Hugh Kaine ‘27
Alumni Adventures is a series where I interview alums from St. Andrew’s and see what they have been up to after graduation. This issue centers on Mr. Conrad Osipowicz.
Mr. Osipowicz says that when it comes to the music industry, it isn’t “where you studied or what degree you’ve got,” but rather your “relationships and your connections.” These contacts, accumulated over an entire life of music, have led his Blue Room Studios to multiple years of awards for best recording studio in the D.C. area. These awards have drawn the attention of Netflix originals and customers from all over the world, including Cindy Blackman, incredible drummer and wife of Carlos Santana. Mr. Osipowicz claims his passion for music dates back to his childhood, performing in St. Andrew’s rock shows, the live band, and pep rallies.
Mr. Osipowicz grew up in the DMV, attending St. Andrew’s Episcopal School for his highschool years and graduating in 2005. When asked about memories from his time at SAES, he fondly remembered several teachers who helped motivate him and shaped his growth. He thoroughly enjoyed having the seventh-period Jazz Band with Mr. McCool and also mentioned Mr. Brandt, Ms. Robinson, and Mr. Haight.
Teachers could already recognize Mr. Osipowicz’s strong interest in music as well as his entrepreneurial drive as a high schooler. Mr. Brandt says specifically that “Conrad was very focused, knew what he wanted, and was willing to work hard to make it happen.” This just goes to show that teachers do remember and care about their students, even after twenty years.
The next four years of Mr. Osipowicz’s education were spent at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts. He played in several bands throughout college, making connections and relationships with many different musicians, which laid the foundation for his career. While living in Boston, he directed the live mix for one of the largest radio stations in New England. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Emerson, he then began to plan out the production of his studio. He put together his base model inside his home in Bethesda, containing a mixing room, recording booth, and live band area. Blue Room Studios – whose name comes from the fully blue room he started in – later opened to the public for the first time in 2008. He began serving as the Senior Engineer in this location, opening a second studio in Virginia with the same title years later. Daily, Mr. Osipowicz deals with local DMV talent, guiding the recording process and mixing and mastering the artist’s projects. Although Blue Room Studios attracts artists, shows, and podcasts needing mixing from everywhere, most of Mr. Osipowicz’s work revolves around returning customers. He is able to maintain these relationships and build loyalty with customers due to his friendly nature and broad experience within the music world. Blue Room Productions Studio was awarded the winner of “D.C.’s Best Recording Studio” in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Mr. Osipowicz says that he has “closer relationships with [his] high school buddies than college friends.” He also mentioned that he plans to pay a visit to St. Andrew’s and his past teachers sometime in the future to express his gratitude for the way they shaped and aided his musical interest. Alum Conrad Osipowicz would like all St. Andrew’s students to know that the key to success is to continue trying different roles and services, because, as he says, “you won’t really know what you like until you just try stuff.”