The GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, Spain is an AMAZING Experience. Designed for composers, musicians, producers, performers and creative innovators, of any age, nationality and country of residence, who are interested in film composition, or are all ready working as a composer in the global film and visual media industry.

We seek passionate, focused and motivated participants who are original, innovative and ready to learn, contribute and create. Composers who feel they can take on the creative challenge to tell an original story through music.

If you want to learn from amazing an Award Winning Hollywood Composer. If you want to meet inspirational new friends, network with industry professional guest speakers and instructors, then this program is for you.

If you want to share your music with an award winning composer during a mentor session. If you want to hear your composition played live and recorded by the RTVE 61 piece orchestra and take your creative skill set and career forward, then this program is for you, and we look forward to welcoming you to the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, Spain 2025.

What's Included:

RTVE 61 Piece Orchestral Recording

Christopher Young Film Scoring Program

Dr. Juanjo Molina Composition Program

Video Game Scoring Program

Orchestration Program

Managment Agent Publicist Music Supervision Licensing talks

Your Digital Recording

Full copyright and ownership of your recording

Access to all additional MasterClasses or Talks

Awards · Certificates

SpiderMan 3 · A3 score cue signed Christopher Young

Mentoring 1 on 1 session · Christopher Young

Official Program T-shirt

Official Program Photos

Official Video of your RTVE Orchestral Recording

Lunch with a Tutor

All Events

Flamenco Party

New and Returning 2025 tutors & guest speakers to be announced

What's Included:

Christopher Young Film Scoring Program

Mentoring one-on-one session with Christopher Young*

Awards · Scores · T-shirt · Certificates

Visiting Artists MasterClasses from the main program that coincide are included

*see FAQ 21

Our past and present instructors and guests are from the Award Winning Hollywood film scoring community, Industry Professionals, including tutors from the esteemed University of Southern California (USC) film scoring program.

Our GEMS faculty are both experienced composers and established academics teaching music in Spain and the USA. Check out past and present faculty and tutors

To date over 200 composers from 42 countries around the world, have attended various GEMS programs since our launch in summer 2017.

Inspirational and talented Composers, Musicians, DJs, Producers, Artists, Sound designers, Singers and Performers from all over the world have joined us, so you will be working in a true creative global village, meeting fellow participants bringing new, exciting and different skills and processes to the program.

39% of our participants have been women composers, and since our inception, we have offered our Contemporary Woman Composer Scholarship to support equality within the profession.

For the past two years, each year 2 GEMS composers have won a place at USC to study the Film Scoring MA, giving us probably the highest admissions acceptance rate of any school college university or summer program in the world!

Each year, we welcome participates from undergraduates, masters students, new composers entering the industry to award winning established professional composers on to the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, Spain. You are about to make new friends for life, from our diverse international community, building creative, cultural and professional relationships and work opportunities.

One way to get an idea about the type of composers who will be joining the program is to look back at who has previously joined and also returned on our review page. Read our participants reviews here.

Meet the participants and watch their interviews about the program. Interviews here

On our annual GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, Spain we create a warm, kind, friendly, welcoming, inclusive, positive vibe, in a supportive and safe environment.

We are a creative laboratory for the contemporary musician and creative artist by constantly developing, stimulating and improving our educational experiences and environment each year.

We know that you have made a big effort to attend and we want you to feel you made the right choice joining us. So please do check out our participant interviews and reviews, to find out what they thought about the program and see if it is the kind of program you would want to be a part of and join.

Read our participants reviews here.

