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SO HERE'S ME

Personal Profile

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At the Scarborough Bluffs on the set of Before Us. After Us.

On September 22nd, 2000 I was born to an english teacher and a part-time-tech-teacher-part-time-rock-musician. It was also canonically the day that the plane on Lost crashed!

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I grew up in suburban Colorado, graduated Erie High School in 2019, moved to Chicago to study at Columbia College Chicago for 3 semesters, then took a semester off (hooray COVID) and transferred to Toronto Metropolitan (formerly Ryerson) University. I graduated in June 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Production with a concentration in Radio and Sound and a minor in Psychology. While at TMU, I also worked a few on-campus jobs, helping to edit a podcast with Shawn Newman about arts organization research, and spearheading my own project (Spatial Immersive Geolocated Audio Experiences) in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity program.

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I was a huge nerd. Still am. I took a massive pile of AP Classes and had stellar grades, in addition to my extreme dedication to my school's choir program and my time as Senior Class President. But as my pile of Blu-Rays grew ever taller, I realized my true calling would be in the arts. So here we are! These days you can find me continuing my love for choral music in Singing Out, Canada's largest and oldest 2SLGBTQIA+ choir, scrolling through Tumblr, endlessly reorganizing my music library, and getting in a round of Slay The Spire.

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I've done a lot of fun jobs in my day, too! I've been commissioned to edit YouTube videos and podcasts and held the boom mic on many a short film set, I used to run the livestreams for CU Boulder's College of Music, I planned a queer prom, I ran shoots for an arts-and-crafts channel, and I even was a certified popcorn-slinger over a summer at an AMC.

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Come work with me! I add joy and creativity to any space I inhabit and I have a passion for kindness, accessibility, and innovation. Oh, and I've got a knack for troubleshooting and love trying new things!

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Education

Courses I've taken at Toronto Metropolitan University

Intro Single Camera Production, Intro Multi-Camera Production, Media Theory and Practice, Creative Processes, Digital Media Production, Intro Audio Production, Intro Psychology I and II, Media History, Production Theory, Media Writing, Immersive and Interactive Audio, Sound Media, Media Aesthetics, Psychology of Sexuality, Child Development, Children's Programming, Positive Psychology, Media Audiences, Radio Broadcasting, Project Development, Audio Post Production, Live Audio, Psychology of Art and Creativity, Technology Identity Creativity, Sound Synthesis, Thesis Project, The Art of Podcasting, Audio For Media Producers, Master Class Lecture Series

Courses I took at Columbia College Chicago

Radio Storytelling, Intro to Journalism, Photographic Practice, Introduction to Documentary, Documentary Production Module I and II, Creative Non-Fiction Beginner and Intermediate, Music and Media in Chicago (Honors), Writing and Rhetoric, Evolution of Sex (Honors), Quantitative Reasoning, Ballet Technique for Non-Dance Majors, Documentary Storytelling, Gay and Lesbian Studies, Intro to Dance Studies, Joyfulness and Well-Being

Sept 2021- June 2025

Toronto Metropolitan University (Formerly Ryerson University)

  • BA in RTA Media Production with a Concentration in Radio & Sound and a Minor in Psychology

  • ​Graduated with 4.010 Cumulative GPA

  • View my official transcript here!

Sept 2019- Nov 2020

Columbia College Chicago

  • Attended from September 2019 to December 2020 in the Interdisciplinary Documentary program

  • Was accepted into the College's Honors Program

Aug 2015- June 2019

Erie High School

  • Graduated with an AP Capstone Diploma and as an AP Scholar with Distinction and an AP Scholar with Honors

  • Cumulative Weighted GPA of 4.31

Employment

Research Assistant - The Creative School at TMU

May - September 2025

  • Participated in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity program, leading a project called "Spatial Immersive Geolocated Audio Experiences (SIGAE)"

  • Using the head tracking and spatial audio capabilities of Airpods Pro, developed a prototype program for spatial audio experiences that combine psychology concepts with the practices of audio artists to encourage a listener to train their brain to walk a path while deeply and presently listening to their environment

  • The entire research process is documented on the project website with the goal of providing learning opportunities for future TMU audio students.

