San Jac audio engineering partners with CCISD for "One Voice" recording project
This summer, San Jacinto College's audio engineering program developed an innovative partnership with Clear Creek ISD’s visual and performing arts and audio/video students, creating a professional recording that served as the centerpiece for the school district's fall convocation theme, "One Voice."
The collaboration provided San Jac students with valuable hands-on experience in their lab-based MUSC 2101: audio engineering practices course while offering CCISD performing arts students exposure to professional recording environments. San Jac students worked alongside their K-12 counterparts through every step of the recording process, developing technical, artistic, and collaborative skills.
"This particular project allowed our students to work with a different genre and a wider range of musicians," said Lynne Brandt, San Jac music department chair. "The request from CCISD was a great fit for our summer classes.”
The partnership formed when CCISD began planning its district convocation around the "One Voice" theme and sought a project representing unity, collaboration, and purpose.
"San Jacinto College quickly emerged as the ideal partner because of its reputation and commitment to excellence," said Gregory Goodman, CCISD's visual and performing arts director. "The audio engineering program brings not only industry-grade equipment and expertise but also a spirit of mentorship and a deep respect for the student journey."
The collaboration began with a spring tour introducing CCISD's C3Studios students to the San Jac professional recording facility. C3Studios is the school district’s premier student-led live production crew, based at the Challenger Columbia Stadium. This team is made up of audio/video students from CCISD's seven high schools, who take the reins in creating, directing, and producing unforgettable game-day experiences for fans.
"What surprised us most is how naturally our students rose to the moment during the recording," Goodman said. "The level of professionalism they demonstrated—from how they collaborated with the San Jac audio team to how they took feedback and refined their performance—was remarkable."
The project complemented the college's hands-on approach to audio engineering education, where students work on complete recording projects from beginning to end in their lab-based coursework.
“Involvement in a real-world recording session demonstrates how professional engineers and musicians relate to each other in what is often a high-stress, high-intensity scenario,” said Les Williams, audio engineering instructor. “In the classroom, you can describe and role-play studio situations, but actually being there and being a part of the engineering team is a far superior form of instruction.”
“As a performer, being scrutinized, note for note, can be a very humbling experience,” he said. “These kids responded like true professionals. They were attentive and responsive to musical direction and stayed focused on what needed to be done. My students involved in the technical side of the project are still talking about it.”
The final video product blended student voices with visual storytelling, highlighting CCISD as a united district committed to world-class education from Pre-K through career preparation. For San Jacinto College students, the project provided real-world experience that bridged collegiate career preparation with community impact.
"The collaboration between the San Jacinto College Recording Studio, the visual and performing arts department, and C3 Studios in Clear Creek ISD is more than a partnership—it's a shared vision to elevate student voice, creativity, and opportunity," Goodman said.
The success of this partnership has both institutions looking toward the future, with plans to continue this type of collaboration. This project demonstrates San Jac's commitment to community partnerships and real-world learning experiences that prepare students for successful careers in the audio engineering industry while making a meaningful impact on the broader educational community.
The partnership was honored at the CCISD Board of Trustees meeting in August.
Learn more about audio engineering
View the video on youtube.com/@ClearCreekTXChoir.
About the Clear Creek Independent School District
The mission of the Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD), the visionary leader igniting learning for all, is to ensure each student achieves, contributes and leads with integrity in a safe and nurturing environment distinguished by authentic relationships, service before self and the spirit of exploration. CCISD is the 29th largest school district in Texas, spanning 103 square miles and serving more than 38,000 students across 45 campuses and 5,000 employees. To learn more, visit ccisd.net.
About San Jacinto College Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than
1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving
the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020 and 2026. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately
45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and
certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer
to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding
bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
