Carolina Studios Corporation is a 501(c)(3) organization that was founded in 2001 by a group of individuals who shared a passion for music and a deep concern for Charleston’s at-risk youth.  In 2002, Mark Bryan, lead guitarist and founding member of Hootie and the Blowfish, joined Carolina Studios as its chairman.  Over the years, Carolina Studios has partnered Mark’s creativity and music industry expertise with the curriculum development expertise of other board members who are in the education field to enhance its curriculum to provide students with the opportunity to practice their computer skills, have a “real world” application of their common core fundamentals, and learn the basics of digital recording to express themselves.  As a result, Carolina Studios students have improved their behavioral skills both in and out of the classroom and gained other skills that benefit their ongoing education and future careers.  Since its inception, Carolina Studios has been recognized at both the local and national level for the unique opportunities it provides its students.

In 2011, Studio Transportation Inc. generously donated a school bus and once it was retrofitted to accommodate student workstations and an actual recording booth, the show literally went on the road!  The mobile studio greatly expanded Carolina Studios’ reach and it now serves approximately 1,100 students annually.  Carolina Studios partners with the Charleston County School District, Wings After School Program, Charleston County Parks and Recreation, Charleston Police Department, Carolina Youth Development Center, and Metanoia to provide sessions year-round at elementary, middle and high schools and various civic locations, as well as at occasional church and other local events.  In 2016, Carolina Studios expanded its program to serve two local special needs adult groups.