Media & Studio Arts Symposium

Affecting Change in the World, New Tools for Media Creation and Performance

Creating Artistic Identity in the Recording Studio

February 12, 2018 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Bill Lucas, Professor of Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation, School of Music, Theatre & Dance, University of Michigan

Dave Greenspan, Managing Producer, Audio Studios, Duderstadt Center, University of Michigan

Description: An in-depth, candid presentation and discussion of the relationship between Recording Artist and Recording Engineer as they pursue common artistic goals, from sometimes seemingly opposite ends of the field.

Song List

Presenter Bios:

William Lucas is an Assistant Professor of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance. A member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra trumpet section since May 1988, Bill was born and raised in the Detroit metropolitan area. Bill is a prolific arranger for small ensembles and is frequently called upon to compose trumpet fanfares for local commemorations. Bill’s arrangements and compositions have been performed by the symphony orchestras of Phoenix and Detroit as well as recorded by the Detroit Chamber Winds.

Prior to his teaching appointment at Michigan, Bill served on the faculty of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music as Teacher of Trumpet. Bill has been featured as the author of several trumpet pedagogy articles in the International Trumpet Guild’s  ITG Journal, including his systematic approach to the preparation of orchestral auditioning.

A founding member of Michigan’s own Lighthouse Brass Quintet, Bill is the Director of the Michigan Lighthouse Landmark Legacy project, an audio-visual tribute to the hundreds of lighthouses that adorn the shores of Micihgan’s coasts. He is also looking forward to his upcoming CD releases; “When It Rains” and “On the Fringe of Fire – The Music of George Gershwin”.

David (Dave) Greenspan is the managing producer for the audio studios in the Duderstadt Center at the University of Michigan where he is responsible for the design, maintenance and operation of the audio facilities.  Prior to Dave’s appointment to U of M, he was the Technical Director (Presentations)  and forment Production Director (Recording) at the Interlochen Center for the Arts.  

Dave received his BS degree in Telecommunication and Film from Eastern Michigan University where he worked in the Communication and Theatre Arts department as a TA and WEMU as Recording Engineer and remote broadcast engineer.   While at WEMU, Dave was invited to attend the (then) NPR Music Recording Workshop.

It was at a NPR workshop where Dave met his mentors: Curt Wittig (Grammy nominated) and Paul Blakemore (Grammy winner).  Curt and Paul invited Dave to a second recording session at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, The Folgers Consort and The 20th Century Consort  (the latter two groups having been founded by Christopher Kendall, former Dean of the UM School of Music Theatre & Dance).  This amazing internship shaped how Dave ‘paints a picture’ with sound.