CalArts establishes new scholarship
In memory and honor of criticallyacclaimed Sound Designer Jory Prum, CalArts established the “Jory Prum Scholarship for Sounds that Redefine Normal” to support emerging artists in the school’s Music Technology and Experimental Sound Practices Programs.
Prum’s family created the scholarship and donated a total gift of $50,000 to support artists in the Herb Alpert School of Music. It is the first endowment fund dedicated to BFA or MFA level Music Technology or Experimental Sound students at CalArts.
He died April 22 at the age of 41 following a devastating motorcycle accident. Sam and Leslye Prum, Jory’s parents, used funds raised through a GoFoundMe.com campaign and personal contributions to support the endowed scholarship.
They chose to give the funds to the institution Jory Prum called “a wellspring of influence and education” in a March 2013 interview with CalArts’ 24700 blog.
“Jory entered the Institute with a passion for music, art, and technology,” Leslye Prum said in a statement. “It was there that he was surrounded by imaginative, divergent thinkers, who like himself, were designing their own paths through life.”
A 1997 graduate of CalArts (Music, Film/Video BFA), Prum was what many called an icon in the film and video game industries. He specialized in sound effects, dialogue, foley (reproduction of everyday sounds), orchestral scores and sound design and mixing.
He contributed to more than 130 video games, including games based on “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park,” “Back to the Future,” “CSI” and 2012’s Game of the Year “The Walking Dead: the Game.” His expertise extended to film as well, with his work appearing in “Lost in Translation,” “Adaptation” and Oscarwinning short “For the Birds.”
During his career, Prum received three Aggie Awards, a Spillprisen (Norwegian Game Awards) and Game Audio Network Guild Award.
“Jory was, quite simply, a brilliant sound designer and engineer who left his mark in the entertainment industry in a very short time,” said David Rosenboom, Richard Seaver Distinguished Chair in Music and Dean of The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts, in a statement.
“While we deeply mourn his passing, this scholarship is a wonderful tribute to Jory, whose memory will live on through the work of future Prum Scholars,” Rosenboom said.