Curriculum Vitae

Alex J. Kirt, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor of Broadcast Audio
Faculty Advisor for KZLX-LP 106.7 FM 
School of Communication and Media Arts
Northwest Missouri State University

Education:
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
Mass Communication and Media Arts 
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
May 2015

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Radio-Television
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
August 2012

Associate of Arts (A.A.) – with honors
Shawnee Community College, Ullin, IL
December 2011 
Media Arts Teaching Experience:

Northwest Missouri State University, Assistant Professor of Broadcasting - Audio
Fall 2021/Spring 2022 – 
MMED 20322 – Advanced Practicum in Radio 
MMED 20329 – Audio Tech & Recording
MMED 20224 – Introduction to Audio 
MMED 20215 – Practicum in Radio 
MMED 20370 – Live Sound Theory and Practice
MMED 20406 – Advanced Audio Post
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship

Summer 2021 
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship

Fall 2020/Spring 2021 
MMED 20322 – Advanced Practicum in Radio 
MMED 20329 – Audio Tech & Recording
MMED 20224 – Introduction to Audio 
MMED 20215 – Practicum in Radio 
MMED 20370 – Live Sound Theory and Practice
MMED 20406 – Advanced Audio Music
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship

Summer 2020 
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship

Fall 2019/Spring 2020 
MMED 20322 – Advanced Practicum in Radio 
MMED 20329 – Audio Tech & Recording
MMED 20224 – Introduction to Audio 
MMED 20215 – Practicum in Radio 
MMED 20370 – Live Sound Theory and Practice
MMED 20406 – Advanced Audio Post
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship

Summer 2019 
MMED 20215 – Practicum in Radio
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship (Online)

Fall 2018/Spring 2019
MMED 20322 – Advanced Practicum in Radio 
MMED 20329 – Audio Tech & Recording
MMED 20224 – Introduction to Audio 
MMED 20215 – Practicum in Radio 
MMED 20490 – Sound Design & Aesthetics
MMED 20406 – Advanced Audio Music
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship

Summer 2018 
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship (Online)
MMED 20215 – Practicum in Radio

Fall 2017/Spring 2018 
MMED 20322 – Advanced Practicum in Radio 
MMED 20329 – Audio Tech & Recording
MMED 20224 – Introduction to Audio 
MMED 20215 – Practicum in Radio 
MMED 20490 – Sound Design & Aesthetics
MMED 20407 – Advanced Audio Post
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship

Southern Illinois University, Visiting Lecturer of Sound
Fall 2016/Spring 2017 
RTD361 - Sound Mix in Popular Culture
RTD362i - Sound Art and Practice
RTD363 - Radio & Audio Production
RTD389 – Analog Sound Recording History 

Southern Illinois University, Instructor of Record
Spring 2015 
RTD362i - History of Sound Recording Technology

Southern Illinois University, Graduate Teaching Assistant
Fall 2014 
RTD361 - Radio and Audio Production
RTD496 - Sound and The Moving Image

Summer 2014 
SIU TV News Camp

Spring 2014 
RTD376 - Advanced Audio Engineering
RTD475 - MIDI Production Studio

Fall 2013 
RTD375 - Introduction to Audio Engineering

Committees and Board Memberships
2017 – Present – Student Media Scholarship Committee
2017 – Present – Student Media Leadership Committee
2019 – Present – University Museums Advisory Board
2019 – 2020 – Faculty Grants Review Committee
2020 – 2021 – Faculty Grants Review Committee
2021 – Present – Curriculum & Degree Requirements Committee

Professional Memberships:
2011- Present - Audio Engineering Society 
2014 – Present - Association for Recorded Sound Collections 
2015 – Present - Popular Culture Association 
2017 – Present – Missouri Broadcasting Educators Association
2017 – Present – Broadcast Educators Association
2017 – Present – College Broadcasters Inc.
2018 – Present – Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology
2019 – Present – American Society for Acoustic Ecology

Audio Software/Hardware Proficiencies:
Avid Pro Tools
Ableton Live 
Adobe Premiere 
Universal Audio Plugins & Hardware
Waves Platinum
Megaseg Radio/DJ Automation Software
iZotope RX Audio Restoration Suite
iZotope Ozone Mastering Suite
Reason Music Instrument Digital Interface Software
Gramophone Disc Recording Lathes
Phonograph Cylinder Recording 
Magnetic Tape Recording
Analog and Digital Audio Processing Hardware
Live Sound Reinforcement Equipment

