Chris Pawlusek has become the 2013 recipient of the Music Producers Guild Prize, which rewards the most promising student to graduate from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) Sound Technology degree programme.
Launched in 2010, the MPG Prize brings enormous benefits to the winning student as it offers an opportunity to work alongside some of the UK’s top recording professionals. Prominent MPG Awards winners continue to be very supportive of the initiative, which also brings sponsorship opportunities from companies such as Avid and MPG benefactor Roberston Taylor Insurance Brokers.
MPG Chairman Steve Levine and MPG Education Representative Tony Platt presented Chris Pawlusek with his prize during LIPA’s annual graduation ceremony, which took place today. 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: “Chris’ work, particularly during his final year, demonstrated not just technical excellence, but also exceptional maturity in terms of musicality, working with others and constantly pushing for that extra one per cent in what is achievable.”
Chris Pawlusek already has some engineering experience having worked as a freelance at Far Heath Studios, Northamptonshire, since 2009. He is currently completing an EP for Liverpool band Nine Tails.
He says: “I’m really delighted to win the MPG Prize. I want to develop my production and engineering skills and this prize offers me a fantastic opportunity to do that, and to make new contacts in the audio recording industry.”
Commenting on the Prize, Tony Platt says: “We are ever mindful that the pathways into music production are very different from those that were available to established producers and engineers when we entered the industry. By directly linking graduating students who are only just starting to carve themselves a career with top professionals, we are able to provide the fortunate winner with a strong first footing. I am once again amazed by how much this year’s winner, Chris Pawlusek, has already achieved during his three years at LIPA and I am delighted that we can contribute to the next phase of what will no doubt be a glittering career.”
Winning the MPG Prize will give Chris Pawlusek the chance to develop and explore the recording techniques he has learned at LIPA and make valuable contacts within the professional sound industry. In addition to a one year associate membership to the MPG, Pawlusek will also have the opportunity to shadow producer Al O’Connell, MPG Engineer of the Year 2013, and Charlie Andrew, MPG Breakthrough Producer of the Year 2013. Pawlusek will also attend an orchestral recording session with Award-winning engineer Haydn Bendall and attend a mastering session with Matt Colton, winner of the MPG Mastering Engineer Award 2013. Studio experience will be provided by Snap! Studios, winner of the MPG Best Studio Award 2013, and Pawlusek’s 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 5 Fusion.
Robertson Taylor has offered to contribute towards the cost of Pawlusek’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, Nicky Graham, 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.
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.
