Cassandra Couwenberg’s dream of filming a concert by The Chainsmokers came true last year when the duo came to perform at Syracuse University’s 2016 Block Party.

Couwenberg, a junior television, radio and film major, has been involved with music videography since her freshman year. She joked as she explained how her original plan was to become a doctor, but after realizing how long she’d have to go to school, she went for the creative route.

For Couwenberg, SU offered everything she could have wanted, including a minor in music industry.

“I didn’t want to be in the middle of nowhere,” she said. “I wanted to be by some city-esque place where there will be shows or there will be some kind of culture, and Syracuse had that.”

During her freshman year, Couwenberg joined Loud and Clear, a student-run video production club. If you’ve ever seen a Mayfest or Juice Jam video, chances are Loud and Clear were the masterminds who put it together.

“We’re kind of just the music video people, and it’s cool that we’ve gotten to the point where people just know where to go,” Couwenberg said.

She now serves as the organization’s executive producer. She is in charge of sending crew members to cover concerts, running pitch meetings, researching and finding artists and directing on set.

Last fall, Couwenberg enrolled in a 360-degree virtual reality course where she was exposed to the power of VR storytelling.

“The first thing I thought of when I was in that class was, ‘I want to be next to my favorite artist,’” she said.

This led her to start a VR department for Loud and Clear, where she now teaches new members 360-degree video skills. This class also inspired her first VR experience with Sky Club, a student band. She made a 360-degree video where the viewer can travel from the band’s home recording studio in their dorm to their mastering studio, and eventually make it to a concert.
Having been to more than 100 concerts, Couwenberg says VR is the future of music.

“It’s the perfect way to immerse someone into some kind of feeling, and that’s what music is about,” she said. “It’s about making someone feel a certain way.”

Although she’s majoring in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Couwenberg attributes most of her passions and skills to the College of Visual and Performing Arts. She says VPA and her friends in her minor have really developed her creative pursuits.

Above all, Couwenberg lives by one motto.

“Power moves only,” she said.

Published on February 5, 2017 at 8:10 pm

Contact Caroline: caschagr@syr.edu