Music and Sound Design students
Nigel Malcolm
Bachelor of Music and Sound Design
The record label was a fantastic experience to work within a professional environment with my cohort, while getting weekly tutorials from industry guest speakers.
Why did you choose to study Music and Sound Design at UTS?
Music and Sound Design at UTS offered the opportunity to learn from creative professionals currently working in their fields, and gain access to high quality, industry-standard equipment and software, all while being immersed in an authentic university experience. Being able to meet students outside of the MSD course was an invaluable resource that challenged and expanded my way of thinking. The combination of these two factors led me to choose UTS.
Looking back, what were some of the highlights of your time at UTS?
I became involved in multiple student-run societies during my time at UTS. I was in a number of productions by the UTS Revue Society and the UTS Backstage Society, as well as being Treasurer of the UTS Society of Communications. Getting involved in these societies was such an important part of my time at UTS, in both the close friends I made and the opportunities I was given.
What are your career plans or goals?
I have applied for a position at an Audio Visual Graduate Program at the ICC and am currently working multiple jobs as an AV tech across Sydney, one of which is as a part of the Activate UTS AV team! My career goals are to continue to find work that I’m passionate about and that allows me to express myself creatively.
How did UTS help prepare you for a career in the music industry?
Almost all of my lecturers and tutors were either currently working in or had come from various music and sound industries while they were teaching. Being able to get first-hand insight into the current nature of music and sound both in Australia and internationally definitely prepared me for what skills were valued and needed to get a competitive advantage in the industry.
As part of your degree, you worked on the student-run record label ‘450 Records’. What was your role and what did you learn from this experience?
I was a member of the Event Committee for 450 Records. My role was as a Live Sound Engineer for our launch night, as well as organising sponsorships from student societies and being a liaison between 450 Records and Activate UTS. The record label was a fantastic experience to work within a professional environment with my cohort while getting weekly tutorials from industry guest speakers. It definitely helped me prepare for my career post-university.
