Outstanding Students Recognized by iZotope, Sweetwater Sound, and Slate Digital
For the sixth consecutive year, Enrique Gonzalez Müller—director of the Music Production master’s program at Berklee Online—has partnered with iZotope, Sweetwater Sound, and Slate Digital to award eight students for their excellence in music production. In 2026, we celebrate Oscar Barcelli, Mackenzie Christensen, Colin Foley, Yanmin Hu, Paul Kinsman, Joshua Misko, Kevin Moran, and Donald Shipman for their outstanding achievements.
“Each year, I look forward to hearing how our students define themselves as producers,” says Gonzalez Müller. “These projects reflect a careful listening practice and a deep respect for the artistic process. It is rewarding to see this level of growth, and I congratulate our award-winners for setting such a high, meaningful standard.”
The winners were selected based on their Culminating Experience projects, where they apply all the knowledge learned throughout the Music Production master’s degree program. As is the tradition, this year’s winners were based on performance, mixing, and creativity in music production, with the ultimate goal of incentivizing emerging music producers to foster innovation, with sponsors providing students the tools to fuel their success.
Oscar Barcelli
Oscar Barcelli was born and raised in Lima, Peru, and currently lives in Los Angeles, where he works as a producer, educator, and performer. He started his master’s with no previous knowledge of technical music production, so he says winning the Slate Digital Award felt like a huge accomplishment.
“Thanks to the incredible guidance of my professors, I was able to develop those skills and gain confidence in areas that once felt intimidating,” says Barcelli. “Today, I feel comfortable producing, editing, mixing, and mastering a variety of projects, which is something I never imagined a few years ago.”
By blending Afro-Peruvian music and Latin jazz in his projects, he says his goal is to reach audiences around the world. He credits Eva Ayllón and Susana Baca with deepening his understanding of Afro-Peruvian music, opening doors to honor his culture, explore innovative approaches, and tell a story through unconventional pathways.
“I strive to respect the identity of each artist and project while bringing my own musical perspective to the process,” says Barcelli. “My goal is to combine strong musicianship, cultural authenticity, and modern production techniques to create music that feels both timeless and relevant.”
Barcelli says that winning the Slate Digital Award has made him reflect on his intention of creating music for educational purposes, where audiences can learn about Afro-Peruvian rhythms and instruments.
“Receiving this award is especially meaningful because it reminds me of all the work that happened behind the scenes: the late nights in front of the computer, replaying the same lesson over and over until I understood a concept, making mistakes, and learning through trial and error.”
MacKenzie Christensen
MacKenzie Christen, another winner of the Slate Digital Award Honoring Excellent Mixing in Music Production, spends his days teaching music production, digital media, and design in Connecticut. When it comes to music production, he says his main focus is to create music that is born from emotion, always using curiosity as a tool to innovate and explore new sounds.
“When I start a project, I try to hold onto the feeling I had the first time I heard a song and make decisions that support that emotion,” says Christensen. “We only get a few minutes with a song, and I want listeners to feel immersed in that world for as long as they’re there.”
Christensen says he is mostly inspired by artists like MUNA, The 1975, Fiona Apple, John Mayer, Chappell Roan, and Olivia Dean, who he says remain authentic, creating strong emotional connections with their audiences. Dan Nigro and Jack Antonoff have also influenced him on the production side, given their ability to preserve what’s unique about the artists they work with.
Christensen is currently working on his first solo album, as well as collaborative projects with his friend Ryan Burns, indie-pop artist Kelaska, and the hardcore band Wilson.
“Every artist hears and experiences music differently, and I’ve learned some of my biggest lessons through collaboration,” he says. “I’ve found that it’s important not to dismiss ideas too quickly. Sometimes the suggestion you think won’t work ends up being exactly what the song needed.”
Apart from producing, Christensen has been spending his days creating a music production curriculum as a high school teacher and attending seminars such as Mix With The Masters in Paris, a masterclass hosted by Grammy-winning engineer, mixer, and producer Andrew Scheps.
“Creativity is something you have to practice,” he says. “The more consistently you create, the more opportunities you give yourself to discover something new.”
