Monumental Impact Starts with a Lifelong Mission
For more than two decades, we’ve supported artists and nonprofits quietly, simply because the work mattered more than the recognition.
In 2023, with the encouragement of long-time advocates who saw the impact firsthand, we established The Recording Arts Foundation. Now, for the first time, we’re inviting others to be part of the community we’ve been building all along.
The Recording Arts Foundation provides accessible audio and music production services, education, and creative opportunities to nonprofits and local artists, empowering voices that would otherwise be unheard, through sound and technology.
At Studio West, we witnessed for decades how the process of creating music, whether it’s songwriting, recording, producing, or handling complex engineering tasks, can be deeply transformative.
From the joy of crafting a melody to the pride of finishing a mix, making music and creating sound empowers people of all ages and backgrounds to express themselves and achieve something meaningful.
The Foundation is our way of opening the doors wider, to anyone who could benefit from the healing, inspiring, and empowering gift of sound and music.
IMPACT IN ACTION.
FROM CLASSROOM TO CAREER.
Over $75,000 in scholarships awarded since 2024.
We award scholarships that make professional music production and engineering education accessible, especially for those who wouldn’t otherwise have a path into the industry. For some, it’s the beginning of a lifelong career. For others, it’s simply the confidence to create and be heard.
For years, we have also quietly stood behind our veterans; covering the gap between their VA benefits and full tuition so they can focus on learning, not worrying about finances.
These supplemental scholarships have already helped more than 50 veterans train for careers in audio, and with your support, we can continue opening doors for those who have served our country.
Pictured: Marvin Joseph – Recipient of TRAF scholarship.
EMPOWERING EDUCATORS ELEVATING STUDENTS.
Opening Studio Doors to the Next Generation of Creators – 200+ Students and Counting.
We collaborate with local middle and high school music educators to give students access to a professional recording studio environment through guided tours, project-based learning, and internship opportunities that bridge the gap between education and the real world.
These experiences ignite creativity, build confidence, and introduce students to career paths they may have never considered.
Pictured: Students from Rancho Bernardo High School get hands-on with the SSL Console in Studio A.
SOUND FOR SOCIAL GOOD.
Over 1,500 hours of studio time donated and 15+ nonprofits supported.
Pictured: Del Mar International Composers Symposium.
GET INVOLVED.
You’ve Heard the Music. Now be Part of the Story.
For over twenty years, we’ve poured our hearts, time, and resources into making music accessible for all, often without recognition and without asking for anything in return.
Now, we’re inviting you to join us. Your support, whether through a donation, sponsorship, or spreading the word, helps us continue offering scholarships, mentorship, and free studio time to those who need it most.
Together, we can keep the music alive for the next generation.
Pictured: French exchange students from 3 Tambours at Studio West in May 2023, pictured with top local San Diego artist Gregory Page and, platinum recording artist, Jason Mraz.
THE RECORDING ARTS FOUNDATION - FAQ’s
The Recording Arts Foundation has a Model C Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement with Mission Edge, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Mission Edge acts as an umbrella organization over The Recording Arts Foundation, ensuring all operational, personnel, and financial activities are done in accordance to all legal standards created to govern the operations of 501(c)(3) organizations.
It is Mission Edge’s legal obligation to retain discretion over the use of such funds to accomplish the charitable purposes of The Recording Arts Foundation.
Click on the “donate” button above.
If you prefer to discuss your donation, please call Peter Dyson at (858) 776 1472 or email peterdyson@studiowest.com.
Yes. Due to our fiscal sponsorship agreement with Mission Edge, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your gift will be tax deductible, and all paperwork pertaining to your donation will be provided.