The Connection

The students released a new album on May 15 during a signing ceremony at West Potomac Academy between the studio and Fairfax County Public Schools. West Potomac Academy students formed a band called fivetwofive, and showcased an original 16-track album called "Chromantic" that they produced in their Music and Computer Technology class. Trilogy supplied all the live sound equipment for the event. There were about 200 people in attendance for the album release and it is available for streaming and download.

“It’s a different take on music production,” said Sarah Benrazek at Trilogy. “In their classes, they’re learning music production electronically,” she added. 

For the musical students in Fairfax County, there’s band, chorus and orchestra, and then there’s the MCT program at Trilogy, which is Music and Computer Technology. “We’re doing the production behind the scenes,” she said.

So far, their achievements are looked on as just a start, with 20 to 30 academy students participating, but officials are hoping to increase that number. One student recently completed an internship through the program and he sings, produces music, and engineers in the studio. Three others are doing an externship now, and are part of a project to improve sound quality in one of the studios – which will involve measuring, calculating, building, and installing new acoustic panels.

Left to right: Adam Purohit, senior; Erin Wallace, CTO/owner of Trilogy Sound Studio; Sarah Benrazek, CEO/owner of Trilogy Sound Studio; Matthew Faunda, MPACE director/instructor at Trilogy Sound Studio; Russ Wallace, owner Trilogy Sound Studio; Luke Pierce, West Potomac Academy Teacher.  

 

Trilogy is looking ahead to next September when another batch of Academy students will come through the doors to learn this music technology.

It’s Academic

West Potomac Academy is part of the six High School Academies within Fairfax County Public Schools and is a "school within a school," that offers specialized health sciences, communications, the arts, workforce development and more courses for highly motivated high school students, FCPS said. Students enrolled in the academy courses come from approximately 20 different high schools within FCPS. Each Academy class is taught by highly qualified instructors who have worked or are currently working in the field of which they teach, school officials said.

The Academy provides students with a foundation for post-secondary education or workforce readiness in certified health-related professions, music and tv production, dance, law enforcement, and early childhood careers, the FCPS said. https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/career-and-technical-education/academies-and-specialized-programs

In May 2013 West Potomac Academy was awarded the designation as a Governor's Health Science Academy by the Virginia Department of Education.

Trilogy Sound Studio is a minority and veteran-owned, woman-led music studio based in Burke. Trilogy was founded in 2021 with the mission to empower artists and provide them with the tools, education and skills to succeed in the music industry, Trilogy said.