Creative/Research Interests and Specializations:
Audio Recording/ Engineering/ Mastering
Music Production/ Songwriting/ Music Performance
Regional Music Archiving
Live Sound Reinforcement
Live Concert Recording 
Sound Recording Preservation, Digital and Analog
Sound for Film (Foley, ADR, Music Scoring, Sound Design, Sound Effects)
Gramophone Disc Recording Lathes
Phonograph Cylinder Recording
History and Science of Sound Recording Technology
Sound Art/ Sound Sculpture
360 VR Video Recording and Editing

MFA Thesis:
“Plowing Lacquer and Polishing Noise”
A history of protest music in three acts, featuring the Future Primitives Skiffle Band
Experimental sound art sculptures “The Shintonarumori”
Special performance of “The Gatling-o-phone”, a hybrid sound art sculpture that is part Gatling Gun and part Gramophone Disc player.

Southern Illinois Music Archive (SIMA)
A definitive collection of sound recordings, films, videos, photographs, and memorabilia documenting the rich and diverse musical heritage of Southern Illinois, created in the interest of cultural and historical preservation.

Shintonarumori
A series of sound art sculptures featuring antique shoeshine boxes repurposed as artworks, each fitted with it’s own internal sound generating devices. 
The Shintonarumori series provides an artistic metaphor for income inequality associated with globalized corporate capitalism and its effects on the working class people of the world. The work represents a call for unity among working class citizens.

Media Arts Exhibitions:
2021 Live Music in VR
Series of eight live music performances in 360 VR
Exhibit: July 2021
Online (YouTube VR)

2020 Closed Mic Nights
Collaborative live-streaming house concerts series
Raised donations to charitable organizations for COVID19 relief
Exhibit: June 2020 – June 2021
Online Formats (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram)

2019 Labor Day Arts Exhibition – Songs of Labor 
A curated playlist of labor songs from the Southern Illinois Music Archive
Exhibit: August 29th – September 27th, 2019
University Museum
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

2019 The Gatlingophone
Sound Art Performance
Exhibit: June 8th, 2019
Hear Now! Audio Festival
Kansas City, Missouri

2015 Resilience Radio 
Global Fusion Conference
Exhibit: October 24th, 2015
Rudder Tower, Texas A&M 
Radio Art Performance with Mike Maxwell and Dr. Phylis Johnson 

2015 Plowing Lacquer and Polishing Noise: A Mudsill's Methodology  
MFA Thesis Exhibition
Exhibit: April 26th, 2015
The Old Feed Store, Cobden, IL 
 
2015 The Gatlingophone 
Occupy PCA Guerrilla Arts Performance - Punk Culture
PCA/ACA Conference 
Exhibit: April 1st - 4th, 2015
New Orleans, LA

2014 New Deal Art Now: A Reframing Of The Artifacts Of Diversity  
Digital Audio Recordings Exhibit
Exhibit: June 3rd through November 1st, 2014 
University Museum, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale IL  

2014 Soundings: An Evening of Sound Art and Performance 
Sound Art Performance
Live, direct-to-disc 78rpm phono disc recording 
Exhibit: May 3rd, 2014 
Track One Gallery, Nashville TN

2014 Southern Illinois Music Archive: Location Recordings 
Digital and Analog Audio Recordings Exhibit
SIUC Graduate Student Symposium and Exhibition 
Exhibit: April 24th – May 2nd, 2014
University Museum, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale IL  

2013 Audioscapes: The Cityscapes of Tube Circuits 
Photographic Series Exhibit
SIUC MCMA Graduate Student Symposium and Exhibition 
Exhibit: April 25th – May 4th, 2013 
University Museum, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale IL


2012 Southern Illinois Music Archive: Curating Regional Archives  
Essay Presentation 
SIUC MCMA Graduate Student Symposium and Exhibition  
Presentation: April 27th, 2012 
University Museum, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale IL  