Production Audio Assistance - RMN Media

January 2025 - Ongoing

  • After working with Cole Rutman, creator of RMN Media, on the set of his short film "Before Us. After Us.", I was asked to join his team of sound recordists, composers, and post-production sound designers to form crews for student and low-budget productions.

  • Visit RMN Media's website and LinkedIn page

Podcasting Technical Support - Mass Culture

June 2023 - April 2024

  • Using 8 hours of previously recorded interview audio, plotted and assembled 7 half-hour episodes of a podcast presenting the Research In Residence: Arts Civic Impact project

  • Assisted in ideation, oversaw and directed all scripted voiceover sessions, and recorded the final interview in the Allan Slaight Radio Institute

  • Contracted through TMU's "Catalyst" graduate research space

  • Utilized iZotope RX 7 to enhance, clarify, and repair previously recorded interviews

  • Learn more about the RinR project here and listen to the podcast

Production Assistant - Supernow

October - November 2022

  • Assisting in the planning and execution of low-budget shoots

  • Creating crafting tutorial content designed for young children

  • Videos hosted on Supernow

  • Unfortunately, Supernow as a project was pulled from development.

Usher, Greeter, Concessions - AMC Flatirons 

May - June 2022

  • Preparation, organization, and service of various concessions items

  • Cleaning theatres between showings

  • Scanning tickets and assisting guests in using box office kiosks

  • Issuing refunds

  • Assembling various concession equipment and performing opening duties

Livestream Operator - CU Boulder

September 2017 - April 2019

  • Letter of Recommendation from Dustin Rumsey

  • Operation of 4 remotely controlled cameras and assembly of a live feed.

  • Archival of each show on a DVD and a hard drive.

  • Working with staff and students on performance recordings

Co-Owner - LiviFilm Videography

August 2018 - December 2023

Youth Dance Intern - Out Boulder

February 2019 - May 2019

Figure Drawing Art Model

June 2019 - August 2019

  • Modeled 1-minute, 5-minute, 10-minute, 20-minute, and 30-minute poses

  • Worked with professional artists for donations

  • Out Boulder Program: Nudes With Tudes

  • Denver Art Society

and the winner is..........
Awards and Accolades

TARA Awards

Best Podcast

for "Soundscapes of Self"

Soundscapes of Self was an immersive audio documentary that served as my practicum project for TMU. In addition to winning the award for Best Podcast in 2025, it was also nominated for Best Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Project and Best Audio Post Production. It was an honor to receive this award and round out my university career with recognition for a project that I was exceptionally passionate about.

THE REVIEWS ARE IN!
See what people are saying about
"O"

Felipe Téllez

Composer - Advisor for Soundscapes of Self

"What distinguishes O is not only their technical ability, but also their instinctive
understanding of sound and narrative editing. Their sensitivity to texture, pacing, and
spatial dynamics is matched by a passionate engagement with their subject matter."
Visit Felipe's Website

Kristin Kingsley

Executive Artistic Director of Centennial State Ballet

"The young company members of CSB would not have seen a 2020/21 performance season without O Stecina and I am so proud of them from so many different aspects of the work."

Dustin Rumsey

Employer at University of Colorado

"As O has grown more confident, they've revealed their exceptional thoughtfulness and passion about what they do at the CU College of Music and I can whole-heartedly recommend them for a challenging program."

Kaitlyn Gentert

Social Studies Teacher at Erie High School

"O has the accolades and accomplishments sought after in top-achieving individuals, however, it is the individual’s love of learning, ability to learn, and all encompassing intellectual curiosity that sets O apart from the other candidates you have and will read about and consider."

