Curriculum Vitae


Alex J. Kirt
1002 West Edwards Street Maryville, MO 64468
TEL: 618-534-9600
Email: kirt1974@gmail.com

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 Associate Professor of Audio Production Tenured May 2022

Fall 2023/Spring 2024
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 20407 – Advanced Audio – Post
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship 
MMED 20415 – Music Business

Summer 2023
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship

Fall 2022/Spring 2023
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 
MMED 20415 – Music Business
MMED 20429 – Advanced Audio – Independent Study

Summer 2022
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship
MMED 20452 – Summer Internship

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 20407 – Advanced Audio - Post
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship
MMED 20429 – Advanced Audio – Independent Study

Summer 2021
MMED 20409 – Media Business & Entrepreneurship
MMED 20452 – Summer Internship 

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
MMED 20429 – Advanced Audio – Independent Study


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 20407 – 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 – 2022 – Curriculum & Degree Requirements Committee
2022 – 2024 – Designated Curricular Matters 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.
2017 – Present – National Association of Broadcasters
2017 – Present – College Media Association

Audio Software/Hardware Proficiencies:

Avid Pro Tools
Ableton Live
Adobe Creative Cloud
Logic Pro
Universal Audio Plugins & Hardware
Waves Platinum Audio Plugins
Megaseg Radio/DJ Automation Software
iZotope RX Audio Restoration Suite
iZotope Ozone Mastering Suite
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 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 its 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:
2022 Tower Choir at Conception Abbey
Live recording of Tower Choir concert, pipe organ accompaniment by Br. Michael Marcotte, O.S.B. 
Exhibit: June 2022

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 over $150,000 in 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 Works and Research:

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:
Upcoming: 
2024 Voice Processing for Sound Recordings and Live Broadcasts
Alex Kirt – Presenter
Missouri Broadcasting Educators Association
Conference 2024 Warrensburg, MO

2023 Best Practices for Microphone Selection
Alex Kirt – Presenter
Missouri Broadcasting Educators Association Conference 2023 Cape Girardeau, MO

2023 College Radio Roundtable Panel
Alex Kirt – Moderator
College Media Association/MBEA Conference 2023 Cape Girardeau, MO

2023 Best Practices in Audio Recording for Music Educators
Alex Kirt – Presenter
Missouri Music Educators Association Conference 2023 Osage Beach, MO

2021 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 – 2021: 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
The grant funds were used to purchase equipment to build a VR studio. After my initial projects were completed, the studio became a learning lab for students interested in working with VR and 360 videos.

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

2018 – 2022: 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

2016 – Present: Judge, Student and Faculty Audio Competition Broadcasting Educators Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts

National Touring/ Live Performance/ Tour Management Experience:
March 2005 – September 2009: Simon Says Booking, Orange, MA

Audio Engineering/ Mixing/ Mastering Projects:
2007 “Drunk As Dragons” by The Woodbox Gang – Recording, Mix, & Mastering Engineer
2008 "Misfits Masquerade" by The Woodbox Gang – Recording, Mix, & Mastering Engineer
2009 “White Trash Voodoo” by The Woodbox Gang – Recording, Mix, & Mastering Engineer
2010 “Confidence Man” by The Woodbox Gang – Recording, Mix, & Mastering Engineer
2011 “Ol’ Moose” by Doug Anderson – Mix Engineer
2012 “Glorious Scars” by The Woodbox Gang – Recording, Mix, & Mastering Engineer
2012 “Bluegill Boogie” by Giant City Slickers – Recording & Mix Engineer
2013 “Torch Ditties” by Jennifer Johnson – Recording, Mix, & Mastering Engineer
2014 "Sound Stage Sessions" by The Mudsills – Recording, Mix, & Mastering Engineer
2014 “Live at the Old Feed Store” by Chris Jones and The Nightdrivers – Recording Engineer
2014 “Dreamhead” by The Flowers of Evil – Mastering Engineer
2014 “One Way Ride” by We Killed The Lion – Recording & Mix
2015 "Cold Blood" by Buzzzard – Recording, Mix, & Mastering Engineer
2015 "Scifislands" by Scifislands – Mastering Engineer
2016 "Dying Day" by We Killed The Lion – Recording Engineer & Mix
2016 “These Are My Neighbors” by Jenny Johnson Band – Recording, Mix, & Mastering
2016 “Kelven” by Kelven – Mastering Engineer
2016 “Blast Radius” by Blast Radius –Mastering Engineer
2016 “Kelven 2” by Kelven – Mastering Engineer
2016 “Beth Davis” by Beth Davis – Recording Engineer & Mastering Engineer
2017 “Kelven 3” by Kelven – Mastering Engineer
2017 “Ballads of Makanda” by Jenny Johnson – Mastering Engineer
2018 “Kelven 4” by Kelven – Mastering Engineer
2019 “Gas Station Sandwiches” by The People vs. Hugh DeNeal – Mastering Engineer
2020 “Kelven 5” by Kelven – Mastering Engineer
2020 “Buzzzard 2” by Buzzzard – Mixing and Mastering Engineer
2020 “Folded Hands” by Ethan Stephenson Band – Mastering Engineer
2020 “Santa’s Got The ‘Rona” by Whiteford Family Band – Mastering Engineer
 
2021 “WKTL in VR” by We Killed The Lion – 360 Videography, Video Editor, Producer, Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Mastering Engineer
2021 “The Jewels in VR” by The Jewels – 360 Videography, Video Editor, Producer, Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Mastering Engineer
2021 “Buzzzard in VR” by Buzzzard – 360 Videography, Video Editor, Producer, Recording Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Mastering Engineer
2021 “The Horror & The Heartbreak” – by Tim Whiteford – Mastering Engineer
2023 “My Oldest Friend” – by Nobody’s Sweethearts – Mastering Engineer 

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:
2019 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

Live Performance Art:
2014 Plowing Lacquer.
Live direct to disc 78rpm sound recording performance

2012 Scratching the Surface.
collaborative sound art performance with Honna Veerkamp

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

 

Professional Discography as Musician/Songwriter:
2015 Soundstage Session – The Mudsills
2012 Glorious Scars – The Woodbox Gang
2012 Bluegill Boogie – Giant City Slickers
2010 Confidence Man (soundtrack) – The Woodbox Gang
2009 Glorious Scars – The Woodbox Gang
2008 Drunk As Dragons – The Woodbox Gang
2006 The Soothsayers, Vol. 1 – The Soothsayers Jug Band
2005 Live at Hangar 9 – The Woodbox Gang
2003 I’ve Killed Men (soundtrack) – The Woodbox Gang
2003 Born With A Tail – The Woodbox Gang
2003 Showdown (live) – The Woodbox Gang
2002 Wormwood – The Woodbox Gang
2001 Trashcan Americana – The Woodbox Gang
2000 A Caustic Acoustic Cacophony – The Woodbox Gang
1999 4 Corners Cactus-Chewing Blues (The Colorado Tapes) – Alex Kirt
1999 Set It For The Sun – Soldog
1997 Blue Earth – Trouble Creek
1995 Dawning – Soldog
1994 Without A Name – Soldog
 

Notable Live Musical Performances:
2023 Little Grassy Getdown, Touch of Nature, Makanda, IL
2022 Little Grassy Getdown, Touch of Nature, Makanda, IL
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