Gus Dudgeon Foundation + James Summer Course 2014

The Gus Dudgeon Foundation and JAMES have again run their Post Graduate Summer Course throughout the week 14 - 18 July at the Gus Dudgeon MCI Studio Suite based at The ATRiuM Campus of University of South Wales in Cardiff. 

Listen to a rough mix of the song recorded on the course - 'Earth from Space' by Caesars Rome

 

Guest Producer

Record producer and mixer Romesh Dodangoda led this year’s summer course producing Caesars Rome, winners of XFM Radio’s Unsigned Artist of the Week. Romesh has worked with many successful artists over the past 13 years. Specialising in Rock, Pop and Metal, his client list includes artists such as Motorhead, Funeral For A Friend, Twin Atlantic, Kids In Glass Houses, Bullet For My Valentine and many more.

 

Student Prizes Awarded!

Congratulations Zoe Vernon – Winner of the Student of the Week Prize (Studio Projects CS1 Microphone with a Studio Projects SPMS Mic Stand, a Studio Projects SPC-203X Litz Mic Cable, and a Studio Projects SPMPF metal Pop Filter – kindly donated by: PMI Audio plus a FULL SET of SSL Plug-ins – kindly donated by: Sonic State Logic

 

Summer Course 2014 Students

Jared Lucas - Anglia Ruskin University
"Jared has been the outstanding student academically in his year throughout his time here at Anglia Ruskin. His work in all areas is very thorough and he has achieved excellent marks throughout. Jared is a very enterprising young man, having secured for himself a number of high profile assignments and jobs, including work for the BBC to do all the sound work on the online Dr Who “A Fine Time Lord” which was done to raise money for Children in Need, work at the local Cam FM radio station and sound work in some local theatres. Producers and directors who have worked with Jared have praised him for his engineering skills and all round professionalism. I can only echo these comments – Jared has done a number of jobs for me in his time here, including being an excellent ambassador for both the course and university at Open Days and other public events. He thoroughly deserves this excellent opportunity to further his already considerable skills on this years GDF course."
John Ward, Course Leader Audio and Music Technology

Asha Blatherwick - Bournemouth University
"Throughout her time with us Asha Blatherwick has consistently performed well at all aspects of the course. She has approached her work with a professional dedication and enthusiasm and has completed an excellent final year project. Asha is invovled in all aspects of Music Technology: working for the Students’ Union as a production manager; working for the summer as a studio intern in the USA and undertaking a placement year as an interactive designer for students with special educational needs. I am very pleased to nominate Asha for the Gus Dudgeon Foundation Summer School."
Tom Davis, Course Leader, BSc Music and Audio Technology

Adam Whalley - Bucks New University
"Adam has been an excellent student on the Audio Music Production BA(hons) at Bucks New University he has excelled in all areas of study working on location recordings for films, live work in different venues but most of all in the studio with his recording and mixing skills. While he has been studying he has also developed his career setting up a website for production and mixing and more recently being an in-house engineer for Team Rock Radio where he has engineered numerous sessions for artists such as Slash, Alter Bridge, Cheryl Crow, Joe Bonamassa, Jonny Lang, Black Star Riders, Glenn Hughes, Scott Stapp, Goo Goo Dolls, Skindred, The Temperance Movement, The Virginmarys, Marc Ford, Richie Sambora, Deaf Havana, Rival Sons, Karnivool, Kenny Wayne shepherd, the answer and Robert Cray this extra curricular activity is just the kind of pro active student that you know will do everything to make his career succeed."
Natanya Ford, Course Leader, BA (Hons) Audio and Music Production

Matthew Burrows - Confetti
"Matthew is a musician, songwriter and producer. He has worked with a variety of clients on a range of projects. His credits include work with: Notts TV, Spool Films, Parisian Polo Club, Denizen Records, Joy Mumford and MOBO nominated artist Ram1.
Matthew has shown a natural ability in the subject discipline and coupled that with an exceptional work ethic, which has made him stand out not just to the course team but also to the various commercial clients which he has worked with throughout his studies. Matthew’s greatest strength lies in his ability to think creatively and apply this creative thinking to everything he does. We are sure that he will go on to achieve great things in his career."
Andy King, Subject Leader, Music Technology

