Jon Zielke - St. Louis area Sound Designer

I am a recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, and I hail from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. I love to design sound for theater. I started in sound twelve years ago and I am grateful for all of the experience I gained through working a variety of different jobs ranging from designer to engineer to technician. At Washington University, I have filled mostly a design role for shows, and as a result I have grown significantly in my ability to craft great sound designs.

My philosophy of sound design always centers around the telling of the story on stage. Of course, each show varies wildly in this regard, and so too does the needs of its soundscape. I believe that sound should avoid being the focus, while at the same time always being present in some way, shape or form - even in the form of silence. Sound can be a powerful tool to emphasize certain moments and captivate an audience without them even realizing it, and I strive to craft a sound design which helps to bring the story to life.

Between theater shows I also served as a freelance live sound engineer / FOH technician for small bands, musicians, theaters, and houses of worship in the greater Saint Louis metro area. While at WashU in St. Louis, I designed sound for the Performing Arts Department working in both the A.E. Hotchner studio and Edison Theatre spaces. I have also worked with All Student Theatre, and Thyrsus student theater groups as a sound designer and audio consultant. I also designed sound for TLT Productions, the Gateway Center For Performing Arts, and Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis.