The 2012 Music Producers Guild Prize, which rewards the most promising student to graduate from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) Sound Technology degree programme, has been won by Guy Clarke.
The prize was presented by MPG Chairman Steve Levine and MPG Education Representative Tony Platt during LIPA’s annual graduation ceremony, which took place yesterday. Also present was LIPA lead patron Sir Paul McCartney.
The aim of the Music Producers Guild Prize is to recognise the student who, in the opinion of his or her tutors, has shown the most exceptional talent, initiative, commitment and consideration to the art of music recording and production.
Jon Thornton, who heads LIPA’s three year BA (Hons) Sound Technology programme, says: “During his time at LIPA, Guy has always been a solid, dependable student producing good work. What impressed the staff team was the huge step forward that he made during his final year, particularly with regard to his production work. We hope that the opportunities afforded by the MPG Prize will only help to develop this momentum and his ultimate career trajectory.”
Originally from Liverpool but now based in Cheshire, Guy Clarke says he hopes the opportunities offered by the MPG Prize will allow him to explore a number of different areas of the recording industry.
“I’m so thrilled to win this prize and can’t believe how great the opportunities are,” he says. “While I’ve been studying I’ve engineered on some friend’s projects and done some stage management work for a company in Manchester, but I still don’t really know what path I ultimately want to take so having the chance to try lots of things will help me decide. I would like to say that I’m very grateful – both to the MPG and to my course tutors at LIPA who have taught me so much.”
Commenting on the Prize, Tony Platt says: “Guy is all set to have an amazing year, thanks to the unique opportunities that this prize brings. He will undoubtedly learn a great deal and once again the MPG is delighted to be able to support such a promising graduate from LIPA by offering him opportunities for “learning on the job”. Students like Guy are our next generation of producers and engineers and, as the hit makers of tomorrow, they have a vital role to play in ensuring the success of the UK’s music industry.”
Winning the MPG Prize will give Clarke the chance to develop and explore the recording techniques he has learned at LIPA and make valuable contacts within the professional sound industry. His prize includes the chance to shadow producer Ethan Johns, MPG Producer of the Year 2012 and winner of the BRIT Best Producer 2012 Award. He will also shadow producer Jake Gosling and attend an orchestral recording session with Award-winning engineer Haydn Bendall. Studio experience will be provided by Eastcote Studios and he will be given the chance to attend a mastering session with Mandy Parnell, winner of the MPG Mastering Engineer Award 2012. His technical expertise will be enhanced by a day at Avid’s UK headquarters where he will receive in-depth tuition on Avid’s flagship D-Control console and the System 5MC.
Robertson Taylor has offered to contribute towards the cost of Clarke’s travel and accommodation expenses while he is taking up these opportunities, and throughout the year he will be mentored by various MPG members including Steve Levine, Tony Platt and Mick Glossop.
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About Music Producers Guild (UK)
The Music Producers Guild (UK) is an independent and democratic organisation that encourages the highest standards of music production, and actively engages with other music industry organisations to campaign and lobby on matters of important mutual interest.
The MPG represents and promotes the interests of all those involved in the production of recorded music, including producers, engineers, mixers, re-mixers, programmers and mastering engineers. www.mpg.org.uk
About LIPA
LIPA is located in Sir Paul McCartney’s old school, the Liverpool Institute for Boys, which underwent a multi-million-pound renovation to turn it into a state-of-the-art performing arts higher education institution. It was founded by Sir Paul and Mark Featherstone-Witty and opened in 1995 with the aim of providing the best teaching and learning for people who want to pursue a lasting career in the arts and entertainment industry, whether as performers or those who make performance possible. www.lipa.ac.uk
