Acoustic Barn - About Us

Rick Dior
Born in Brooklyn, New York Rick Dior began his professional music career at the age of thirteen, playing in and around the metropolitan area in various Jazz, Rock, Latin and Classical ensembles. He is a graduate of the Manhattan school of music where he studied with renowned timpanist Fred Hinger and Jazz Composer Bob Mintzer. He has also studied extensively with famed jazz drummer Joe Morello. Rick has performed live with some of the biggest names in the music industry including James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, Bobby Mcferrin, Lionel Hampton, Clark Terry, Bill Watrous and Marvin Hamlish among many others. Some of these performances have taken place with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, which he has performed with since 1990 as a section percussionist, principal percussionist and timpanist.

Rick’s recording credits are extensive and include movie soundtracks, CD releases and commercial radio and television spots. As an engineer and producer Rick has been involved in hundreds of projects, many which are currently available on CD (see our CD's recorded at the Barn Page). He is the owner, designer and builder of Acoustic Barn Studios, a complete production and recording facility. This is also the home base for Acoustic Barn Productions, a new record and publishing company specializing in Jazz, Classical and Ethnic music recordings. Recently Rick has been assisting grammy award winning engineer Rob Hunter on sessions for Branford Marsalis,Harry Connick Jr., Jimmy Cobb and Micheal Carvin.

As well as running the studio Rick is also the percussion instructor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and maintains an active private teaching studio. His private students have gone on to attend many prestigious music institutions such as The Julliard School of music, The Manhattan School of Music, The Eastman School of Music, The Cincinnati Conservatory, North Texas State University and The University of Miami. Many of these students are active as professional musicians.

As a composer Rick has written many compositions and arrangements for Jazz and Latin Groups as well as for the Charlotte Symphony and CSO percussion Ensemble. Most recently in 2001 he was commissioned by the Charlotte Civic Orchestra to write a Four Movement Percussion Ensemble work.

Rick currently endorses Vic Firth Drumsticks, Mike Balter Mallets and Paiste Cymbals.

Rick Dior(left) with Loonis McGlohan

Bob Rydel
Bob Rydel began playing the horn at age twelve. He attended high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy, and went on to study at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. While there, he studied with Richard Mackey, member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, in addition to playing with the Boston Philharmonic and Principal Horn with the New England Chamber Orchestra. Bob went on to play the National Tour of Sondheim's Tony-award winning musical, Into the Woods, and after which was Co-Principal Horn with the Orquesta del Principado de Austurias in Oviedo, Spain. Before coming to Charlotte to play in the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Bob spent time in the orchestras of Charleston, South Carolina, and Columbus, Ohio. He also plays regularly and has toured nationally and internationally with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Bob's recording ventures began with his company, Rye Recordings, which specialized in on-location recording of Classical music. He is also the Recording Engineer for the Bay View Music Festival, where he has overseen Sound Design for the Theater Department as well as recording for both replay and live broadcasts for Interlochen Public Radio.

Bob Rydel in the studio with mastering equipment.

Chuck Hawks
Chuck has been an Engineer/Producer since 1977 (back in the olden days!). Chuck had almost completed a degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering before switching his major. He has two degrees in Recording Arts and one in Computer Sciences. He is also a graduate of Full Sail School for the Recording Arts, class of 1983.

He has served in many roles other than engineer or producer as well including Talent Manager, Production Manager, Facility and System Designer, Equipment Designer/Engineer, and more. Chuck has even owned an audio equipment design and production firm. He has provided services for all types of venues; in-studio, live reinforcement, and live recording alike. In his time he has worked on projects and in studios with all types of artists and groups, from small to major. The list is way too long to list but among his favorites are artists like Adrian Belew, Eric Clapton, Confederate Railroad, The Degenerate Kings, and more regional artists like Chad Lawson, John O’Gorman, and Daryle Rice.

Chuck’s experiences over the years have led him to have an affinity for all types of music. You are just as likely to find him working on an orchestral project as a metal one. In fact, at one time he was known in the industry by the nickname "Noiz" because his personal musical tastes vary so widely that no matter where he was while not in-session, there was always someone around asking "what is that noise?!" When asked about it, Chuck says, "I have no musical taste –- I like it all!"

In recent years, Chuck has taken on video as well. He has written, directed, produced, and edited several videos and really loves playing in multimedia. Chuck says he loves working at "The Barn" because, it really matches his style: while a quest for perfection always exists, it is still a great, fun and laid back atmosphere.

Chuck Hawks in the Control Room.

For more information, contact us by email or by phone at (704)567-5728.