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At Okanagan College (���Ŵ��), students are empowered to turn their passion and learnings into real-world experiences. For ���Ŵ�� Audio Engineering and Music Production (AEMP) student, Andrew Malyk, that meant embracing the challenge of organizing a live concert with his classmates — the exciting capstone project of the AEMP program at ���Ŵ��.

“It’s like solving a fun puzzle,” said Malyk. “Preparing and troubleshooting the audio gear for a live show has been so rewarding. Watching everything come together is an incredible feeling.”

This evening, Malyk and his classmates will showcase their music, technical skills and creativity at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna. The concert is more than a performance — it represents months of learning, collaboration and hands-on experience in Okanagan College’s state-of-the-art recording studios and live venues.

While working with real-world time and budget limits, students have sharpened their skills in planning, teamwork and technical execution. Beyond the technical side, they’ve grown personally too.

Malyk describes how the experience has boosted his confidence and helped improve his communication with others. “Learning to organize and market an event makes me feel ready for real-world opportunities.”

This year’s show will feature fresh themes and new collaborations that reflect the diversity and creativity of the program.

“We’re working with artists and a genre that are both new to us — punk,” explained Corey Bell, audio engineering and music production instructor at ���Ŵ�� “We chose the theme by balancing practicality and passion. We researched our audience and created a lineup we think the audience will love.”

The AEMP program prepares students for careers in music and entertainment, covering everything from mixing and mastering to lighting design and event marketing. Students gain hands-on experience for roles in audio engineering, music production, live events, broadcasting and film. The program recently updated its curriculum to include modern industry trends. Students now train in areas like spatial audio, advanced mixing and monetization strategies to ensure they’re ready for careers in the industry.

“The hands-on learning in this program is priceless,” says Bell. “Employers in our community consistently tell us that practical experience is key and these concerts deliver exactly that.”

Don’t miss the chance to see the next generation of audio engineers and music producers in action!

AEMP Class of ’25 Presents:

Suburban Disturbance Live Punk Concert – Feb. 6
Doors open at 7:30 p.m., Concert starts at 8 p.m.
: $25

The AEMP program is offered through InspirED (Continuing Studies and Corporate Training) at ���Ŵ�� Discover a diverse range of courses, microcredentials, certificates and short-duration programs designed to equip learners with in-demand skills for the changing workforce.

Learn more about the AEMP program at .