2012 Dandelions – The Rural Kings 
Documentary Film Screening
 SIUC MCMA Graduate Student Symposium and Exhibition  
 University Museum, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale IL  
 Screening: April 27th, 2012

2012 Scratching The Surface
 Interactive Live Sound Art Performance
 SIUC MFA Student Media Arts Exhibition 
Exhibit: December 11th, 2012 
 College of Mass Communications and Media Arts
 Southern Illinois University, Carbondale IL

Published Essays:
Kirt, Alex. “The Pelican on the Pier: A True Story” Springhouse Magazine. Vol 34, Number 1. Ed. Brian DeNeal. Marion, IL, 2020. 12-13. Print

Kirt, Alex. “Review of The 78 Project Movie by filmmaker A. Steyermark.” Journal of Radio and Audio Media. Vol 22, Number 1. Ed. Dr. Phylis West, Ph.D. Philadelphia, PA: Routledge, 2015. 131-134. Print.

Kirt, Alex. ”Celtic Connections: A 25-year Retrospective With Host Bryan Kelso Crow.” Journal of Radio & Audio Media. Vol 23, Number 1, Ed. Dr. Phylis West, Ph.D. Philadeliphia, PA: Routledge, 2016. 164-170. Print.

Sound For Film:
2013 Waveland
Dir. Cade Bursell
Experimental Film
Credits: Alex Kirt – Sound Designer, Stereo Mix, and Surround Mix

Awards: Winner – Award of Merit (Best Experimental Film)
2014 UFVA Film and Video Festival

2013 Cowboy Christmas
Dir. H.D. Motyl
Documentary Film
Credits: Alex Kirt – Original Music Score, Stereo Mix, and Surround Mix

Awards:
Best Feature Documentary: 2013 Madrid International Film Festival
Nominated Best Feature Documentary: 2014 Trail Dance Film Festival
Best of Fest: Feature Documentary: 2014 BEA Festival of Media Arts

Screenings:
2013 Louisville International Festival of Film
2013 Madrid International Film Festival
2014 Virginia Film Festival
2014 Trail Dance Film Festival
2014 Beloit International Film Festival
2014 “Imagining Geographies” series, Southern Illinois University Carbondale 
2014 UFVA (University Film and Video Association) Film and Video Screening 
2015 Three Rivers Film Festival 
2015 Prescott Film Festival
2016 Available on iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon Video

2010 Confidence Man
Dir. Robert Streit
Documentary Film
Credits: Alex Kirt – Original Music Score, Soundtrack

Screenings:
2011 St Louis International Film Festival
2012 Cedar City Film Festival

2003 The Legend of Charlie Birger
Dir. David Kidd
Documentary Film
Credits: Alex Kirt/ The Woodbox Gang – Original Soundtrack

Screenings:
-National Broadcasts on PBS

Academic Conference Presentations:
2020 College Radio Station Use of Social Media
Alex Kirt, Dr. Robert Bergland, Ph.D., Dr. Kyle Miller, Ph.D. – Co-Author and Presenter
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference 2020
San Francisco, CA (held online due to COVID19)

2020 Wasteland or Wonderland: Media in 2040
Alex Kirt, Dr. Jon Pluskota, Ph.D., Dr. Phylis West, Ph.D. – Co-Author and Presenter
Broadcasting Educators Association Conference 2020
Las Vegas, NV

2019 How Archiving Challenges of the Past can be used to Shape Future Approaches
Alex Kirt, Dr. Jon Pluskota – Panel Moderator / Presenter
Association for Recorded Sound Collections 2019 Conference
Portland, OR 

2017 Theory of Resistance
The Social Justice Artworks of Dr. Michael Faris
Alex Kirt - Moderator of Discussion Panel
Northwest Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Northwest Missouri State University

2015 Resilience Radio
Global Fusion Conference
College Station, TX
Live Radio Art Performance

2015 Establishing the Southern Illinois Music Archive: Regional Archives in a Digital Age
Essay Presentation/Panel Discussion
Popular Culture Association Conference
New Orleans, LA

2015 The Gatling-o-phone
Media Arts Performance
Popular Culture Association Conference
New Orleans, LA

2014 Noise in the Hive: History, Interpretation, and the Arts in the Global Sound Archive
Essay Presentation/Media Arts Performance/Panel Discussion
Global Fusion Conference
Austin, TX

