ARCHER HEIGHTS — Adidas unveiled a new "sound lab" recording studio at Curie High School on Wednesday.
The studio includes professional-grade equipment for applied learning. Curie is one of four public high schools across the country to receive one of the labs, which will serve as an after-school place for students to enhance their knowledge of sound engineering and utilize high-quality production equipment.
"This came because they saw the talent in our students we have here," Curie Principal Allison Tingwall said. "This is a resource we could not have put together without the help of these outside organizations. This will allow our students to elevate their voices and share their talents on another level. We're very excited."
Adidas announced that a sound lab would be coming to Curie last month.
Hip-Hop artist Pusha T spoke at the event about the significance of the sound lab and the importance of self-expression through music. He also gave some the students advice on how to make a name for yourself in the music business.
"What I witnessed today at Curie Metropolitan High School was beyond impressive and I am confident that some of our future music superstars, producers and engineers will be born out of the Sound Labs program," the rapper said in an email. "This program gives students a head start in pursuing a career in music and allows them to collaborate with other aspiring musicians on studio albums. I wish I had a program like this in high school."
Musicality, the school's vocal ensemble that recently competed on the TV show "America's Got Talent," also tried out the lab.
Curie senior Reggie Woods, a member of the ensemble, was inspired by Pusha T's appearance at the school.
"I thought it was mind-blowing he would come here to a place nobody really thinks about," Woods said. "When he spoke, their was so much passion in his voice. You don't get to see that from a lot of celebrities."
Michael Gibson, the ensemble's director, said having an on-site recording studio can help the group address the demand for its music since the television appearance.
"We have a huge demand for more material so this being here is the answer to that," Gibson said. "We get to create a professional studio album. Our YouTube [channel] audience has grown since we did the show on NBC. This gives us the chance to constantly jump in right after school."
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