Columbia Audio Arts Student Works With Wu-Tang Clan鈥檚 RZA on John Lennon Educational Tour Bus
Rebecca McQueen鈥檚 experience came about thanks to Columbia鈥檚 strong connection with Dolby鈥檚 educational division. 
The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, now in its 27th year, brings a fully equipped, mobile recording studio to students across the U.S. and Canada.
A peek inside the Lennon bus. Earlier this summer, concertgoers at Chicago’s United Center came to hear Wu-Tang Clan. But Rebecca McQueen, a senior in the School of Audio and Music at 汤不热视频, came to work and learn. Hours before the hip-hop group hit the stage, she stepped inside one of the most unique mobile recording spaces around—the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus—ready to engineer tracks, test new technology, and collaborate with music industry pros.
About the Lennon Bus and Dolby
The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus, now in its 27th year, brings a fully equipped, mobile recording studio to students across the U.S. and Canada. Thanks to its educational partnership with Dolby Creator Lab, the bus is equipped with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision mobile production studio and provides music creators, educators, and students with hands-on access to Dolby creator tools and resources. The bus hosts free workshops and recording sessions at schools, universities, festivals, major industry events—and, as McQueen experienced, on tour with headlining artists.
Columbia Connections Count
McQueen’s experience came about thanks to Columbia’s strong connection with Dolby’s educational division, which presented the opportunity to Ben Sutherland, interim director of the School of Audio and Music. David Knuth, director of audio engineering and operations at Columbia, recommended McQueen, an Audio Arts major concentrating in music recording, and she quickly jumped at the chance.
“I’d never worked with Dolby Atmos before, and I wanted to experience it firsthand,” McQueen says. “As a recording engineer, I push myself to meet more people, gain new skills, and work in professional environments. This opportunity checked every box.”
Inside the Bus
Once aboard, McQueen dove into a recording session in the bus’s compact but powerful studio. She used Logic Pro to capture fellow student musicians laying down bass lines and other tracks, learning techniques for mixing in immersive Dolby Atmos.
“I’d used Logic before,” McQueen says, “but they showed me features I’d never tried. I also learned how Atmos works—from speaker setup to how a mix surrounds the listener.”
A Surprise Guest
The session took an unforgettable turn when Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA climbed aboard.
“We played him our mixes, and he gave us feedback,” McQueen says. “We even made tweaks together before the show. That was surreal.”
After the session, McQueen and her peers headed backstage to watch Wu-Tang Clan perform live. For her, the day fused career-building experience with direct access to artists at the top of their craft.
Career in Motion
This summer, McQueen is interning with Force Music Group at Pressure Point and Baseline, assisting in both studio recording and live sound. She says the Lennon Bus session sharpened her skills and deepened her commitment to the field.
“I love working in the studio, but I’m also drawn to every part of the music industry,” she says. “That day on the bus connected me with new people, new tools, and a professional-level workflow. It reinforced that I’m on the right track.”
A Busy Summer: From Prague to Chicago
Before stepping onto the Lennon Bus, McQueen attended a global marketing study abroad program in Prague. There, she worked with “Vogue Czechoslovakia” to design a strategy for reaching Gen Z audiences.
“We met with the publisher and presented our ideas,” she says. “We also networked with local fashion and arts professionals. It showed me how marketing can intersect with music and confirmed my desire to keep traveling.”
Holding dual U.K.–U.S. citizenship, McQueen says the trip strengthened her confidence to pursue international work. “I’d love to live in Europe someday,” she adds. “Traveling on my own through these programs proved I can make it happen.”
