Henry D’Ambrosio, a 2008 graduate of Mt. Whitney High School, has been selected to participate in Mixing With the Masters (MWTM), an intensive week-long seminar at Studio La Fabrique in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, that will feature master classes presented by “the world’s top music mixers and producers.”
D’Ambrosio and 14 other engineers from around the world were chosen to work with Young Guru, the Grammy-nominated engineer for such artists as Beyonce, Rihanna, Ludacris, Ghostface Killah, Redman & Method Man, Mariah Carey, and Jay-Z.
“For me, Young Guru is the ultimate mix master, and to be able to ask him anything about mixing, recording, and the technical aspects of our craft is a dream come true,” says D’Ambrosio, who was selected from among thousands of MWTM candidates based on his application essay and submission of original demo tracks. “I study him, his work as the creator of the ‘New York Sound’ of Roc-A-Fella Records, and his philosophies more than any other engineer. My goal is to soak in as much of his wisdom and guidance as is humanly possible during my time at La Fabrique.”
D’Ambrosio is a native of Visalia. While attending Mt. Whitney High School in Visalia, he got hooked on music production after experimenting with Fruity Loops, a hip hop beat making program that gained popularity in the late 90s and early 2000’s. After graduating in 2008, he learned Pro Tools, a digital audio workstation, and was eager to expand his expertise as well as pursue a career in audio engineering.
“I checked out a few different studio production schools, but SAE was smaller and had a more intimate feeling,” said D’Ambrosio, who enrolled at SAE Los Angeles in 2010 and graduated in 2011. “It offered very hands-on learning with a lot of access to recording studios, and I really got to know my peers and teachers. The curriculum was great, and I developed a strong base of knowledge about recording and mixing as well as studio etiquette – which helped me out tremendously while I was running different sessions, and is still useful to this day.”
Following his graduation from SAE in 2011, D’Ambrosio was hired by Associated Television, an Emmy-winning full-service production and distribution entity, where he recorded and edited voiceovers, prepped and built Pro Tools sessions for mix engineers, and eventually became the front of house engineer for a daytime talk show and live show tapings. In 2013, he joined the Velvet Room West recording studio in Valley Village, where he’s currently the head recording and mixing engineer. His original projects include tracks for a variety of independent hip hop artists, including Warm Brew (featured in LA Weekly, XXL Magazine, and Vibe Magazine) and MTV Award winner Yonas Michael (featured in Vice.com, Idol Magazine, and The Couch Sessions).
About SAE
SAE Institute provides aspiring creative media professionals with a foundation of practical theory and valuable hands-on training in their chosen areas of concentration. Under the guidance of our faculty, which is comprised of working industry professionals, students gain the essential experience they need for entry-level jobs in the entertainment business. Our students are supported in their job searches by SAE’s international network of alumni, many of whom are leaders in the music, film, game arts, and live performance arenas. We offer programs in audio technology across our seven US campuses, along with a music business program at select locations, all fully accredited and focused on preparing students for employment when they graduate. Bachelor’s Degree programs in Animation, Audio, Film, Game Art & Graphic Design are available at the two locations of Ex’pression College, which is owned and operated by SAE Institute Group, Inc. SAE Institute Group, Inc. is a part of Navitas LTD. Learn more at USA.sae.edu.