Benj Kanters – Hearing Workshop | Soyars Leadership Lecture Series

In 2000, while studying for his master’s degree in music technology at Northwestern University, Kanters’s advisor and colleague, Gary Kendall, suggested that he might enjoy taking a course in hearing physiology with Jon Siegel in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Kanters had never considered studying this subject, but found this course among the most stimulating of his post-graduate career. Thoroughly entranced by the biological functions of the ear being described in his own language of audio theory and technology, he continued to study in the field and has since developed a course in hearing physiology for the Department of Audio Arts & Acoustics. Kanters supposes he shouldn’t be so shocked to find himself there since, in retrospect, 40 years in audio have led to this point.

Kanters has worked in the music and audio industries since 1973, as a partner and house engineer at the concert-club amazingrace and, later, studio engineer at Studiomedia Recording Company. He has been teaching since 1979, and in 1993 became a full-time faculty member of Columbia College Chicago directing the Audio Design & Production Program, which covers all areas of audio recording and post-production for aspiring audio professionals. Many in education speak of “giving back” as a primary motivation for teaching.

Kanters feels he is now in a position to give back, not only to his students, but to the music listening public through those who are or will be audio and music professionals. In the description page, you will read about  the “Hear Tomorrow” touring workshop to promote hearing awareness and conservation. After all, good hearing is of crucial importance to any practitioner/artist in audio or music, and Kanters believes the success of his course at Columbia College is indicative of the success he has had, illustrating this very significant problem to an eager and influential audience. Eventually, he hopes that these “first responders” will become role models for the general public, since musicians and audio professionals are often regarded as experts in “all things aural.”

Today, Kanters takes as a personal point of pride, the over 12 former Columbia audio students who are now aspiring or practicing audiologists.

Kanters guesses the bug that bit him is alive and well!

** This workshop be be broadcast via Zoom