U of A Department of Music Announces Haxton Road Studios Recording Project

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Several undergraduate students from the U of A's Department of Music visit Haxton Road Studios to meet Neil Greenhaw, right, the studio's owner and a professional sound engineer, producer and studio musician.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Music, part of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, is partnering with Haxton Road Studios in Bentonville on a major recording initiative.

Over the course of the spring semester, the Department of Music will record digital albums at Haxton Road Studios featuring student ensembles, faculty ensembles and the winners of the prestigious U of A Concerto Competition. Limited hard copies of the recordings may also be produced.

This project marks the beginning of a new and ambitious effort on behalf of the Department of Music to provide greater integration of recording, production and studio work into its offerings for students. This will give students the invaluable experience of working with seasoned music industry professionals.

“The Haxton Road Studios recording project will give our students, faculty and ensembles the opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art studio right here in Northwest Arkansas,” said Ronda Mains, chair of the Department of Music. “Students will finish with high-quality, professional recordings — a testament to their tremendous work here at the University of Arkansas.”

Mains said some student ensembles will also work collaboratively with faculty members to record music that is anticipated to benefit the department for years to come. “It’s invaluable experience,” she added.

Todd Shields, dean of Fulbright College, agreed.

“This project will give students the chance to work with established industry professionals, helping them to understand the recording process as performers,” Shields said. “This kind of real-world, immediately applicable type of learning is essential to student success. Fulbright College is proud to partner with community allies like Haxton Road Studios to provide this opportunity.”

Haxton Road Studios opened in 2011 and uses advanced digital equipment such as Pro Tools HDX and Universal Audio plug-ins, as well as offering classic analog tools such as a Solid State Logic console and vintage instruments.

All U of A projects will be co-produced by Neil Greenhaw, Haxton Road Studios owner, engineer, producer and studio musician, working with a Department of Music faculty team led by Jake Hertzog, instructor, guitarist and producer.

“Fluency in the recording studio environment is a crucial skill for the modern musician,” Hertzog said. “The Haxton Road Studios project will be a great step for our students in building their skills as performers and producers in the studio setting, and for our department in building these types of experiences into our programs. We are so excited to be working with community and music industry partners on this unique project.”

For Greenhaw, the partnership was a chance to inspire the next generation of musicians, producers and engineers, while at the same time helping to create and grow the music culture of Northwest Arkansas.

“The Northwest Arkansas area is a breeding ground for creativity,” Greenhaw said. “The sky is the limit here for the artist community. It’s a pleasure to collaborate with great artists, businesses and places like University of Arkansas.”

In addition to the Haxton Road Studios project, the Department of Music is expanding its on-campus recording facilities at the Laundry Room Guitar Lab. A group of inventive students also launched a new student organization this past fall, MP3 (Music Performers, Producers and Professionals). The student organization is devoted to music industry relationships, record production and bringing guest speakers to campus.

About the Department of Music: The Department of Music in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music since 1951, has been a chartered member of Pi Kappa Lambda since 1984. Home to over 300 music majors and minors and more than 35 graduate students, the department has a faculty of 50 nationally and internationally recognized scholars, pedagogues and musicians. Our program offers degrees at the bachelor and master levels and offers an intensive one-year performer's certificate. The department is an All-Steinway School, and offers students a number of recognized ensembles, many of which have toured nationally and internationally.

About the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences: The J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most academically diverse unit on campus with 19 departments and 43 academic programs and research centers. The college provides the core curriculum for all University of Arkansas students and is named for J. William Fulbright, former university president and longtime U.S. senator.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.