At the top of the list of priorities when developing the OMAs was the judging system, but just as importantly, would be the judges themselves. We knew the amount of talent throughout Ohio, but we also realized that recognizing that talent required a group of great judges.
Fortunately, once we began introducing ourselves to industry leaders across the state, we were blown away by their willingness to participate in the judging of the awards program.
OMA approached club owners, studio owners, engineers, music writers, booking agents, and other music pros from across the state, and we’d like to share some of the judges with you, so that you can see the level of professionals who are committed to judging OMA entries. While some judges thought it in their best interest to remain anonymous, those who did not will give you a good idea of the quality of people who have stepped up to help celebrate Ohio music.
Mike Brown is the producer, engineer, and owner of Lava Room Recording (http://www.lavaroomrecording.com), a premier studio in Cleveland. Mike graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelors degree in Music Production & Engineering. Mike became a staff engineer at Buchanan Recording Complex and quickly began producing and engineering regional and national artists. Mike has recorded, produced and mixed for top Billboard artists such as Papa Roach, Breaking Benjamin, Social Distortion, Paramore, Three days Grace, Switchfoot, Saves The Day, The Ready Set, A Day To Remember, Garbage, Pussycat Dolls, Velvet Revolver, Bone Thugs and Harmony, The Ramones and many more national and regional artists.
Chris Ebbert is a member of the Lava Room team as well, where he is producer, engineer, and studio manager. Chris studied Recording Arts and Music Business Management at Full Sail University in Orlando. Chris’s wide range of taste and a natural ear for music has made him a widely sought after engineer by artists locally, regionally, and nationally. Chris has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Joe Walsh, Taking Back Sunday, A Day To Remember, Lil’ Wayne, Young Jeezy, Justin Bieber, Nick Jonas, Keyshia Cole and more.
Jason Burchaski is a music writer/blogger from Cleveland. He became well known in the music scene when his first foray in the world of blogging kicked off in 2009. His “in your face” approach earned just as many enemies as well, pulling no punches in some pretty scathing commentary of a city on the mend. Jason has been a contributing writer to The Cleveland Sound.
Tom Ball is a radio dj from Akron. Tom’s show, “Just Plain Folk,” on 91.3 The Summit, featured folk and acoustic music. Later, Tom began hosting the show,”Anything Goes,” featuring a more diverse catalogue of music, including rock and blues in 2004. Tom has been a pioneer and an advocate of independent artists from across the United States. He dived, head first, into broadcasting when he realized that the homogenization and commercialization of popular music made air play harder and harder for independent artists. Tom embodies the spirit of the independent musician, as he has devoted his efforts to getting artists airplay. We could use a lot more people like Tom!
Mike Jaworski is the owner of Defunk Studios (http://defunkstudios.com). Mike’s love and appreciation for the talent of Ohio musicians fuels his desire to help artists succeed. In addition to owning and operating Defunk Studios, Mike also works along with his staff as a producer and engineer.
Mark Abrams is Vice President of Operations for Vaughan Studios in Columbus. Mark has over 13 years of experience in audio engineering, sound design, and music composition. In addition to his operations duties at Vaughan Studios, Mark also manages the studio and works as producer. One of the things we love about Mark is his dedication to music. In 2012, Mark and his partner launched The Columbus Indie Music Union (http://www.columbusindiemusicunion.com). CIMU is committed to bringing in both new and seasoned indie bands of various genres. CIMU believes that the Columbus music scene is one of the healthiest and fastest growing in the country, and they are committed to showing the rest of the world what Columbus has to offer.
Brad Puette is a producer and engineer at Lava Room Recording, and has been an active member of the Cleveland music scene for nearly a decade, playing in numerous working bands in nearly every genre. After many years as a working musician, Brad found his true passion producing and recording in a studio environment. After graduating from both Kent State University and the Recording Workshop, he opened Field Day Recordings and began producing and recording for many of northeast Ohio’s top Hip Hop and R&B acts. Currently, Brad is an in house producer and engineer for Lava Room Recording. His eclectic musical background allows for great versatility and creativity, which is apparent in his productions.
Scott Preston is the owner of the music magazine, Cincy Goove (http://www.cincygroove.com). Committed to “keeping the music alive” in Cincinnati, Scott has been rooted in the music scene for a long time, beginning as a music photographer in 2000, Scott had the idea of helping artists gain exposure, noting that, “working with national and regional artists, I hope I’ll be able to help as many local artists as I can.”
Tommy Cappel is owner of Cappel Recording in Cincinnati (http://www.cappelrecordingstudio.com). His production effort on Josh Eagle & The Harvest City's "a good one is hard to find" achieved a nomination for "album of the year" by the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards board in 2011. Tommy's work can be heard on both network and cable television including The Voice (NBC), House (Fox), The Emmy Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Chicago PD (NBC), Last Call With Carson Daly (NBC), The Baby Wait (Logo TV), American Pickers (History)
The Ohio Music Awards would like to extend our sincerest thanks to all of the judges for offering their time and talents to choosing the very best of Ohio music.