Grant Awarding Organizations
2019 – Present: Council of Library Information Resources (CLIR)
  Recordings at Risk (RAR)
  Grants Reviewing Panel Member

Grants Awarded
2020 Northwest Faculty Research Grant for 360 VR Live Event Recording

Academic Committees & Advising Positions
2018 – Present: University Museums Advisory Board
  Northwest Missouri State University

2018 – Present: University Research Committee
  Northwest Missouri State University

2017 – Present: Faculty Adviser / Chief Operator
  KZLX-LP FM 106.7, Maryville

2017 – Present: Student Media Advisement Committee
  School of Communication & Media Arts
  Northwest Missouri State University
  Maryville, MO 

2017 – Present: Judge, Student and Faculty Audio Competition
  Broadcasting Educators Association (BEA)
  Festival of Media Arts

Music Album Projects
1994 Without A Name – Soldog (2)
1995 Dawning – Soldog (3)
1997 Blue Earth – Trouble Creek (1)
1999 Set It For The Sun – Soldog (3 & 10)
2000 A Caustic Acoustic Cacophony – The Woodbox Gang (4, 9, & 10)
2001 Trashcan Americana – The Woodbox Gang (4 & 10)
2001 Rock n' Roll Confession (unreleased) - Soldog (2 & 10)
2002 Wormwood – The Woodbox Gang (4 & 10)
2003 Showdown (live) – The Woodbox Gang (4 & 10)
2003 Born With A Tail – The Woodbox Gang (4 & 10)
2003 I’ve Killed Men – The Woodbox Gang (4 & 10)
2005 Live at Hangar 9 – The Woodbox Gang (4 & 10)
2006 The Soothsayers, Vol. 1 – The Soothsayers Jug Band (12)
2007 Drunk As Dragons – The Woodbox Gang (4, 9, & 10)
2009 White Trash Voodoo – The Woodbox Gang (4, 8, & 10)
2010 Confidence Man (soundtrack) – The Woodbox Gang (4, 9, & 10)
2011 Ol' Moose - by Doug Anderson (6)
2012 Bluegill Boogie – Giant City Slickers (2, 5, & 10)
2012 Glorious Scars – The Woodbox Gang (4, 9, & 10)
2013 Torch Ditties - Jenny Johnson (8 & 10)
2013 Live at the Old Feed Store - Chris Jones and the Nightdrivers (5)
2014 Soundstage Session – The Mudsills (8, 11, & 12)
2014 Dreamhead - The Flowers of Evil (7)
2014 One Way Ride - We Killed The Lion (9 & 10)
2015 Steal from the Poor - Janis Esch (6)
2016 Cold Blood - Buzzzard (8 & 10)
2016 Blast Radius 7 - Blast Radius (7)
2016 These Are My Neighbors - Jenny Johnson Band (8 & 10)
2016 Circle of Stars - We Killed The Lion (9 & 10)
2016 Kelven 1 - Kelven (7)
2016 Beth Davis - Beth Davis (5)
2016 Kelven 2 - Kelven (7)
2017 Kelven 3 - Kelven (7)
2017 Ballads of Makanda - Jenny Johnson (7)
2018 Kelven 4 - Kelven (7)
2019 Gas Station Sandwiches - The People vs Hugh DeNeal (7)
2020 Kelven 5 - Kelven (7)
2020 Buzzzard 2 (unreleased) - Buzzzard (8 & 10)
2020 Folded Hands - Ethan Stephenson Band (7)
2020 Santa's Got The 'Rona - Whiteford Family Band
2021 3 Song Medley - We Killed The Lion (8 & 11)
2021 Bioluminescence - The Jewels (8 & 11)
2021 Cobra - The Jewels (8 & 11)
2021 Where'd I Go Wrong - The Jewels (8 & 11)
2021 Mayor - Buzzzard (8 & 11)
2021 Spaces - Buzzzard (8 & 11)
2021 My Body Earth - Buzzzard (8 & 11)
2021 The Horror & The Heartbreak - (7)

