news category Education created 11 August 2014
The 2014 MPG Prize has gone to James Mellor – chosen by his tutors as the most promising student to graduate from LIPA’s Sound Technology degree programme this year.
Launched in 2010, the MPG (Music Producers Guild) Prize gives winning students from LIPA (The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) an opportunity to work alongside some of the UK’s top recording professionals.
MPG chairman Steve Levine (pictured, left) and MPG education representative Tony Platt (right) presented Mellor (centre) with his prize during LIPA’s annual graduation ceremony. Also present was LIPA lead patron Sir Paul McCartney.
Since applying to study at LIPA, Mellor worked with numerous local bands, including Go Fiasco, with whom he has engineered and produced an entire album, Meet My Mystery. The project took eight months to complete and involved recording, producing and mixing ten tracks in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound.
He has also been helping out at Liverpool-based studio The Motor Museum and was recently appointed house assistant/engineer.
“Over the next few months I hope to develop my skill set further and am honoured to have the opportunity do so by learning directly from industry professionals whom I greatly admire,” Mellor said. “I am extremely grateful to both MPG and LIPA for everything they’ve done to help me grow as a professional and look forward to the next year with great anticipation.”
Commenting on the Prize, Platt added: “Supporting, nurturing and encouraging young engineers and producers is a vital part of what MPG does and very important alongside the work we do under the auspices of JAMES. Gaining qualifications is only a small step on their journey and our aim is to enable standout students to be able to put their accomplishments to work as soon as possible so they can fully engage with the significant contribution that the UK makes to the global music industry.”
Mellor will now get the chance to develop and explore the recording techniques he learned at LIPA and make valuable contacts within the professional sound industry. In addition to a one year associate membership to the MPG, Mellor will get to shadow this year’s MPG Producer of the Year winners Alan Moulder and Flood at Assault & Battery Studios.
And that’s not all – he will also attend an orchestral recording session with MPG Award winner engineer Haydn Bendall, a mastering session with John Dent and receive opportunities to shadow Guy Massey and Dan Cox.
Studio experience will be provided by RAK Studios, and Mellor will be able to enhance his technical knowledge with a day at Avid’s UK headquarters.
PPL has offered to contribute towards the cost of Mellor’s travel and accommodation expenses, and throughout the year he will be mentored by other MPG members such as Steve Levine, Nicky Graham, Tony Platt and Mick Glossop.
This article was originally published by AudioPro.