Colin Foley
From Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, Colin Foley won the Izotope Award, honoring excellent creativity in music production. Inspired by the poetic production approaches of Pharrell Williams and Boards of Canada’s ability to evoke nostalgia, Foley says he aims to produce music that captures emotion through a colorful and imaginative style.
“My goal is always to serve the artistic vision and communicate something authentic,” says Foley. “I often approach music the way a storyteller approaches a narrative, thinking carefully about how each sound, performance, and production choice serves as its own distinct character while contributing to the story as a whole.”
He says his degree program inspired all the projects he is currently working on under his artistic name, COFO (the first two letters of his first and last names). In his latest productions, he blends natural ambient and electronic sounds, alluding to places that hold personal significance.
“I truly cherished every moment of my master’s program at Berklee, and it has played a major role in both my artistic and personal growth,” says Foley. “These projects incorporate field recording and Foley art, which are two of my favorite creative and recording practices.”
As a professor in the Sound Recording and Music Technology program at Montgomery County Community College, he says his experience at Berklee Online empowered him to become a better educator. Foley gives his students not only the technical skills, but also different ways in which they can approach creating music with intentionality.
“My studies at Berklee helped me refine not only my craft as a producer and engineer, but also my ability to teach, mentor, and support the next generation of creative professionals,” he says.
Yanmin Hu
Yanhim Hu is a recipient of the Slate Digital Award, which he says was a surprising accomplishment for him after only five years of studying music. Coming from Guangdong, China, Hu says he is inspired by multiple genres across the globe, blending pop, R&B, rock, and trap into his work. In all of his productions, Hu talks about the importance of creating genuine and memorable sounds by creatively using emotion as the main source of inspiration.
“This award reinforced my belief that every minute spent refining a song is worthwhile. It motivates me to keep pushing for excellence and never stop improving,” says Hu.
Throughout his life, he has been influenced by artists like Linkin Park, Pendulum, Charlie Puth, Ariana Grande, Michael Jackson, The Weeknd, and Drake, who he says have enhanced his production and songwriting skills to connect better with his audience. Hu is currently working on a multi-genre project that includes pop, rock, and drum and bass, where he helps artists bring their ideas to life.
“I believe that trust is the foundation of every successful creative collaboration, and I strive to build that connection with every artist I work with,” he says.
Hu mentions that his experience at Berklee Online taught him different approaches in music production, where he gained a deeper understanding of how to balance the technicalities with artistic vision. He says collaborations with classmates from different countries gave him insights into different musical perspectives.
“What I am most proud of is the growth I achieved throughout the program. The experience challenged me to become a more dedicated producer, as well as a more critical listener,” says Hu.
Paul Kinsman
Paul Kinsman won the Sweetwater Sound Award, honoring excellent performance in music production. As a teacher himself, Kinsman says when he completed his master’s degree, he took with him the inspiration from his own teachers and colleagues who encouraged him to produce with emotional intent and helped him grow as a professional.
“My teachers and mentors are increasingly front-of-mind these days,” he says.
Kinsman says the fact that Berklee Online enabled him to work and study at the same time meant that he could apply what he learned to his professional life on a daily basis. That success didn’t come overnight. Before earning his master’s degree, Kinsman had to overcome an early setback.
“I am most proud of achieving this master’s degree while working a full-time job as a teacher and becoming a father,” says Kinsman. “I am also proud of the fact that I didn’t give up the first time I got turned down from Berklee Online. I studied harder and produced a better portfolio and was accepted a year later. I entered the program knowing that out of everyone in the (Zoom) room, I had the most to grow, and that excited me.”
Kinsman says he is excited about his current collaborative work with singer Lexi Weege, whom he refers to as “a powerhouse vocalist with a compelling songwriting style.” He is credited as an executive producer on her Renaissance Painting EP from 2025, and he’s currently working with her on her new album.
In addition to being a producer, he is also a bandleader and pianist for multiple ensembles as well as an educator in western Massachusetts. He says this master’s degree equipped him with knowledge and experiences that led him to refine his school’s Music Technology program.
