COMPOSITION
ORCHESTRATION
VIDEO GAME
RTVE
ORCHESTRAL
RECORDINGS
MANAGEMENT
AGENTS
PUBLICIST
SUPERVISION
LICENSING
SPECIAL GUESTS
Creative Programs for Creative People
​
The GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, now in its 9th year, has rapidly become the leading Number 1 Film Scoring Summer Program that puts you and your music right in the heart of Hollywood, through world class professional teachers covering composition for film and game, orchestration, concluding with an orchestral recording of your original composition and an opportunity to take you and your music to Hollywood.
The arc of the Summer Program follows the journey of your composition from conception to completion. Get your main title or film cue challenge in the composition program, have your score and parts reviewed during your orchestration program and performed and recorded by RTVE at the end of the program. Register now
REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2026 GEMS SUMMER PROGRAM
THE 2026 GEMS PROGRAM
SEE WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE SUMMER PROGRAM
MEET YOUR HOLLYWOOD TUTORS · GUEST SPEAKERS · MENTORS · ORCHESTRA
New and Returning 2026 tutors & guest speakers to be announced · Join Online or In-Person
SUMMER PROGRAM
WHAT IS THE GEMS SUMMER PROGRAM
Now in our ninth year, the GEMS Summer Program is a professional immersive experience bringing together creative participants from all over the world to study with Hollywood Composers and music industry specialists and to record a composition with RTVE, The Symphonic Orchestra of Spanish Radio Television, Spain's number one orchestra.
Participants join us for a 10 day program available online or in-person, spearheaded by Hollywood Composers who teach Orchestration, Film and Game Scoring, giving you a once in a life time opportunity to meet, work with at the same level as any Hollywood composer. Many of our tutors are Professors & Instructors at USC teaching in the world renown Screen Scoring program. The A Team!
WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM OFFER
This intensive program covers the entire creative arc for scoring for film and visual media. Participants will receive a composition assignment that follows them through each aspect of the summer program, concluding with an RTVE orchestral recording in the Teatro Monumental in Madrid.
​
Check out the programs below that are included in the
2026 GEMS Summer Program
COMPOSITION PROGRAM
What does the program offer?​
This intensive Composition program offers what the contemporary composer needs to know to work in film scoring. Participants will receive an immersive program from a Hollywood Film Composer. Participants cover class assignments, have composition and mock-up reviews and concluding the program with a massive 61 piece Orchestral Recordings of your composition written during the program or a composition you bring to the program by RTVE.
​​
Outcomes
Once successfully completed, composers will have new and additional compositional craft skills to create a memorable main title using song form. Build best practices for faster composition methods. Gain greater understanding of notation techniques and instrumentation selection and cover a range of scoring techniques for different style film cues. horror, thriller, suspense, comedy, drama, horror, action and romance, super hero. Experience industry standard workflows, collaboration techniques for working with directors and introduce current networking skills for meetings and pitches.
ORCHESTRATION PROGRAM
This intensive orchestration program is an opportunity for contemporary composers who are interested taking their compositions one step further by working with a Hollywood orchestrator. Participants are taught orchestration skills, given assignment challenges and receive individual score and part reviews of their work from from our Hollywood orchestrator, followed by individual score and part reviews by the faculty, prior to submitting to the librarian for your RTVE orchestral recording.
What does the program offer?
This program explores, the sounds and score notation related to each of the major instruments in the orchestra, and provides instruction on how to use those instruments in scoring and orchestrating for the screen. This will provide the contemporary composer what they need to know to successfully orchestrate their own and other composers compositions, thus broadening their career opportunities.
​
Outcomes
Once successfully completed, participants will gain an intimate knowledge of, and familiarity with, the sonority, range and unique dramatic aspects of all major orchestral instruments. This will provide them with the additional skills needed for a successful career composing and orchestrating for the visual media.
VIDEO GAME PROGRAM
This intensive program is an opportunity for composers who are interested in scoring for video game or cross over techniques between film and game scoring. Participants are taught amazing scoring craft skills, given assignment challenges and receive reviews of their compositions by a Hollywood Game Composer.
What does the program offer?
