and outside Hawai‘i,”
– Erika Lacro, Honolulu Community College Chancellor
Questions? / More Information
If you would like to learn how you can support UH students and programs like this, please contact us at 808 376-7800 or send us a message.
