We are honored to work with music educators and fortunate to be involved in a small part of the music education process. We thank you for the opportunities we've had to work with you for the last 19 years making on-site recordings for you and your students.

Soundwaves was designed as an audio keepsake and fund-raising service for music educators. We are happy to see that many educators use their recordings as a teaching tool, and as a source of audition material.

And so we are pleased to offer an additional tool for music educators:  MEtunes, Soundwaves Online Music Catalog™ allows you to easily browse and securely purchase CD recordings for yourself or to play for your students as you teach new pieces.

Please explore the site. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful. We are committed to providing you with our very best service as you go about your important work.

Sincerely,

Virginia and Dan Canalos

STAFF

Dan Canalos —   dan@soundwaves.org

Native of Lorain, Ohio, founder, co-owner, and audio engineer for Soundwaves, and father of two. Dan studied litera ture at The University of Dallas, Texas, then worked in the 75-year-old northern Ohio family business before starting Soundwaves Recording in 1992. He plays keyboards and has a love of recording that dates back to his middle school years. He has helped design and build several recording studios, and now enjoys working with music educators and the occasional personal recording project.

Virginia Canalos  —   virginia@soundwaves.org

Co-owner, business manager for Soundwaves, and mother. Virginia graduated from the University of Dallas in Texas where she studied classical liberal arts with concentrations in philosophy and theology. She has taught high school logic, theology, and art history and has also taught writing and comprehension at Lorain County Community College in the developmental program for incoming freshman. Virginia also attended Cleveland State University and studied accounting for her CPA certification which she received in 1993.  

Alexandra Canalos  —   alexis@soundwaves.org

Alexis has recently joined Soundwaves Recording.  A graduate of Vermilion High School, Alexis studied the Suzuki Piano method for 9 years.  She studied Sociology at John Carroll University and went on to receive a M.A. in Social Work at the University of Chicago. After five years as a Research Analyst in the field, she is now working full-time with the Soundwaves team assisting with customer relations and coordinating music conference recordings. Alexis is the daughter of Dan and Virginia Canalos. She lives in Chicago.  

Tim Hoffman —     tim@soundwaves.org

Retired from teaching after thirty-fifth years with the Sylvania City Schools, and twenty three years as Director of Bands at Southview High School. Tim received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education from Bowling Green State University. Tim was listed three times as a member of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.  He is an OMEA adjudicator and has served on the OMEA Band Affairs Committee as well as the HIgh School Band Music Selection Committee.  He has chaired OMEA solo and ensemble competitions and the Northwest Ohio OMEA District One Band Competition.  In 2006 he was inducted into the Fremont Ross High School Music Hall of Fame.  Mr. Hoffman is a member of the Toledo Jazz Society, Phi Bet Mu--the national school bandmasters’ fraternity, and is active as a clinician, private clarinet and saxophone instructor, and performing musician in the Toledo area. Tim is Soundwaves' Band Directors representative.

Diane Laudonia —    diane@soundwaves.org

Diane recently retired from teaching middle school reading, language arts, and social studies after 30 years. She graduated from Kent State University with a bachelors degree in education and from Bowling Green University with a masters degree in education and counseling. She enjoys working in the office at Soundwaves, with music educators and customers, and meeting new people when traveling to music conferences.

Paula Norwine —    paula@soundwaves.org

Paula Norwine has been a music educator for over 30 years.  She attended Heidelberg College and received a BSMED from Ohio Northern University.  Her teaching career has been in District II -first at Oak Harbor High School, then Perkins High School in Sandusky and finally a return to OHHS where she spent the majority of her career.  Under her leadership as director of choral music at OHHS, the choirs consistently received Superior ratings at the state level of competition of OMEA.  She was also active with the high school theatre, producing over 50 plays and musicals.  She was the creator/ director for Norwine Ballentyne Productions, a community theatre group active in Oak Harbor in the 1990’s.   Mrs. Norwine has 3 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 dogs and 3 cats! She is Soundwaves' Choral Directors representative.

Kristen Schoewe —  kristen@soundwaves.org

Kristen is the lead graphic designer and project manager for Soundwaves.  She graduated from Sandusky High School and then Bowling Green State University where she studied graphic design and photography.  She has done a wide variety of freelance design work over the years.  Kristen has been with Soundwaves for 10 years and has gained a lot of experience in CD design.  She enjoys working directly with music educators to give them a final product they are excited about.

ENGINEERS

Dan Behnke —

I am the Technical Director at the University of Dayton.  I work with students on lighting, sound, and set construction for theatrical productions.  I teach several classes for the Department of Communication, such as Public Speaking, Interviewing, and Small Group Decision Making.  I also own a small sound company called Sound Alternatives, where I provide training and sound equipment to high schools, or for individuals who require sound reinforcement systems.  I am also a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees in Dayton. 