Charlie Middlecot - University of Derby
"I have chosen to nominate Charlie Middlicott for this opportunity as he has proved, both at undergraduate and now at post-graduate level to be an excellent student. He is extremely well motivated and is hungry to learn and improve his skills. He gets on well with his peers and is very considerate with any artists he is working. I think he will get a tremendous amount out of the experience."
John Crossley, Course Leader, Music Production MA

Robin Jones - LIPA
"We nominated Robin because of his developing strengths not only in the technical aspects of recording, but also in the important area of interpersonal skills. A talented engineer and musician, Robin has brought his skills to bear on a number of local unsigned artist during his final year of study. The GDF / JAMES Summer Course is an ideal next step for honing these skills and developing contacts."
John Thornton, Course Leader, BA (Hons) Sound Technology

Joel Blackburn - Leeds Metropolitan University
"Joel has consistently demonstrated a positive attitude towards both his written and practical studies in studio production throughout the year. Joel has also worked hard to develop both his technical skills and his ability to collaborate with musicians, engineers and producers in the studio evidenced in two successful recording projects’."
Paul Thompson, Senior Lecturer, Music, Sound and Performance

John Kirby - University of Central Lancashire
"John has been an excellent student throughout his studies here at the University of Central Lancashire. His commitment to the Music Production course has been total and as a consequence his skills and knowledge have developed significantly. He is a very capable musician and his open, positive and enthusiastic nature makes him an excellent nominee for the JAMES/GDF Summer School."
Paul Greene, Course Leader, BA (Hons) Music Production

Zoe Vernon - University of South Wales
"Zoe has been one of the most committed students I have ever taught. She has consistently looked to further her knowledge and experience. She has always taken on any challenge and has been keen to go the extra mile. This has been reflected not just in the grades she has consistently achieved but in her development in all aspects of the course. She has acted as a rep for the course and has always approached that with the same determination. She is conscientious, hard working and fastidious in her approach to all aspects of her work never settling for “that will do”.
Andrew Gwilliam, Award Leader, BSc (Hons) Sound Technology

Mark Sinclair - University of the West of Scotland
"We have selected Mark for this experience due to his extremely dedicated and professional approach to all of his course work throughout the academic year. He has worked to a consistently high standard, applying himself admirably to all elements of his work. The combination of his production talent and his exemplary work ethic make him one of our real stand-out students this year. Mark has just been awarded a BA Commercial Sound Production with distinction."
Paul McGeechan, Programme Leader, Commercial Sound Production

 

About the artist - Caesars Rome

With influences ranging from Thrice, Brand New & The Beatles. CAESARS ROME from Bridgend, South Wales achieve a “wall of sound” with punchy verses followed by anthem-like choruses. Their music stands out courtesy of its power, enthusiasm and a great cinematic impact.

The band formed in 2007 with a line-up featuring Jonathan Hopkins (guitar/vocals), Kyle Smith (guitar), Richard Berry (drums) and Lloyd Griffiths (bass). In their first instance CAESARS ROME won XFM Radio’s Unsigned Artist Of The Week that got them regular national plays. Soon after they did a BBC RADIO 1 Live Session including the recording of four tracks live and a live interview on the Bethan Elfyn Show in Wales which led to national plays on the Huw Stephens show. CAESARS ROME has been fortunate to share the stage with other great bands such as Funeral For A Friend, Lower Than Atlantis and Twin Atlantic.

Their debut-album The Company We Keep was recorded with producer/ engineer Romesh Dodangoda (Kids in Glass Houses, Funeral for a Friend, The Blackout) in Long Wave Studios in Cardiff. After a run of shows and a European tour, CAESARS ROME entered Monnow Valley studio with Romesh Dodangoda to begin recording their sophomore release ‘BELIEVERS’ which was released via Lock & Key recordings on February 24th 2014