Meet the participants and watch their interviews about the program. Interviews here

The GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program will be held in Valencia with our partner college here:

July 14th - 22/23rd 2025

CSMVALENCIA

Conservatorio Superior de Música Joaquín Rodrigo

Calle de Ricardo Muñoz Suay, nº 4 46013

Valencia

Spain

MAP Direction

The RTVE orchestral recording will take place here:

Teatro Monumental

22/23 July 2025

Calle de Atocha, 65 Madrid 28012 España

MAP Direction

Now! Registration is open now here

Admissions Deadline

Registration Deadline closes · June 1st 2025

Deposit Deadline closes · June 1st 2025

Tuition fees Deadline closes · June 1st 2025

Early Registration Discount Deadline

Early Registration opens · January 1st · closes April 30th 2025

Early Deposit Deadline closes · April 30th 2025

Early Tuition fees Deadline closes · May 1st 2025

Scholarship Deadline

Registration opens · March 1st 2025

Scholarship announcement · May 14th 2025

Scholarship Deposit Deadline · May 1st 2025

Scholarship Tuition fees Deadline · May 21st 2025

Extended Admissions Deadline

If places are still available after June 1st:

Extended admissions opens · June 1st 2025

Extended admissions closes · July 1st 2025

Extended Tuition fees Deadline closes · July 1st 2025

APRIL REGISTRATION DISCOUNT

Now until May 14th 2025

Film Scoring Program with TWO x 61 piece orchestral recording · 2995€ a discount of 695€

Standard Tuition Fee:

Now Open

Film Scoring Program with ONE 61 piece orchestral recording · 3095€

Advanced Tuition Fee:

Applies May 14th 2025

Film Scoring Program with TWO 61 piece orchestral recording · 3695€

ScoreLive 2025 Finalists Tuition Fee: 25% scholarship

Everyone who entered the competition who is a finalist is awarded: 25% scholarship discount for the Standard Tuition Fee: Film Scoring Program with ONE 61 piece orchestral recording · 2,295€

ScoreLive 2025 All non finalist participants Tuition Fee:

Everyone who entered the competition who is not a winner or a finalist is awarded: 10% scholarship discount for the Standard Tuition Fee: Film Scoring Program with ONE 61 piece orchestral recording · 2,795€

Returning GEMS Members Tuition Fee Discount:

Contact us for tuition fee details with the year of your attendance

Tuition Fee Deposit:

Deposit · 500€

One Day Pass

One Day Pass · 350€

All tuition payment fees must include your bank, paypal, stripe, or any transfer fee charges. These can be paid upon or before arrival.

Once registered, you can:

1. Pay the full tuition fee here.

2. Pay your deposit here when you register to secure your place on the program, and pay the remaining tuition fee here

Pay in Steps

If you choose to deposit, then to complete your tuition fee payment, you can:

1. Pay your remaining tuition fee payment here or by bank transfer by June 1st 2025

2. Continue to pay incrementally here or by bank transfer by June 1st 2025

Scholarship Tuition Fee

1. Pay your deposit here to secure your scholarship application by May 1st 2025

2. Pay your remaining scholarship tuition fee payment here or by bank transfer by May 14th 2025

3. Continue to pay your scholarship tuition fee incrementally here or by bank transfer by May 14th 2025

For free transfers in Spain we accept Bizum

For Bank Transfer payments, please Contact us for our bank transfer details

Once your tuition fee payment has been completed, you will be sent:

1. A letter of Confirmation

2. Your Summer Program Welcome Guide

3. An invitation to join our GEMS Facebook group where you will meet other participants joining the 2025 program as well as participants from previous programs, faculty and tutors.

All tuition payment fees must include your transfer fee charges.

Our 2 scholarships are for 1 Contemporary Female Composers and 1 Contemporary Male Composers. 600€ deducted from the tuition fee.

The 2 scholarships will be awarded during May 2025 for 2 composers who have registered and deposited for the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, Spain 2025 by May 1st 2025.

To qualify you need to submit all the required supporting documents and deposit, register for the full program. If selected you will be notified by GEMS via your registration email.

Scholarship Submissions here

For 2025 Scholarships application please visit our online application here

Your application check list items we require are:

1. Register and deposit by May 1st 2025 - (deposits are refundable)

2. Submit all items by May 7th 2025

3. Conclude your Tuition Fee Payment by May 14th 2025 if selected

4. Submit the following required items on the Scholarship Admissions page here including:

5. A URL link to your music

6. A photograph

7. Curriculum Vitae

8. Your Personal Statement

Conditions see FAQ 21

Software Requirements

If you are attending the GEMS summer program with the 61 piece orchestral recording you will require a computer with DAW software such as Logic, and you may prefer to bring a midi keyboard.

