Staff Profile

Personal Information

Fred joined Newcastle University in July 2013, shortly before graduating from the University of Huddersfield with a BSc (Hons) in Music Technology and Audio Systems. Before coming to Newcastle he worked extensively in all aspects of live music from local gigs to major arena tours. He is an experienced studio manager, broadcast technician, videographer, VJ and educator.

Fred finished a PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education and Training at Northumbria University in 2016, which he now uses to inform his teaching practice across a range of modules and in the summer of 2017 achieved the status of Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is also a Member of the Institute for Science and Technology.

His interests lie in music production pedagogy, adaptive sonic interaction, recording technology and the influence of technology on music production aesthetics. He is currently researching new ways of classifying and communicating timbral ideas in professional and educational settings. His previous work includes designing and prototyping adaptive binaural spatialisation systems using optical head tracking.

Outside work, Fred enjoys making bread, running, spending time with his cat (Kiki) and pretending he knows something about wine.

Role and Responsibilities

Fred's current role combines his positions of Lead Music Technician and Associate Lecturer under a combined specialist role. He is responsible for leading the music technical team and for delivering technical teaching in music production and associated areas of music technology. Fred's role allows him to organise technical support for regular concerts, recitals, streams and public events. He manages budgets associated with facilities upgrades, contingent staffing and general maintenance and directs the music technicians' priorities. He leads on Health and Safety within Music and develops processes and policies to enhance student experience and protect departmental resources. He contributes to a variety of committees within the department and engages with colleagues across the university and the wider sector on emerging technologies, including the impact and utilisation of LLMs.

Fred is based in the Music Studios, but is often found in the Armstrong Building.

Fred’s experience gives him a wealth of knowledge in Concert Hall, Studio and Live recording techniques, in addition to being an expert in sound reinforcement. Fred oversees the school’s lighting truss and rigging, ensuring appropriate health and safety standards are met in all situations and arranging annual inspections.

Fred has been responsible for booking, organising and setting up a variety of different events, such as mixed media Fine Art installations, MA Creative Arts Practice final shows and a variety of conferences and spoken word/multimedia events such as The British Science Festival, Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts Festival and the China Independent Film Festival. He also regularly works with Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts.

Fred is proficient in video production workflows, including live concert streaming - the results of which can be found on the Music Newcastle University YouTube Channel. As a result, he is currently the lead on streamed content within the school and has directed the technical operation of a variety of large-scale and complex events, such as the hybrid Royal Musical Association Conference 2021, directing and training a technical team and resolving technical issues over 9 venues.

In 2021 Fred led on a major studio upgrade project, specifying, tendering and constructing new studio setups for the university's Music Studios, in addition to upgrading every rehearsal space and public address systems.

Qualifications

PGCE Post-Compulsory Education and Training (Distinction), Northumbria University, 2014 - 2016

BSc (Hons) Music Technology and Audio Systems (2:1), University of Huddersfield, 2009 - 2013

Memberships

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Member of the Institute of Science and Technology

External Projects/Consultancy

Primary contributor to the curriculum design of NCFE's Creative Media Technician T-Level (2021/22)

Managing Director of North East Audio, providing AV solutions and consultancy across the North East and beyond.

Professional Certifications

AVID Pro Tools Certified Instructor (Sept 2017 - present)

AVID Pro Tools Certified User (Sept 2017 - present)

IPAF 3a (Valid until December 2027)

Event Safety Passport

Previous Positions

Associate Lecturer, Newcastle University (2014 - 2023)

Music Technician (0.6 FTE), Newcastle University (2013 - 2023)

Event Technician, Freelance (North East Audio)

Audio & Visual Editor, Durham Share Sound, Orchestras Live - (2021)

Digital Media Technician (0.4), Culture Lab (2014)

Production Coordinator, Oxjam Music Festival

Studio Technician, Bluerooms Studios at The University of Huddersfield

Studio Credits

Summer Days - The Upside - Producer (2023)

Long Live The Woman - Eliza Gutteridge - Producer (2022)

Outstanding in Our Field - The Upside - Mix Engineer (2021)

Una casa umile ma onesta - Riccardo Alderigi - Mastering Engineer (2016)

Awena - Wes Finch - Additional Recording (Concertina) (2015)

Film Credits

Care (dir. Dr Alastair Cole) - Post-Production Mixer (2023)

The Stagg Do - Post-Production Assistant

Installations

Sound Mixer/Design - Missing Time by Serena Korda at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art - 8th February 2018 - 28th May 2018

Sound Editor/Mixer - The Bell Tree by Serena Korda at Speke Hall National Trust Property - September 2018 - March 2019

Media

2022: AMS Neve Featured Clients

2022: Discussing the Neve 8424 with SXPro

2012: Featured in The Independent's Student Supplement for his charity work with Oxjam Music Festival.

Since 2014, Fred has linked his PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education and Training to his work with Newcastle University, running workshops and instructional lessons on music technology and studio recording. This has set Fred in good standing to deliver sessions and lectures on these subject areas for a number of modules. Due to his passion and education in adult pedagogy, he has received exceptionally positive module feedback as a result of the variety of teaching he has undertaken.

MUS1010 - Studio Production

Fred takes a leading role in the revived MUS1010 (previously MUS1005 & MUS1015), delivering sessions on studio recording, editing and mixing. These modules aims to provide the student with core skills in techniques of music production in the recording studio. It aims to help the student build upon or learn from scratch studio approaches and techniques, and to ultimately cultivate a musically intelligent practice and a practical musical intelligence. Skills learned inform stage 2 and 3 modules in composition, analysis, and performance, as well as offering secure theoretical grounding for historical and cultural theory modules.

MUS2015 - Contemporary Studio Practice

Fred previously wrote and taught on MUS2015, a module centred on studio composition and experimentation, incorporating music production into a collaborative and original environment. Students taking this module produce a portfolio of studio composed works and also a larger work in the second semester with a unified theme. This module gave a good foundation to students wishing to produce an album or large recorded work in their final year of study.

MUS2018 - Contemporary Musical Materials

Fred delivered sessions on MUS2018 which examine the use of musical materials through historical, social and technical lenses and attempt to use lecture sessions to engage students whilst boosting their confidence to share their own knowledge.

Project Students

Fred also works with final year project and dissertation students interested in projects dealing with coding, digital instrument design, acoustic analysis, studio production, online streaming and other music technology-related subjects.