Miles Polaski '98

Miles Polaski ‘98 is a sound designer, composer, and musician. While at Trinity Prep, he acted in both school and civic productions and directed during his senior year. He was a member of the forensics team and performed humorous interpretation, dramatic interpretation, and duo interpretation. He founded and played trumpet in the Trinity Prep Pep Band. Miles also appeared at pep rallies as our former mascot, Nutty.

Miles worked as the resident sound designer at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, where he did sound design for more than 50 shows. Before joining Barter Theater, Miles worked as a freelance designer, composer, musician, and actor in Chicago, where he was a company member and resident sound designer with 2nd Story Theatre and Collaboraction Performing Arts Theater. Miles had the pleasure of working with Chicago’s best theater companies, including Chicago Dramatists, Steppenwolf, Goodman, and Fox Valley Repertory.

Miles says, “I am most easily identified as a theatrical sound designer, composer, and musician. However, what I really am is a storyteller. I help tell stories using sound effects and music. I have been involved in theater since high school and graduated from college with a double major in theater arts and communications in broadcasting. As a professional actor I was mentored by a fantastic group of artists, and they gave me tools and a basic philosophy. When I made the change from performing to sound design, I found that the fundamentals of all arts are shared.

“The highlight of my career shows itself every day when I realize that I have, through theater, met and worked with amazing people. They provide me with a safe place to experiment (where failure cannot exist); they support me, and they offer challenges as well as solutions to problems.”

Awards:

• 2011 Honor Award Recipient, Best Sound Design – The Kid Thing
• 2010 Joseph Jefferson Award Recipient, Best Sound Design – Mouse in a Jar
• 2009 Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination, Best Sound Design – Love of the Nightingale
• 2007 Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination, Best Sound Design – White People
• 2007 Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination, Best Sound Design – Equus
• 2007 Joseph Jefferson Award Nomination, Best Original Music – Equus
• 2006 Feldman Award Winner, Orlando Fringe Festival – SPORT