GUS DUDGEON FOUNDATION
+ JAMES SUMMER SCHOOL 2026
We're back again… and again…
The Gus Dudgeon Foundation and JAMES Summer School was again so successful last year that we have booked in again for 2026! This year's dates to put in the diary are Sunday 5 to Friday 10 July. Information will be sent out soon to course leaders of JAMES accredited courses with the opportunity to submit their 'top student' to attend the school.
Acknowledged to be the first residential studio in the world, Rockfield Studios has played host to many global artists - Oasis, Rush, Iggy Pop, Coldplay, Black Sabbath, Robert Plant, Manic Street Preachers to name but a few… and in 1975 was the primary studios used by Queen for the recording of the greatest pop record of all time Bohemian Rhapsody.
This is an amazing opportunity for the star JAMES students to soak up the vibes and learn from the engineers/producers who have worked with the best!
This is an amazing opportunity for the star JAMES students to soak up the vibes and learn from the engineers/producers who have worked with the best!
Patron: Sir Elton John
HOST
Some comments, after the 2026 event -
I've never had such great engagement with music and music tech talks with a group of students like this before. Just that environment as well as being at Rockfield Studios has been amazing
Josiah, City of St Georges University
Working on the desk is really nice, using all this legendary equipment and just being in the same space that many tracks have been recorded is just amazing.
Javier, University of Arts, London
You've really got to be mindful of a new space, you've then got to try a lot of things, see what's working, see what isn't.
Arthur, University of West of England
And the very successful week went something like this…
Huge thanks to Rita Campbell who co-ordinated the event and put together the write-up below.
Huge thanks to Rita Campbell who co-ordinated the event and put together the write-up below.
This year's GDF JAMES Summer School was by far the best one we've done - a truly exceptional bunch of twelve students, two amazing in-house masterclass engineers/producers (Tim and Josh) and one legendary and iconic residential studio in the stunning Monmouth valleys - Rockfield Studios were our hosts again this year and what a week it was!
Our first artist of the week for the students to record was the hugely talented singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist (with definite wow factor) Matt Le Vi - he bought his drummer, Caspar Durman and bass player, Llewellyn Parfitt, with him to record one of his tracks - I was spellbound when I got to the studio, Matt really is special and I can only see great things for him - I've never met such a grounded, humble talent with such start quality as Matt - keep and eye out for this one!
Our first artist of the week for the students to record was the hugely talented singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist (with definite wow factor) Matt Le Vi - he bought his drummer, Caspar Durman and bass player, Llewellyn Parfitt, with him to record one of his tracks - I was spellbound when I got to the studio, Matt really is special and I can only see great things for him - I've never met such a grounded, humble talent with such start quality as Matt - keep and eye out for this one!
The students spent the whole day with Matt, his band under the amazing support from John and Tim, Rockfield's in house masterclass engineer dream team - and all this on the opportunity to record and mix on the original Gus Dudgeon MCI 500 series desk (a truly beautiful beast!) Rockfield bought Gus's desk and have lovingly restored it and as of August 2025 has it installed in their main studio - what an absolute treat for these students, to actual get their hands on a desk so special, a desk that has been used for recording and mixing so many huge hits at the hands of Gus and his amazing productions for Elton John, David Bowie, Chris Rea, Joan Armatrading, Kiki Dee, Elkie Brooks, Jennifer Rush and so many more.
The incredible week at Rockfield also saw our students get to record a 2nd band called 'Storm Brewing' including a few members from Hawkwind - a rock outfit with jazz elements, a completely different sound to their first artist Matt Le Vi. This was an invaluable experience for these 12 star students from JAMES accredited Music production course from the UK and something they will never forget and also learn so much from. They take away a wealth of knowledge and lifelong friendships within their own music industry community - we wish them nothing but luck and all good things for their futures in this industry… this week a Rockfield will inspire them hugely.
Represented at the 2026 Summer School -
Glasgow Caledonian
University
University
University of Arts
London
London
City of St Georges
University of London
University of London
University of
West of Scotland
West of Scotland
Leeds Beckett
University
University
University of
Northampton
Northampton
University of
Winchester
Winchester
University of
Salford
Salford
Anglia Ruskin
University
University
University of
West of England
West of England
University of
Westminster
Westminster
University of
Hull
Hull