Key to Alex's Album Credits

1 - Vocalist, Co-Songwriter
2 - Vocals, Guitar, Co-Songwriter
3 - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Co-Songwriter
4 - Vocals, Multi-Instrumentalist, Co-Songwriter
5 - Recording Engineer
6 - Mixing Engineer
7 - Mastering Engineer
8 - Recording, Mixing, and Mastering Engineer
9 - Recording and Mixing Engineer
10 - Co-Producer
11 - Producer
12 - Vocals, Slide Guitar

 Musical Projects/ Live Performance:
2000 – Present: The Woodbox Gang
2014 - 2017: The Devil's Duo
2012 – 2017: The Mudsills
2009 – 2014: The Giant City Slickers
2009 – 2012: The Django Billies
2005 – 2012: The Soothsayers Jug Band
1997 - 1998: Trouble Creek 
1993 – 1996: Soldog

78rpm Lacquer Master Disc Recordings:
2014 “Lost, Lonesome, & Alone” by The Swamp Tigers 
2014 “Brand New Cadillac” by The Swamp Tigers 
2014 “All I Could Do Was Cry” by The Swamp Tigers 
2014 “Bluebird” by Jenny Johnson 
2014 “Evan, Jack, or Jim” by Jenny Johnson 
2014 “Some of These Days” by Jenny and the Johnsons
2014 “Bluebird (rendition #2)” by Jenny and the Johnsons 
2014 “Candy Green” by The Flowers Of Evil
2014 “Dreamhead” by The Flowers Of Evil
2014 “Green Candles” by The Flowers Of Evil
2014 “I Wish I’d Gone To College” by Randy Hill and Tyson Connor  
2014 “Hold That Train” by the Well, Well, Wells
2014 “Oh Dear Mother” by the Well, Well, Wells
2014 “Keep On Dreaming” by The Whistle Pigs 
2014 “Lighten Up” by The Whistle Pigs
2014 “Happens Every Day” by The Whistle Pigs
2014 “Hurricane” by The Whistle Pigs 
2014 “Let’s Go” by Big Larry Williams
2014 “Stuck On You” by Soulglo

Sound Art/ Sound Sculptures: 
2020 Shoot the Immigrant Child. sound art sculpture with Dr. Michael Faris, PhD
2014 The Gatling-o-phone. sound art sculpture 
2014 Shintonarumori. sound art sculpture series
2013 Silence Inside Sound. sound art audio recording
2012 Vinyl Mosaic. sound art sculpture/ performance art 

Photography:
2013 Audioscapes: The Cityscapes of Audio Circuits. 
digital photography series  

2013 Cedar Bluffs: A Hike Through Time. 
digital photography series 

Experimental Films:
2012 G.R.U.B.S. 
narrative film short 

2012 29 Projections. 
experimental film short

 Documentary Films:
2013 Opa Spitznamen: Grandpa’s Nicknames.
 documentary film short 

2012 Dandelions: The Rural Kings. 
musical documentary film

Notable Live Musical Performances:
2019 Wander Down Festival, Touch of Nature, Makanda, IL
2018 Carbondale Halloween on Main Street, Carbondale, IL
2017 Carbondale Rocks Revival, Carbondale, IL
2016 Carbondale Rocks Revival, Carbondale, IL
2016 Murphysboro Riverside Blues Festival, Murphysboro, IL
2016 Family Night, Carbondale, IL
2015 Live On Main, Carbondale, IL 
2014 Shiner Spring Fest, Carbondale IL 
2013 The Historic Liberty Theater, Murphysboro, IL 
2013 Shryock Auditorium, Carbondale IL 
2009 River Roots Live Music Festival, Davenport IA 
2009 American Music Festival, Harrisburg PA 
2009 Great Blue Heron Festival, Sherman NY
2008 The Fox Theater, Boulder CO
2008 The Aggie Theater, Fort Collins CO
2008 Groovefest, Cedar City, UT 
2008 The Blue Note Theater, Columbia MO
2007 Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Nightgrass Concert Series, Telluride CO 
2007 Trinity Tribal Stomp, Junction City CA 
2007 Viva Downtown Redding, Redding CA 
2007 Music On Main Street, Driggs ID
2007 Appalachian Uprising Festival, Scott Town OH
2007 Council Mountain Music Festival, Council ID
2007 Aurorafest, Polebridge MT 
2007 The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC  
2006 Wakarusa Music Festival, Lawrence KS