The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio has announced the distribution of proceeds from the 17th Annual Technical Excellence and Creativity (TEC) Awards, held last December at the New York Marriott Marquis. The event raised $45,000 that will support ongoing efforts to inform audio professionals and musicians about noise-induced hearing loss, and to provide financial aid for deserving students of the audio arts and sciences.
Over half the proceeds have been donated to the Sound Partners program of the House Ear Institute (Los Angeles) and Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers (H.E.A.R.), based in San Francisco. Both are non-profit organizations that educate audio engineers, musicians and the general public about the prevention of hearing impairment from over-exposure to loud sound levels in the music environment.
The remaining proceeds will benefit scholarship programs at Berklee College of Music, Ex’pression Center for New Media, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, University of Miami, University of Southern California, the AES Educational Foundation, and the Society of Professional Audio Recording Services (SPARS). A significant contribution was also made to the Marriott Associate Assistance Fund, established to meet the needs of families of Marriott employees directly impacted by the events of September 11, 2001.
"We are proud to once again to provide funding for numerous organizations of importance to the pro audio industry's future," says Hillel Resner, president of the Mix Foundation. "Even though the events of 9/11 affected attendance at the TEC Awards, thanks to our sponsors’ generosity we have been able to maintain our donations at approximately last year's level. The industry is to be commended."
The 18th Annual TEC Awards will be held on October 6 in Los Angeles. For information on tickets and sponsorships, contact Karen Dunn at (925) 939-6149 or email info@tecawards.org. Information about the Mix Foundation and the TEC Awards can also be found at www.tecawards.org.
The TEC Awards is presented by the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio, and sponsored by Mix magazine, the professional audio industry’s leading international monthly. The MFEA is a 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation headquartered in Walnut Creek, CA.