Fortunately, once we began introducing ourselves to industry leaders across the state, we were blown away by their willingness to participate in the judging of the awards program.
OMA approached club owners, studio owners, engineers, music writers, booking agents, and other music pros from across the state, and we’d like to share some of the judges with you, so that you can see the level of professionals who are committed to judging OMA entries. While some judges thought it in their best interest to remain anonymous, those who did not will give you a good idea of the quality of people who have stepped up to help celebrate Ohio music.
Mike Brown is the producer, engineer, and owner of Lava Room Recording (http://www.lavaroomrecording.com), a premier studio in Cleveland. Mike graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelors degree in Music Production & Engineering. Mike became a staff engineer at Buchanan Recording Complex and quickly began producing and engineering regional and national artists. Mike has recorded, produced and mixed for top Billboard artists such as Papa Roach, Breaking Benjamin, Social Distortion, Paramore, Three days Grace, Switchfoot, Saves The Day, The Ready Set, A Day To Remember, Garbage, Pussycat Dolls, Velvet Revolver, Bone Thugs and Harmony, The Ramones and many more national and regional artists.
Chris Ebbert is a member of the Lava Room team as well, where he is producer, engineer, and studio manager. Chris studied Recording Arts and Music Business Management at Full Sail University in Orlando. Chris’s wide range of taste and a natural ear for music has made him a widely sought after engineer by artists locally, regionally, and nationally. Chris has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Joe Walsh, Taking Back Sunday, A Day To Remember, Lil’ Wayne, Young Jeezy, Justin Bieber, Nick Jonas, Keyshia Cole and more.
Jason Burchaski is a music writer/blogger from Cleveland. He became well known in the music scene when his first foray in the world of blogging kicked off in 2009. His “in your face” approach earned just as many enemies as well, pulling no punches in some pretty scathing commentary of a city on the mend. Jason has been a contributing writer to The Cleveland Sound.
Tom Ball is a radio dj from Akron. Tom’s show, “Just Plain Folk,” on 91.3 The Summit, featured folk and acoustic music. Later, Tom began hosting the show,”Anything Goes,” featuring a more diverse catalogue of music, including rock and blues in 2004. Tom has been a pioneer and an advocate of independent artists from across the United States. He dived, head first, into broadcasting when he realized that the homogenization and commercialization of popular music made air play harder and harder for independent artists. Tom embodies the spirit of the independent musician, as he has devoted his efforts to getting artists airplay. We could use a lot more people like Tom!
Mike Jaworski is the owner of Defunk Studios (http://defunkstudios.com). Mike’s love and appreciation for the talent of Ohio musicians fuels his desire to help artists succeed. In addition to owning and operating Defunk Studios, Mike also works along with his staff as a producer and engineer.
Mark Abrams is Vice President of Operations for Vaughan Studios in Columbus. Mark has over 13 years of experience in audio engineering, sound design, and music composition. In addition to his operations duties at Vaughan Studios, Mark also manages the studio and works as producer. One of the things we love about Mark is his dedication to music. In 2012, Mark and his partner launched The Columbus Indie Music Union (http://www.columbusindiemusicunion.com). CIMU is committed to bringing in both new and seasoned indie bands of various genres. CIMU believes that the Columbus music scene is one of the healthiest and fastest growing in the country, and they are committed to showing the rest of the world what Columbus has to offer.
Brad Puette is a producer and engineer at Lava Room Recording, and has been an active member of the Cleveland music scene for nearly a decade, playing in numerous working bands in nearly every genre. After many years as a working musician, Brad found his true passion producing and recording in a studio environment. After graduating from both Kent State University and the Recording Workshop, he opened Field Day Recordings and began producing and recording for many of northeast Ohio’s top Hip Hop and R&B acts. Currently, Brad is an in house producer and engineer for Lava Room Recording. His eclectic musical background allows for great versatility and creativity, which is apparent in his productions.
Scott Preston is the owner of the music magazine, Cincy Goove (http://www.cincygroove.com). Committed to “keeping the music alive” in Cincinnati, Scott has been rooted in the music scene for a long time, beginning as a music photographer in 2000, Scott had the idea of helping artists gain exposure, noting that, “working with national and regional artists, I hope I’ll be able to help as many local artists as I can.”
Tommy Cappel is owner of Cappel Recording in Cincinnati (http://www.cappelrecordingstudio.com). His production effort on Josh Eagle & The Harvest City's "a good one is hard to find" achieved a nomination for "album of the year" by the Cincinnati Entertainment Awards board in 2011. Tommy's work can be heard on both network and cable television including The Voice (NBC), House (Fox), The Emmy Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Chicago PD (NBC), Last Call With Carson Daly (NBC), The Baby Wait (Logo TV), American Pickers (History)
The Ohio Music Awards would like to extend our sincerest thanks to all of the judges for offering their time and talents to choosing the very best of Ohio music.
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