“In my career as a teacher, the Berklee Online degree helped me to achieve professional status in my district while building up my school’s Music Technology and Recording program,” he says.
Joshua Misko
Joshua Misko also won the Slate Digital Award Honoring Excellent Mixing in Music Production. Misko is an American-Canadian producer, writer, and entrepreneur who founded Seatfun, a ticketing app that allows users to manage events, sell tickets, receive payments, and more. As a student who merges music production and business, he is honored to be recognized by Slate Digital.
“I’ve been a fan of Slate Digital’s products since my start at Berklee, so being recognized in connection with a company whose tools are already part of my creative process makes the experience even more meaningful,” says Misko.
Misko focuses on the genres of singer-songwriter, adult contemporary, and acoustic-driven songs, drawing inspiration from artists like Paul McCartney, the Everly Brothers, Noah Kahan, and the Zac Brown Band. He says working from both Nashville and Cincinnati has allowed him to explore pop, R&B, gospel, and country artists.
“I am actively expanding my co-writing catalog and love working across all genres as a songwriter. I find it incredibly fulfilling to co-create something that might not have naturally come from me as an artist if I were sitting alone with an acoustic guitar,” says Misko.
Although Misko enrolled to become a stronger producer and engineer, he says the biggest takeaway was the community he found along the way.
“I came to Berklee to strengthen my engineering skills and become a more self-sufficient producer for my own music. What I took away, however, was much more than that. I gained new colleagues, mentors, and lifelong connections, along with the opportunity to further contribute to our industry as a Berklee alumnus,” says Misko.
Kevin Moran
Kevin Moran, another recipient of the Sweetwater Sound Award, grew up in Norfolk, Massachusetts, but his career as a producer, percussionist, and educator eventually took him to Val Verde, California. Drawing on his background in world percussion, he blends organic instrumentation with modern production techniques.
“I am drawn to music that feels organic, while exploring all the vast possibilities of modern-day music production,” he says. “My goal is to create music that serves as a bridge between these two worlds.”
Moran’s Culminating Experience project became the starting point for two major projects he is currently working on. After The Rain, his first full-length solo release, and Electrical Theatrics, the second album from his duo Vermiculite, carry forward many of the musical ideas and production techniques he began developing for his final project.
He credits Berklee Online instructors Enrique Gonzalez Müller with sharpening his attention to detail and Sean Slade with reigniting his “childlike love of deeply listening,” lessons he tries to carry into his own teaching at Los Angeles County’s juvenile detention center.
“I have witnessed these young people overcome significant challenges, build trust across differences, and work together toward the shared goal of performing as a drumline,” says Moran. “Watching them persevere through difficult rhythms, develop confidence, and grow both individually and as a team has given me so much hope for the youth.”
Donald Shipman
Donald Shipman’s creative approaches in music production won him the Izotope Award, honoring his hard work on his cumulative project. He says his love for different music genres, including jazz, R&B, pop, and gospel, led him to explore creative production techniques.
“Winning this award was a complete surprise for me, but it felt amazing to be recognized for the hard work I’ve done,” says Shipman. “Izotope is a big part of my toolset in producing, and I utilized it in most of my work at Berklee.”
Drawing inspiration from artists like H.E.R., Kehlani, Charlie Puth, Lucky Daye, and Leon Thomas, Shipman is currently working with smooth jazz and R&B musicians, producing music he says he hopes will bring people together.
As the executive producer and founder of DS Muzik, a production company based in Alabama, studying at Berklee Online gave him the possibility to grow as a professional while working with local artists.
“The online aspect gave me the flexibility to study, learn, and actively apply what I have learned at the same time,” says Shipman. “I am proud that I can tangibly hear my development and growth in production and I owe that to Berklee for pushing me.”
Shipman did arrangement, keys, strings, and drum programming on the song “Holy Fire,” by The Sound of the Rock, featuring Curtiss Glenn, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Gospel chart. He also did arrangement, keys, strings, and drum programming on Valerie T Smith’s Dream EP, which charted at No. 8, and won an Akademia Award for Best EP in the Gospel/Christian category.