The program offers what the contemporary Game composer needs to know to work in video game. The types of music used in video game and how they are differentiated. From getting started in game scoring to an overview, how it works and what effects it has on how the composer writes his/her score. Transferable compositional skills from game to film.
​​
Outcomes
Once successfully completed, participants can focus on incorporating compositions using combat, action, aleatoric techniques. Understand the affects of adaptive music on your compositions. Further understanding of Video Games software composition options. Understanding compositional diversity for Video Games. Understand working for a Video Game studio, client, director or producer.​
COMPOSER TALKS
Each year, we invite film, game, series, & TV Composers to meet and talk with you about aspects of their careers.
After the GEMS summer program, GEMS alumni have been invited to meet, organised visits or had meetings with some of our many composer guests, leading to social and professional networking, composer internships, assistantships or jobs for Hollywood composers.
​
Meet some previous and returning Music Composer Speakers
​​Eimear Noone · Composer & Conductor
Starr Parodi · Composer & former President of the Alliance for Women Film Composers
Lolita Ritmanis · Composer & former President of the Alliance for Women Film Composers
Alfonso G. Aguilar · Composer & Producer & founder of Sounditi
Richard Bellis · Former VP ASCAP · Composer & Conductor
Andy Hill · Former VP music Disney
Zacarías M. de la Riva · Composer
Atli Örvarsson · Composer
Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders · Composer
Craig Stuart Garfinkle · Compose
Anze Rozman · Compose
Johnny Yates · Compose
Paul Farrer · Compose
David Julyan · Composer
Rob
MUSIC BUSINESS TALKS
Each year, we invite AMAZING leading music business industry professionals and specialists to meet and talk with you about what they do and how they do it.
All this to help you understand your role within the global music entertainment industry, make network contacts and look at how to design your career development strategic plan.
​
After the GEMS summer program, GEMS alumni have been invited to meet, organised visits, or had business meetings with some of our many music business guests, leading to artist representation, career development opportunities, social and professional networking and composer internships and full time assistants or team members for Hollywood composes.
​
Meet Previous and returning Music Business Speakers
​
Alexander Vangelos · First Artists Management
Chandler Poling · White Bear
Wise Music Group
Maggie Rodford · Air Edel
Ben Parry · London Voice
and more...
THE SOUND OF CINEMA
Neil Brand is a broadcaster for BBC Radio 4 Film Program and a Silent Movie Composer. Neil teaches his absolutely wonderful
Masterclass "The Sounds of Cinema" covering Noir soundtracks, Sound design, minimalist scores, the click track origin, synth sounds all in his AMAZING program.
​
Masterclass 1
Film score history overview, from Sound Cinema (1931) to Film Noir (50s). Includes Click Track, King Kong, Noir soundtracks and Bernard Herrmann. Demonstrating my own scoring of Hitchcock's silent Blackmail using those techniques.
Masterclass 2
Film score history from 50s-70s - rock, jazz, popular music, films about music. Demonstrating scoring comedy and my music for Chaplin.
Masterclass 3
Electronics, Sound design, how synth sounds can help and hinder. Demonstrating 'updating' a silent film by giving it a 'Hans Zimmer' score.
Masterclass 4
The effect of music, how it works on an audience, how less can be more, drawing on modern approaches to affecting what we watch. Demonstrating minimalist sounds.
RTVE ORCHESTRAL RECORDING
This is your chance to have your own original music performed and recorded by Spains national broadcasting orchestra, the legendary RTVE, Symphonic Orchestra of Spanish Television & Radio, RTVE. You will receive the very best attention from our faculty, the RTVE conductor and the orchestra, before, during and after your recording, thus giving you the ultimate top experience. A truly amazing opportunity to further your career development, your professional experiences and above all hear your music in its intended form, played beautifully by the RTVE orchestra.
​
What does the recording offer?
These amazing recording sessions will offer participants the opportunity to experience first hand, a professional recording of the highest level. Spearheaded by our conductor and performed by Spain's national broadcast orchestra. You will have access to create a live RTVE orchestral recording of your own original composition. Putting you firmly along side other established artists who have performed or recorded with the world famous RTVE Orchestra!
