Located within the Palace Theater in downtown Hamilton, NY, is a cozy space where artists can create and develop new audio and video projects. Fully equipped with professional recording equipment, the space encourages artists’ creative processes in a supportive environment.
The Studio at the Palace Theater was designed as a space for mentoring, workshops and collaboration.
“For many people, the creative process can be intimidating, discouraging, and expensive. Our desire is to give you the space to learn, grow, and create alongside top notch mentors and professionals while gaining hands-on experience with professional level equipment,” the Palace Theater’s website explains.
Creators are invited to submit project proposals, ask questions and meet with mentors for consultation through the theater’s website. This aspect allows them to have as much or as little guidance as they need throughout the entire process. The studio highlights that it is open to artists of all levels, so this extra guidance can be extremely helpful for creators who are just getting started.
Junior Sarah Cryan is a member of the band Safety Fourth, which recorded at the studio in March 2023 with Colgate University Television (CUTV).
“It is, first off, super cool aesthetics-wise. It was also great to have a sound professional to make sure that we had enough takes and that everything sounded well-balanced. My favorite part was feeling like professionals for a moment,” Cryan said.
Not only is the space run by a professional-level staff who are there to help creators throughout the process, but it is open to artists from throughout Central New York. This helps the theater bring in talent from beyond the Colgate community. The theater also often hosts events with these artists, where members of the community can watch them perform. On Aug. 26, the Palace Theater hosted one such Artist Showcase, inviting the Hamilton community to come to the studio and listen to the work of a local musician, Nick Piato.
Junior Cooper Lowell has performed at the studio on a number of occasions and worked closely with the staff there.
“I worked with Henry Howard once before I got an opportunity to record some music in his studio. The audio equipment and instruments were just top notch. And Deacon Mark Shiner, an amazing man and an amazing drummer, set up the drums for the space and it was everything a drummer like me could ever ask for,” Lowell said.
The Studio at the Palace Theater is a place for artists to come together and create projects they are passionate about under the guidance of professionals. This space is unlike any other in the Hamilton area and is unique in its emphasis on bringing in creators of all levels.
“I wish this space was more widely known to the Colgate student body,” Lowell said.
This seems to be the mindset of most of the artists who have been lucky enough to make use of this space, including Cryan.
“It was a super random, quick and easy experience. The people were great. The music was great. The photos were great. It is an awesome space that I hope others get to make the most of,” Cryan said.
Colgate University Television’s series “The Attic” features many videos of recording sessions that take place in the Studio, each featuring a different artist, and can be found on their YouTube channel. The theater also regularly announces upcoming events on their website, including Artist Showcases in the studio and other performances that are taking place.
