ArtistDirect News
Abbey Road Institute Opens Los Angeles Campus at Sunset Gower Studios
On June 29 2026, the Abbey Road Institute (ARI) announced a bold expansion into Hollywood: a new campus will open on October 26 2026 at Sunset Gower Studios, a historic 14‑acre Hollywood lot that once housed Columbia Studios.
The move places ARI’s next generation of producers and engineers at the heart of a studio that has seen the birth of cinematic classics such as It Happened One Night and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Located at Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street, Sunset Gower remains one of the city’s largest independent facilities, offering students the chance to work in a real‑world environment that has nurtured generations of talent.
ARI’s Los Angeles program is built around hands‑on experience. Students will record on Sunset Gower’s stages and will have scheduled access to United Recording, a nearby studio that has hosted artists ranging from Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole to Green Day, Radiohead and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. United Recording’s four studios are equipped with consoles that have contributed to more than a billion records sold worldwide.
The flagship course, a Diploma in Music Production and Sound Recording, follows an apprenticeship‑style curriculum that stresses industry workflow and standards. Graduates receive a diploma in Music Production and Sound Engineering. ARI plans to add diplomas in Audio Post‑Production for Film and TV and in Music Business in the coming years.
Faculty for the new campus includes Alan Meyerson, Barry Rudolph, John Boylan and Vanessa Garde, all established producers, engineers or musicians based in Los Angeles. Their teaching is aligned with contemporary industry expectations, focusing on mixing, mastering, recording techniques and studio management.
"Abbey Road Institute Los Angeles is the culmination of a long‑held dream," said CEO Rafa Sardina, a 19‑time Grammy and Latin Grammy winner who has engineered and produced for Stevie Wonder, Rosalia, Alejandro Sanz, Dr. Dre, Camila Cabello, Placido Domingo, D’Angelo and Lady Gaga. "I want to share the invaluable professional experiences of my closest musical colleagues and myself with outstanding new generations of mixers, producers, and other music and music business professionals. I can’t wait to welcome our first students and witness the beginning of their exciting career journeys."
Luca Barassi, CEO of ARI London, added: "We are thrilled to be working with Rafa and his team as we continue expanding our educational footprint in the U.S. Rafa has a strong affinity for how we teach, and an ambition to pass on his expertise to the next generation. Establishing our second U.S. campus in Los Angeles—a creative, dynamic and globally influential city—will provide students with an immersive experience at the heart of a thriving international music scene."
The opening marks ARI’s second U.S. location and expands its global network of professional music education. By situating the school in a studio that has served generations of artists, ARI gives students a learning environment that mirrors the technical and creative demands of the modern recording industry. The Los Angeles campus will therefore serve as a bridge between historic legacy and contemporary practice, offering students a unique opportunity to train in a space where cinematic and musical history converge.
With its October 26 opening, the new campus promises to attract aspiring audio professionals who seek a curriculum grounded in real‑world experience, taught by industry veterans, and delivered within a facility that has shaped Hollywood’s sound for more than a century.
The move places ARI’s next generation of producers and engineers at the heart of a studio that has seen the birth of cinematic classics such as It Happened One Night and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Located at Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street, Sunset Gower remains one of the city’s largest independent facilities, offering students the chance to work in a real‑world environment that has nurtured generations of talent.
ARI’s Los Angeles program is built around hands‑on experience. Students will record on Sunset Gower’s stages and will have scheduled access to United Recording, a nearby studio that has hosted artists ranging from Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole to Green Day, Radiohead and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. United Recording’s four studios are equipped with consoles that have contributed to more than a billion records sold worldwide.
The flagship course, a Diploma in Music Production and Sound Recording, follows an apprenticeship‑style curriculum that stresses industry workflow and standards. Graduates receive a diploma in Music Production and Sound Engineering. ARI plans to add diplomas in Audio Post‑Production for Film and TV and in Music Business in the coming years.
Faculty for the new campus includes Alan Meyerson, Barry Rudolph, John Boylan and Vanessa Garde, all established producers, engineers or musicians based in Los Angeles. Their teaching is aligned with contemporary industry expectations, focusing on mixing, mastering, recording techniques and studio management.
"Abbey Road Institute Los Angeles is the culmination of a long‑held dream," said CEO Rafa Sardina, a 19‑time Grammy and Latin Grammy winner who has engineered and produced for Stevie Wonder, Rosalia, Alejandro Sanz, Dr. Dre, Camila Cabello, Placido Domingo, D’Angelo and Lady Gaga. "I want to share the invaluable professional experiences of my closest musical colleagues and myself with outstanding new generations of mixers, producers, and other music and music business professionals. I can’t wait to welcome our first students and witness the beginning of their exciting career journeys."
Luca Barassi, CEO of ARI London, added: "We are thrilled to be working with Rafa and his team as we continue expanding our educational footprint in the U.S. Rafa has a strong affinity for how we teach, and an ambition to pass on his expertise to the next generation. Establishing our second U.S. campus in Los Angeles—a creative, dynamic and globally influential city—will provide students with an immersive experience at the heart of a thriving international music scene."
The opening marks ARI’s second U.S. location and expands its global network of professional music education. By situating the school in a studio that has served generations of artists, ARI gives students a learning environment that mirrors the technical and creative demands of the modern recording industry. The Los Angeles campus will therefore serve as a bridge between historic legacy and contemporary practice, offering students a unique opportunity to train in a space where cinematic and musical history converge.
With its October 26 opening, the new campus promises to attract aspiring audio professionals who seek a curriculum grounded in real‑world experience, taught by industry veterans, and delivered within a facility that has shaped Hollywood’s sound for more than a century.