Also, the scoring software Sibelius is recommended to create your score and parts for the 61 piece orchestral recording to share your score for review during your Orchestration ScoreReview. Our faculty provide technical support for Logic andSibelius.

You can get free trials for Sibelius

You can get free trials for Logic

You will need a computer with a scoring software such as Sibelius to create your score for review during the program.

All score and parts are now sent digitally to RTVE. They are not printed.

Participants on the full summer program can choose from either one or two orchestral recording with the 61 piece RTVE orchestra.

During the Christopher Young Film Scoring Program you are given an assignment to score a mail title or cue from a selection of features scored by Christopher Young, including Drama, Action, Comedy, Marvel, etc. You can record your original score from that composition assignment with the 61 piece RTVE orchestra. Check out the participants who recorded a main title here

Alternatively, you can bring in another original composition you have written to record with the orchestra. It must use some or all of the orchestral lineup advertised. Check out some participants who brought in a different piece of music to record here

If you select the two RTVE Orchestral Recording sessions, you can record any two of your own compositions over the two days, or the main title/ cue assignment on day one and another of your own compositions, on day two.

Currently, since Coronavirus, regulations have changed and currently this is not able. This may change as we get nearer the date. Check in with your program advisor for updates.

Wood Winds: 2.2.2.2 2 flutes 2 oboe 2 clarinets 2 bassoon

Brass: 4.2.2.1

4 French Horn

2 Trumpets

2 Trombones

1 Tuba

Strings: 12.10.8.6.4

12 First violins

10 Second violins

8 Violas

6 Celli

4 Double Bass

Percussion: 1 timpani 2 players for orchestral percussion maximum 2 instruments for each player 1 Harp

Sufficient time must be provided in your score for players to switch instruments during the recording of your composition.

Your RTVE orchestral recordings will be uploaded to Dropbox, and made available from the following day within 48 hours.

All participants will need to send in a brief paragraph about themselves, and a photo for the GEMS magazine by June 1st 2025.

Full details of this and the schedule are available in your GEMS Welcome Guide, 2025, once you have registered and paid your tuition fee.

The GEMS magazine is great way to be remembered by our Tutors, Faculty, Guest Speakers, fellow composers and selected music industry GEMS contacts. You will be sent a URL link to upload your text and photo once you have paid the tuition fee, and given your own copy of the magazine on the first day.

• Be prepared to have an amazing day and have fun

• Be punctual and on time for your recording

• Be safe, bring a spare printed copy of your main score and PDF score and parts to the recording

• No food drink to be taken in to the live room or booth

• Be professional in the live room or the booth, during other composers recordings

• Mobile phones must be switched off during the live recording

• Remain respectful towards fellow finalists, technicians, staff and musicians

• Do not enter the live room whilst a recording is taking place.

Deposits

• Standard Deposits are fully refundable up to May 31st 2025

• Standard Deposits are non refundable from June 1st, 2025

• Discount Deposits are non refundable after March 31st, 2025

Tuition Fees

• Tuition fees are fully refundable up to May 31st 2025

• Tuition fees are half refundable between June 1st-30th 2025

• No Tuition fees refunds from July 1st 2025, or once the progam has started.

Cancellations

• Late cancellations from July 1st 2025, are not refundable or transferable to another person or to the following year.

• Once deposited, the participant is obliged to pay the half tuition fee if they cancel between June 1st-30th 2025 to pay for all program classes, services, orchestral recordings etc they have been alocated and have been booked for them.

Pandemic

• Should anything globally significant should occur or the program is unable to start due to further restrictions of the Coronavirus Pandemic or any other similar issue, all fees will be full refunded regardless of the date.

please see FAQ 21 for details

Do I own the music

Yes. You keep full ownership, all the authors rights to your original music you submitted. Your recording is for non commercial use. Should you wish to publish or use your music for any commercial or professional use, you will need to contact the orchestra and recording studio for a licence.

