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Neil Margeson Sound Scholarship

Funded by
user profile avatar
Margeson Family
$2,050
2 winners, $1,025 each
Awarded
Application Deadline
Jul 1, 2024
Winners Announced
Aug 1, 2024
Education Level
High School, Undergraduate
1
Contribution
Recent Bold.org scholarship winners
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
High school, undergraduate, or trade school student
Field of Study:
Sound engineering and/or music

Rooted in music and the spirit of the Green Bay Packers, Neil's life unfolded through a musical odyssey. His father's band, where guitar chords harmonized with vocals, set the stage. High school brought the embrace of drums and guitar, leading him to join various local bands. Uncertain about his future post-high school, Neil's pivotal moment occurred in his parents' basement. Immersed in recording sessions with friends, he discovered the enchantment of setting up microphones, wiring to a digital mix recorder, and layering tracks.

This revelation prompted Neil's pursuit of a degree in audio production at Columbia University in Chicago. A standout project involved storytelling through sound, showcasing his creative prowess. Another endeavor took a movie clip from the Abyss, where Neil's expertise transformed it into an immersive experience, outshining the original.

Despite choosing a local path for family reasons, Neil's passion persisted. He interned at a commercial studio, contributing to sound preparation for mixing engineers. While his career took a different trajectory, Neil's commitment to music endured. He co-founded Sonic Transformation, an audio company specializing in education, podcast production, and mixing.

His involvement in a Packers Blog led to enhancing a podcast's production quality, setting new standards in the realm of Packers Podcasts. Neil's love for audio recording and production became a source of joy, and he aspired to inspire others with similar passions.

This scholarship seeks to honor the memory of Neil Margeson by supporting students who share his passion for music.

Any high school, undergraduate, or trade school student who is looking to study sound engineering and/or music in college may apply for this scholarship.

To apply, tell us about your passion for music/sound, how music has been instrumental in your educational journey so far, and what your goals are for the future.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Passion
Published March 22, 2024
Essay Topic

Please share your passion for music and/sound with us. How has music been instrumental in your educational journey thus far and what are your future goals?

400–600 words

Winning Applications

Ella Tucker
Madison High SchoolMadison, NJ
When I first saw the movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, I was astounded by the different sound effects and music, which were integral and helped make the story incredible. From that moment, I knew I wanted to work in some aspect of sound creation. Because of this inspiration, I asked the leaders of my church's Audio/Visual department if I could learn how to use the soundboards and live mixing for the worship service. They initially said no because of my age, but because of that, I worked hard on my own to reach the point where I could be a valuable member of the audio team when I was of age. During those years, from middle school to this past summer, I learned everything I could to prepare me to become a great at audio engineering in the future. In elementary school, I learned to play clarinet, so I continued to become an expert by practicing it daily. I also asked for old guitars and a bass that people in my neighborhood would throw away and learned how to read bass clef sheet music and play the instruments. I was also introduced to my first digital audio workspace, SoundTrap, where I practiced sound mixing, recording, and editing to be prepared to join my Audio/Visual team in church. By the time I was in high school, I was participating in miscellaneous audition-based honors ensembles and competition bands on bass and clarinet, as well as taking AP Music Theory to further advance my musicianship skills. When I got my first job, I used the money to buy Pro Tools Ultimate. I learned how to use ProTools Ultimate coupled with Audio University videos, which taught me how to use compression and equalizers and mix, record, and master in professional quality workspaces. Because of my dedication and work, when I asked again this past summer for a position at the soundboards, I was accepted, and I am currently in training to run the soundboards and help in live sound mixing for services and the YouTube stream. Though I am interested in all aspects of audio engineering, my main desired field is audio post-production engineering. To reach this career goal, I applied to eight programs that would prepare me successfully. Because of my dedication and hard work, I was admitted into all the programs I applied to, including my top choice, the University of Rochester. This program's Music and Audio Engineering curriculum has many different opportunities to improve me as a performer through studying at the Eastman School of Music, a highly regarded music program, while also being an accredited program by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Through research, I found that the course also has specific audio techniques and electronics classes to teach students how to edit and manipulate audio through techniques like ADR and learn many different types of digital audio workspaces. I fully believe that an education of this caliber will prepare me for a successful career as an audio engineer through the program's focus on musicianship coupled with sound design, which will set me apart from my peers when I look to apply for jobs. Sound and audio have shaped my entire life thus far, and I am dedicated to making it my career. Once I gain a college education in the field, I will fully be prepared to be an audio post-production engineer for movies and other media like the ones that inspired me. I also hope to inspire others to build audio engineering and sound design careers.
Nathan Caplan
Dover-Sherborn Regional HighDOVER, MA

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Jul 1, 2024. Winners will be announced on Aug 1, 2024.

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