My name is Melissa Stark, my friends call me Mel.

I hail from Sacramento, California where I graduated with honors from Sacramento City College with an A.A. I then transferred to the University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music where I received a Bachelors of Music in Composition, Magnum Cum Laude. Finally, I ended up in Eugene, Oregon at the University of Oregon, “Go Ducks!,” where I graduated with a Master of Music in Intermedia Music Technology. Now I’m blessed with working in a field I love. How cool is that! For over 20 years I have been working in the music technology field – composing, creating, designing, recording, mixing and mastering music of all types. Since 2004, I’ve been teaching sound capture techniques and career technical courses at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. When I’m not teaching, I freelance giving lessons, working and collaborating with local artists, and most recently joined the team at After5TV.com.

“Dare to Dream” is a motto I started using with my students as a way to encourage them to pursue their goals. As much as I love working in the studio and making sound the best it can be, I now have a passion that has slowly taken root with me – being a mentor to the next generation of engineers and artists. I have been incredibly lucky to have met and worked with so many talented young students over the last decade that now becoming a mentor, giving lessons, and/or offering opportunities for internships and co-ops through the college has turned into a passion. In some ways, the next generation has it so easy, and yet it can be tremendously challenging. We need more seasoned veterans out there guiding the new folks and I hope to continue to do just that.