​
Outcomes
A professional RTVE orchestral recordings of your original composition is a first class accompaniment for your professional portfolio, allowing you to share with prospective clients, producers and directors your abilities to work and manage a professional orchestra. Additionally you may wish to use this opportunity to pitch for contracts offering an orchestral recording for a main title, short or cue, or a portfolio piece for a college application. Elevating your work from conventional sample library recordings to a composer with live orchestral music.
WOODWIND
2 Flute
2 Oboe
2 Clarinet
2 Bassoon
BRASS
4 French Horn
2 Trumpets
2 Trombones
1 Tuba
​
STRINGS
12 First violins
10 Second violins
8 Violas
6 Celli
4 Double Bass
​
EVENTS DURING THE PROGRAM & WELCOME PACK
FLAMENCO NIGHT PARTY
Each year, to celebrate the end of the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, we make our annual pilgrimage to the House of Flamenco, for a truly magical and memorable experience!.
VALENCIAN MUSIC & DANCE
To kick off the start the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program we bring the heart of Valencian culture, music and dance to you performed in the classroom or the theatre at the conservatory.
THE FLAMENCO SHOW
GEMS Events are hosted and performed in the classroom or the theatre at the conservatory giving you a front row seat. Afterwards you get to meet the performers and who knows get them to play on your next score.
SKYBAR WELCOME
We kick off the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program 2026 with our typical SkyBar Sunset Welcome at our favourite roof top bar in Valencia, where you can watch the sunset over the city, meet composers, faculty, drinks included.
RED T-SHIRTS
The AMAZING and unique GEMS Red T-Shirts exclusively for YOU. It’s a great way to feel part of something special, being together with all the other composers and faculty.
YOUR GEMS MAGAZINE
The GEMS Magazine is full of interview from our guests and tutors about their work and careers and a full page all about you! Plus, daily timetable, orchestral recording,
meetings and more.
DISCOVER VALENCIA, FOOD, CULTURE & BEACH
VALENCIA TOURS
Discover 5 amazing Valencia tours to choose from. All tours are private and exclusive for
GEMS composers, their partners, family and friends with a tour guide, lunch, drinks and transport.
SILVIAS SPANISH KITCHEN
This is your chance to learn how cook a typical Paella with a Valencia chef using traditional Valencia recipes and local ingredients, taking home an extra special delicious skill to share
with your family and friends
VALENCIA TOURS
Discover 5 amazing Valencia tours to choose from. All tours are private and exclusive for
GEMS composers, their partners, family and friends with a tour guide, lunch, drinks and transport.
Message from our
FOUNDER & PROGRAM DIRECTOR
NIGEL ASHLEY LEES
​
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!
I am absolutely delighted to welcome you to our GEMS Film Scoring Program 2026. A professional, exciting, dynamic and intensive film scoring program, specialising in advancing craft and industry skills for composers just like you!
GEMS provides you with your next step opportunity in your career as a composer, by introducing you to a professional network who can, do and have helped composers step across the river to the music industry side where you belong.
We bring together amazing, creative participants from all over the world, to study and work with award winning Composing, Recording, Orchestrating, Performing Professionals and Music Industry Specialists. Get ready to make some noise, meet your next best friends and have new adventures in music”.
Nigel Ashley Lees
PARTICIPANTS STORIES
RTVE
We have the privilege of recording our composers music with RTVE one of the best orchestras in Europe and Spains National Broadcaster Symphonic Orchestra
THE LOS ANGELES EXPERIENCE
Several participants from selected GEMS programs have been invited to visit and stay with Christopher Young + TILDEN HOUSE in Los Angeles
and been accepted onto the Masters Program at USC
THE HOLLYWOOD EXPERIENCE
Take a leap of faith and spend a month in Los Angeles at a beautifully furnished shared home, with fellow composers, writers, actors, and directors
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
Since we began, composers from 40 countries have attended a GEMS program, making new friends and professional contacts, in our global village - play
WOMEN COMPOSERS
Each year GEMS has offered scholarships for contemporary women composers to support diversity and equality within the creative arts - play