Tom Birchler —       tom@soundwaves.org

A resident of Livonia, Michigan, Tom sings and plays bass and guitar with several acts including The People’s Choice, Michigan’s longest established all-occasions band and The Paisley Fogg, a popular summer festival group.  Career highlights include national recognition in numerous songwriting contests, appearances on local and national radio and TV and a stint as lead guitarist with Motown recording artists Rare Earth. Tom studied television and radio at Michigan State University and is a graduate of the Recording Institute of America, using that knowledge to build and operate several project studios. In October 2007, Tom began working with Soundwaves, recording school, church and community ensembles throughout Michigan.

Dave Henderson —  

David Henderson is a free-lance recording engineer in Lexington, KY. He received music degrees from the University of Kentucky and The Eastman School of Music. Dave plays principal trombone with the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Lexington Brass Band as well as other groups, and often finds himself recording and playing the same concert. Dave usually records classical and jazz music, but listens to cartoon music when no one is around.

Ted Hough —  

Ted started recording with Soundwaves in 1999 and has spent his summers as the technical director of Hoover Auditorium at Lakeside, OH since 1997 engineering shows for hundreds of national artists.  He had 11 years of experience with Empirical Sound in Cleveland, OH installing and repairing professional sound and lighting systems.  He also worked as an audio engineer with McDougall Productions and was the audio engineer at Tower City Center in Cleveland, OH.  Ted began studying music in the Avon Lake Schools and continued with private instructors.

Matt LaFleur —  

With a love for making music since the age of fourteen, Matt has kept talent and great music close to his heart. Beginning by taking music lessons and playing in various high school rock bands, he graduated from Novi High School in 2005 with a passion for music. At that time he began taking an interest in recording, and pursued it with an Associate’s Degree in Recording Technology from Schoolcraft College in 2009. Along the way, he started playing bass guitar professionally, recording and producing bands in his home based studio, along with working live sound reinforcement, and starting live recording with Soundwaves Recording and other local bands. With the right knowledge of music and a good handful of projects under his belt, Matt is ready to make his mark in the recording industry, using creativity, a good ear and a genuine passion for great music of all types.

Mike Matter —  mike@soundwaves.org

Mike graduated from Sandusky High School and Ohio University in the 1970s.  He sang with the Ohio State University Men’s Glee Club and the Ohio University Swing Choir.  He has been the co-owner of Musicians’ Alley in Sandusky, Ohio, for the past 20 years.   Mike also serves as the Director of Worship and Music at the First Presbyterian Church in Norwalk, Ohio.  He is also the Business Manager for the Ashland Symphonic Youth Chorus and an assistant to the music department at Edison High School.  In addition to his duties at Soundwaves, Mike also provides sound engineering for many area functions.  He and his wife Patti are the parents of two wonderful daughters.

A. Jaye Nordling —     jaye@soundwaves.org

Head Audio Engineer for Spokane Opera House, Local 93 - I.A.T.S.E., 1980 to present, Journeyman. City Cable 5 Audio/Video Producer, Technician - Current. Technical Director & Audio Engineer for Spokane Symphony, Spokane String Quartet, & Spokane Opera. Trombonist, Vocalist & Announcer for 560th Air Force Band, Air National Guard Band of the Northwest, 24 years – Master Sergeant. Trombonist and Audio Engineer for Spokane Jazz Orchestra, 1978 to present. Vocalist with Top Flight Acapella quartet 1990 to present. Music and Audio Degrees from Eastern Washington University and Spokane Falls Community College. We are especially honored to have Jaye include engineering for Soundwaves in his schedule.

Chip Richter —    chip@soundwaves.org

Chip Richter is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and recording artist. He has released four albums of up-beat, inspirational music for kids and families. When Chip is not writing, recording or performing with his band “The Munks”, he lends his ears, engineering skills, and creative spirit to the Soundwaves Recording team.

Brad Shell —   brad@soundwaves.org

Brad graduated from Dover High School (Ohio) and then Ohio University with a Bachelors Degree in Percussion Performance. As a studio and touring musician, Brad has lived and worked in L.A. and Las Vegas and toured the country working with the likes of George Burns, Terry Richards, Suzanne Sommers, and groups such as The Coasters, The Drifters, The Marvelettes, Larry Raspberry, and Chip & The Munks. Coming back home to Ohio, Brad taught percussion for 9 years in the Carrollton Exempted Village Schools and continues to play professionally in bands and in the studio. We’re excited with what Brad brings to the Soundwaves Team as a musician, music educator, and engineer.

Eric Van Wagner —

Eric is a bassist/audio engineer/educator in Columbus, Ohio. As a bassist, he has played most styles of music - including over 50 theatrical productions and orchestral work with the "Moody Blues". As an audio engineer he has worked with clients ranging from national acts such as "The Afters" to elementary school choirs. He received his Bachelors in Music Education from Otterbein College in 1999, and has since returned to his alma mater to teach electric bass and head their new Sound Production program for the music department. Eric draws from all of these experiences to bring a fun and professional atmosphere to each project.