PROGRAM DIRECTOR / PROFESSOR

Professor Kirt Shearer, ARC's Commercial Music Program Director, is known best for his work with Cake and Tony! Toni! Toné!. With over 30 years of music production experience, he offers a hands-on approach to teaching the craft of making records. Students collaborate on real music projects in our well-equipped studios while gaining practical experience. His extensive background in education and the industry ensures students receive expert guidance in the recording arts.

STUDIO MANAGER / LAB INSTRUCTOR

Jon Talbot oversees the installation, upgrades, and maintenance all four of our recording studios and computer labs. As a former student and the first I.A. in the department, he offers unique guidance to recording arts students. A musician from a young age, he has performed throughout Northern California and recorded with several bands. He is currently an independent mix engineer and regular front-of-house engineer at the Torch Club in Sacramento.

PROFESSOR

Dr. Robert Johnson teaches music production, live sound reinforcement, and studio techniques at three colleges. He earned a bachelor’s in Recording Arts from CSU Chico, an MM in Music Education from CSU Sacramento, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. He also owns Sierra Professional Audio & Video Technologies, offering services in audio/video, sound design, & recording. Clients include the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and the White House Press Corps.

PROFESSOR

Harley Glynn is a Commercial Music professor at three Los Rios campuses and an Avid Certified Pro Tools Instructor. With experience in audio post-production, SFX design, and music composition across various genres, he produces, edits, and composes for podcasts and a popular YouTube show. Harley has co-authored books on DAW usage for NextPoint Training, Inc. and has been teaching audio production and DAW usage at the college level since 2012.

PROFESSOR

Scott's journey in music began over 30 years ago as a drummer for an indie rock band in the Midwest, then a hip-hop group in Atlanta. After years of club gigs, he left his drums behind, bought an electric guitar on the way home to California, and never looked back. Since returning, he's been a touring performer, songwriter, recording engineer, producer, record label owner, studio manager, educator, and is currently the Gear Reviews Editor for Tape Op Magazine.

PROFESSOR

Casey Lipka is a versatile bassist, vocalist, and composer known for her work with folk trio Dear Darling, the genre-defying Cave Women, and as bassist for CAKE. She has composed for ballet, museum installations, and led an 18-piece Motown Orchestra. Now focused on her own music, Lipka blends jazz and pop with soulful, ethereal elements. Her aim is to create meaningful, authentic music that sparks conversation and connects with listeners on a deep level.