4-09-2026 4:07am

Phoenix Studio Partners

Partnership Profile: Sheffield Institute for the Recording Arts

A partnership worth amplifying

Less than a year ago, Tion Kennedy graduated from Randallstown High School with a diploma, a dream of working in photography, videography, and/or sound, and a full-ride scholarship to attend the Sheffield Institute for the Recording Arts. His scholarship enabled him to study audio engineering. Now he is also pursuing video production credentials at Sheffield.

Every Friday, Sheffield highlights Kennedy’s successful story on its Instagram account.

The chain of events leading to Kennedy – and increasing numbers of BCPS students – discovering Sheffield began four years ago.

Nestled up a winding road in Phoenix, Sheffield's 3-acre, 20,000 square foot campus has a storied history as a world-class audio and video facility. Founded as a professional recording studio in 1968, Sheffield has worked with artists such as Foo Fighters, Missy Elliott, The Indigo Girls, Kirk Franklin, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, A Tribe Called Quest, Aretha Franklin, Gloria Estefan, Paul Simon, Mariah Carey, and Usher. In 1996, it launched its educational programs, and a year later it received licensure from the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). Sheffield now offers certificate programs in audio engineering, video production, and AV technology.

Austin Chavis, Sheffield’s director of admissions, explains the school's key advantages: “Five decades of industry relationships have made Sheffield something most schools can't replicate: a real working studio where students learn by doing. With 70-80% of certificate program content hands-on and project-driven, the industry isn't a destination – it's the classroom.”

“With 70-80% of certificate program content hands-on and project-driven, the industry isn't a destination – it's the classroom.” – Austin Chavis, Sheffield’s director of admissions

According to Dr. Brian Schneckenburger, a music specialist in the BCPS Office of Integrated Arts and past president of the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA), BCPS and Sheffield had an “on and off” relationship for decades. Then, four years ago, Schneckenburger met Jeff Mund of Sheffield at an MMEA conference. “Jeff was part of a new ownership group for Sheffield and was talking about how he wanted to do more with Baltimore County Public Schools,” Schneckenburger says. “We talked about his vision and about what BCPS was doing in terms of music and audio technology instruction and about the needs of our teachers and students. From there, we started a partnership that continues to grow. It’s a wonderful industry partnership right in our backyard.”

"We started a partnership that continues to grow. It’s a wonderful industry partnership right in our backyard.” – Dr. Brian Schneckenburger, BCPS music specialist

Now each year, Sheffield offers $2,000 scholarships for graduating seniors at each high school and one full-ride scholarship for a BCPS graduate; professional development for BCPS art, music, and career and technology education teachers; and open house days for BCPS families. Kennedy was the first BCPS graduate to receive a full-ride scholarship. In addition, Sheffield staff make presentations in BCPS classrooms and at the BCPS Employee Development Center, and they have invited BCPS staff to use Sheffield studios for their own creative projects.

On field trips to Sheffield, BCPS students get a glimpse into the world of media production.

A force multiplier

“We spent a lot of time with BCPS staff to understand their worlds, their goals, and to think about what Sheffield could contribute,” says Mund. “We want to be a force multiplier for the school system.” A Maryland native and BCPS alumnus, Mund was nominated to the U.S. Naval Academy by Senator Paul S. Sarbanes, later earned an MBA from Wharton School, founded the venture capital firm MCVC Partners, and serves as an appointed Professor of the Practice at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.

"Like many small businesses," Mund says, "Sheffield was hit hard by COVID – but we saw an institution with a remarkable legacy worth saving. Maryland has many businesses like this, built over decades by baby boomers and deeply rooted in their communities. When local entrepreneurs step up to keep them alive and growing, that's regenerative economic development. I hope Sheffield is a model for what's possible."

“We spent a lot of time with BCPS staff to understand their worlds, their goals, and to think about what Sheffield could contribute.” – Jeff Mund, a co-owner of Sheffield

Sheffield offers a unique learning opportunity for BCPS teachers, Schneckenburger says. “Our teachers love spending time in their school and studios, especially because the faculty at Sheffield instructs in a way that doesn’t make anyone feel like their capacity is lacking.”

While the partnership began with a focus on Sheffield working with BCPS music educators, it expanded to include visual arts and digital media educators.

“Sheffield is interested in introducing as many students as it can to the opportunities out there,” says Ryan Twentey, a BCPS visual arts specialist. “And so are we! A lot of our kids are interested in working in AV or film, learning how to process and produce work, and getting to see what it looks like to possibly have a career in these fields. They want to see where they can go with their talents and interests.”

Twentey continues, “Art teachers don’t necessarily know all that a facility like Sheffield has to offer, but when Sheffield brings our teachers in and lets them have experiences in their studios, then our teachers can speak to our students from their own experience. That is so much more impactful. At Sheffield, classes are small, and almost completely hands-on, student-centered, and content-centered. The space itself has a lot of industry standard – and above – equipment. And students there actually work for clients. It’s a great way for kids to see what they want to do. It’s as real world as kids can expect to get. And when we look at it from our side, our graduates’ success at Sheffield is proof of the foundational skills and techniques they learn in BCPS.”

"The space itself has a lot of industry standard – and above – equipment. And students there actually work for clients. It’s a great way for kids to see what they want to do. It’s as real world as kids can expect to get."– Ryan Twentey, BCPS visual arts specialist

Sheffield’s commitment to industry-grade technology has earned notice beyond Maryland. Audio industry leader Solid State Logic noted that “Sheffield Audio/Video Productions has installed a 48-fader Solid State Logic Duality Fuse SuperAnalogue™ mixing console in its flagship Studio A control room….the first school in North America to install the new version of the console, which features a Fusion analogue processor integrated into its center section as well as other enhancements.”

Twentey also notes that Sheffield is a partner with the school system on its annual student film expo. “They are judges on the panel,” Twentey says, “and they help to plan and execute the film expo.”

BCPS-TV and Sheffield staff exploring Sheffield's facilities together (Black and white photos by Ryan Twentey)

Sheffield prepares its students for work as audio engineers, live sound engineers, film editors, audiovisual designers or installers, or in virtually any role in film production. According to the most recent MHEC data, Sheffield had a 66% individual placement rate – and since then, the school has significantly expanded its Career Services infrastructure to build on that foundation. The Director of Student Services Lois Carrigan says, " I am thrilled to see how our network of 4,000 graduates continues to engage with us. Whether they are participating in career services, contributing to our Discord community, or attending alumni events, their ongoing involvement is invaluable to our institution. It is especially rewarding to see our alumni progress in their careers and return to Sheffield as hiring managers. There is truly nothing better than seeing our own graduates hire current Sheffield students."

"It is especially rewarding to see our alumni progress in their careers and return to Sheffield as hiring managers. There is truly nothing better than seeing our own graduates hire current Sheffield students." – Lois Carrigan, Sheffield's director of Student Services

BCPS grad Kennedy will soon be one of those Sheffield alums, and in a few months, the next cadre of BCPS graduates will receive scholarships and head into the studios and classrooms at Sheffield. The BCPS-Sheffield partnership continues to yield real and tangible learning experiences and opportunities for students and staff alike.