Faculty Member Since 2024
Born in Champaign, Ill., Derek Linzy is a two-time Grammy nominated mixing engineer, music producer, and educator. He holds a master’s degree in music technology from Southern Utah University, a bachelor’s degree in communications from Eastern Illinois University and dual Associates in audio engineering and film postproduction/sound design from The Institute of Production and Recording.His 20-year career includes working with Prince, Coolio, and four-time Grammy nominated virtuoso-violinist Curtis Stewart to name a few. In addition to getting his start in the music industry creating his own production and recording demo studio with his younger brother called DLNZ Productions—he has worked in several recording studios including engineering and producing for Prince at Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minn., in 2013, as well as teaching at educational institutions such as The University of Illinois, and Spelman College in Atlanta.Linzy also serves as a mentor and voting member for The Recording Academy (The Grammy Awards). Throughout his career Linzy has established a great passion for producing, recording and live performance as a keyboardist and guitarist. Linzy’s career started in recording, beat-making, writing and teaching the craft of music and audio production. Outside of the music and audio world, Linzy loves reading, writing poetry and is an avid collector of VHS movies. What Linzy enjoys most from teaching at Spelman is the level of enthusiasm and engagement from the students. Whether they have previous experience or none at all, everyone seems to enjoy the process of learning something new while adding on to their skillset. What excites Linzy the most about music and audio production is being able to learn new technology and techniques occurring in the industry.Master of Music, (M.M) Music Technology, Southern Utah University
Bachelor of Arts, (B.A) Communications, Electronic media, Eastern Illinois University
Associate of Applied Science, (A.A), Media Arts and Audio Production, The Institute of Production and Recording
Associate of Applied Science, (A.A), Sound Design for Visual Media Postproduction, The Institute of Production and Recording
Music Production and Composition
Audio Engineering and Mastering
Sound Design for Film
Music Theory
Projects Produced, Recorded, Mixed and or Mastered by Derek "D-Linz" Linzy
Experience working with Prince at Paisley Park Studios
Grammy nominated Album – Of Love
Grammy nominated Album – Of Power “Down Beat magazine review"
Newspaper Interview: Artist spotlight