SAE Institute to sponsor Recording Academy's educational programs

SAE Institute, the world’s foremost audio engineering, animation, multimedia and film training institute announced today that they will be the first national education sponsor of the Recording Academy’s Professional Educational Initiatives for 2011. The significance of this announcement comes as a precursor to the upcoming Grammy Awards, hosted by the Recording Academy that will take place in LA this week.

In conjunction with this partnership and both organizations’ commitment to education and supporting opportunities for underprivileged youth; SAE will be sponsoring a well-deserving student from Fernando Pullum High School in LA to attend the Grammy Awards with Frank Rodriguez, a well known Latin Grammy nominee and professor from SAE Institute for a once in a lifetime mentoring experience.

The student recipient, William Rhodes, who was coordinated by SAE Institute’s ongoing partner the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus for this Ultimate Student Grammy Experience Program, has proved to be a shining example of hard work and incredible talent. William’s Saturdays are often spent giving free lessons to elementary school kids and now, this South LA native will finally be rewarded for his community dedication in turn. Inspired from playing in his school Jazz band, William aspires to one day be an engineer.

Frank Rodriguez, a hand chosen mentor from SAE Institute is the perfect role model for William, who will be able to spend one on one time with the industry legend to discuss his experience and insight. In addition to having been nominated for a Latin Grammy himself Frank has worked with the likes of Shakira, Flo-Rida, Justin Timberlake, Bow Wow, Rick Ross, Joss Stone and has helped produce the Spanish version albums for Beyonce and Christina Aguilera. As a top tier engineer in the field who has become know for his “golden touch” and hard work, he also boasts a long list of credentials including credits as the triple platinum producer for Daddy Yankee and Latin Grammy Award winner Juan Luis Guerra.

“SAE Institute is proud both to be the first national educational sponsor for the Recording Academy but to also be in a position to provide this opportunity to a deserving student. We are honored to be helping support someone who has struggled so hard to follow his dreams. At SAE Institute we believe that hard work and a passion for music should be rewarded. This is the beginning of an initiative that we hope will continue going forward,” commented Marco Bettelli, President of SAE USA.

2011 will be a big year for SAE Institute and the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus whose partnership will include initiatives with the Urban School Partnership, the Battle of the Bands, and the 2011 National Open House Tour.