SPC Music Industry/Recording Arts program, bands, venue named ‘Best of the Bay’

SPC's Music Industry/Recording Arts program, students and faculty named Best of the Bay by Creative Loafing
Music, Music Industry Recording Arts, Performing Arts, ,
Rashad Harrell, a member of The Real Clash, holds his group's Best of the Bay award from Creative Loafing
Rashad Harrell, emcee for The Real Clash, accepted the award on behalf of his band mates and fellow SPC alumni.

SPC’s Music Industry/Recording Arts program and bands that involve its students, alumni and faculty, were recognized in Creative Loafing magazine’s Best of the Bay 2014 edition on Thursday, Sept. 18.

MIRA, SPC’s two-year music industry program, was named Best Musician Incubator. The program, which launched in 2008, is dedicated to giving its students real-world training within a collaborative environment. The music industry program has become a popular workforce program at the college with more than 285 students enrolled in Fall 2014.

“We are very happy and appreciative for several reasons that we received this award from Creative Loafing” said Patrick Hernly, academic chair, MIRA. “It shows that MIRA is thriving and relevant in the Tampa Bay arts scene, that we have become a known brand, and, most importantly, that our students and graduates are out in the arts scene and working.”

St. Petersburg College faculty member Mark Feinman accepts the Best of the Bay award from Creative Loafing on behalf of his La Lucha bandmates.
St. Petersburg College faculty member Mark Feinman accepts the Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll award for La Lucha.

Unlike many other institutions’ theoretical programs, MIRA promotes active learning in a collaborative environment. Students enrolled in the performance, composition and production tracks work together on a daily basis to learn from one another.

“Credit for this award goes not only to our great faculty for the high quality, hands-on experiential projects that students work on in our program, but to our excellent outreach and career services team for constantly getting our students and graduates out there working in the field,” Hernly said. “Our successful graduates are the best testament to what we’re all about.”

In addition to the program’s award, numerous bands and an arts venue that involve MIRA students, alumni and faculty also were recognized, including:

  • The Real Clash, formerly known as The Real Clash of the Titans, was recognized as Best hip-hop ensemble.
  • Wolf-Face, which includes SPC alumnus Dan Byers, was recognized for Best punks.
  • Zulu Wave, which includes SPC alumnus and drummer Danny Piechocki, was recognized for Best live show.
  • Funny Bunny, which includes SPC faculty member and drummer Damon Dougherty, was named Best husband-and-wife combo.
  • The Venture Compound, which includes SPC alumnus Jesse Vance, was recognized for Best good news/bad news for St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District when the arts venue was given its new nonprofit status.

In the Best of the Bay Readers’ Poll, the following acts also were recognized:

  • La Lucha, which includes SPC faculty members Alejandro Arenas and Mark Feinman, was recognized as Best jazz ensemble.
  • UNRB, which includes SPC alumni Eric Allaire and Nic Giordano, and former student Noel Rochford, received awards for Best local reggae/ska band and Best local ska act.  

MIRA, the bands and The Venture Compound were recognized in a ceremony at the Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Read the MIRA program and band highlights featured in the Best of the Bay 2014 edition of Creative Loafing.