Software & Hardware Proficiencies

Software

Adobe Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Audition, Illustrator, Media Encoder, Avid Pro Tools, Dante AVoIP, REAPER, Vital Synthesizer, iZotope RX 7, iMediaPix, Unity Game Engine, Xcode, OBS and Streamlabs OBS, Pinnacle Studio, Handbrake, VirtualBox

Hardware

Owned Equipment: Nikon D5600 DSLR, Zoom H1N HandiRecorder, Zoom H4N, Shure SM57, Blue Yeti USB Microphone, Hollyland Lark M1 Wireless Lav Set StreamCatcher HDMI Capture Card, Sennheiser HD280 Pro Headphones

Hardware Experience: Behringer X32 Board, KiPro Video Recorder, Vaddio Board, Canon VIXIA Camera, Sennheiser EW100 G3 Wireless Lav, Audio Technica AT897 Shotgun Mic, Zoom H1/H4/H6, Panasonic AC90, DVD/BDR Duplicator, VHS/MiniDVD/MiniDV/Video8/Cassette tapes Conversion

Volunteering and Creative Practice Hours Work

Audio Editor

Power in Heels Podcast
Season 7 & 8, 7/2022 to 5/2023

Responsibilities

  • Mixing audio from 3 different sources

  • Condensing interviews

  • Rearranging and clarifying segments

  • Creating intros, outros, and stingers

  • Assembling drafts and final edits based on feedback from hosts

Festival Volunteer

Chicago International Film Festival, 2019

Responsibilities

  • Assisting patrons at a Virtual Reality Cinema demonstration and cleaning equipment between uses

  • Assisting in sale and information distribution regarding festival memberships

Dance Volunteer

Canada's National Ballet School Adaptive Dance Program, 10/2022 to 2/2023

Responsibilities

  • Engaging with children ages 4+ with various physical, mental, and developmental disabilities in a creative movement class

  • Protecting instruments and equipment during classtime

  • Utilizing PPE and sanitization during and between classes

Talent

RTA Intermediate Single Camera Production, 2022

Responsibilities

  • Learning and performing speaking and extra roles for student productions

  • Taking direction from director and crew

Usher

Fall For Dance North, 10/2022

Responsibilities

  • Guiding patrons through the TMU theatre building and to washrooms before showtime and during intermissions at a live dance performance

  • Protecting musicians and equipment during an open-stage dance session

Board Op

For Ex-Sample & Camp or Cringe, 2022-2025

Responsibilities

  • Using remote controlled cameras to set up shots of radio show hosts and guests

  • Selecting and executing various transitions between shots to create a cohesive video feed

  • Providing occasional commentary for the radio show

Some more cool things I've been a part of!

I sang at Carnegie Hall

with my high school choir!

I acted in an FMV video game called Internet Court!

For a class I made a project about DVD menus, WITHIN a DVD Menu!

High School Extracurriculars

Grade 9

2015-2016

Activities

  • JV Tennis

  • GSA

  • Auditioned Treble Choir

  • Pit Orchestra (Violin, Hello Dolly)

  • Theatre Department (A Christmas Carol & Student Directed One-Act)

  • AP Human Geography (Score: 5)

Grade 10

2016-2017

Activities

  • District Honor Choir

  • Auditioned Treble Choir

  • Theatre Department (Student Directed One-Act)

  • AP US Government (Score: 5) and AP Seminar (Score: 3)

Honors

Grade 11

2017-2018

Activities

  • District Honor Choir

  • Called Back for All State Jazz Choir

  • Auditioned Acapella Jazz Choir

  • Auditioned Treble Choir

  • Green Team Environmental Club

  • GSA

  • AP Chemistry (Score: 3), AP Language and Composition (Score: 5), AP Research (Score: 4)

Honors

Grade 12

2018-2019

Activities

  • GSA

  • Auditioned Acapella Jazz Choir

  • Auditioned Treble Choir

  • Student Government

  • National History Day

  • Varsity Swim Team

  • Pit Orchestra (Violin, Blood Brothers)

Honors

  • GSA President

  • Senior Class President (Elected Position)

  • Education Foundation Student Advisory Board Member

  • Varsity Swimming Conference Finals Alternate for 500 Freestyle

  • Speaker at Senior Night of Reflection

  • News Director for Erie Tiger Network

  • Semi-Finalist at National History Day Regional Contest

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