Scholarships

GEMS Scholarships recipients must complete the tuition fee payment by May 14th 2025. Unclaimed scholarships will be redistributed in May 2025. GEMS Scholarships are only accepted for the full GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, and the amount will be deducted form the standard tuition fee. ScoreLive and March Discount recipients are not eligible, as every ScoreLive participant automatically receives various discounts. The scholarships can only be used for the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program 2025, and are not transferable.

Returning GEMS Members Tuition Fee

The returning GEMS Members Tuition Fee, is an exclusive tuition fee for GEMS composers who have previously attended the summer program. It does not include the orchestral recording, the one on one mentor session, the orchestral score review. This can be added separately. Please contact GEMS for further details.

Original Work

For rights reasons, the music you submit, compose during the program and record with the orchestra, must be your own original composition.

GEMS have the rights to use any content we make of the participants or that includes the participants from the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program. All photographs, audio and videos taken during the program, the videos of the orchestral recording session, your audio composition recording, interviews, written texts and blogs, to use in our promotions, marketing, admissions campaign across our social media and websites, and publicity for future GEMS programs. If you elect to edit the GEMS multi camera recording of your RTVE orchestral recording you will provide GEMS with a copy of your RTVE orchestral recording video.

By joining the GEMS program you do agree to provide a non-exclusive perpetual license to GEMS and founder Nigel Ashley Lees, to share, perform, and promote all or a parts of your work created and recorded on the GEMS program to help promote the program for future participants.

Blogs: If you are awarded a GEMS Scholarship, you will be asked to write a daily blog during the program. This must be completed and published each day. Include a 50 word minimum text and 1 photo relating to the text. Videos are not included in the Blog. The full tuition fee is liable should the Blog not be completed.

The Recording

The recordings will last approximately 15 minutes. Maximum length of time for your composition is 2 minutes, 30 seconds. Recording times are guided and managed by GEMS, the RTVE conductor and RTVE, who decide if your composition was successfully recorded and who may move on to the next recording even if you have minutes remaining. If you have not successfully completed your recording in the 15 minutes, no additional recording time above 15 minutes is provided.

Orchestration Review

If you have been advised to make orchestration changes to your composition during your one on one score review from the tutors for your orchestral recording and you chose not to make these changes, and submit your score and parts without these recommended changes, this may effect the quality, time and playability of your composition, which could result in an incomplete recording, or missing the recording. If you require additional support and attention on your compositions, outside of what the program offers, we can provide an individual orchestrator to work full time with you, during the program, for an additional fee, to prepare your music for the orchestra.

Transfer Charges: If you pay your full tuition fee via PayPal/Stripe, the final fee we receive, will be less than the fee you transferred, as PayPal/Stripe take a transfer fee. Depending upon your country this PayPal/Stripe fee can be over a 100€. We will share with you the receipt on the amount PayPal / Stripe / Bank fees taken off the tuition fee that we have received, the amount charged by PayPal/Stripe transfer fee, and the amount left to complete the full tuition fee. Please note that these transaction fees via your bank, PayPal or Stripe (credit card) need to be paid upon arrival.

Returns Transfer Charges

GEMS will return your admissions and or deposit fee with deducted bank, credit card or PayPal transfer charges we incurred upon receipt. Any return fee charges incurred by GEMS or by the recipient will not be included. Admissions fees will be returned via the same platform from which they were issued where possible. No refunds from July 1st 2025, once the progam has started. Late cancellations from July 1st 2025, are not refundable or transferable to the following year.

All tuition payment fees must include your transfer fee charges. Please check with your transfer provider for their transfer fee charges. Transfer fee charges can be also paid separately upon arrival at reception or a transfer fee free platform.

Cancelation

If sufficient participants are not received by June 1st 2025, the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program may be postponed to 2026 and full refunds made to all those who had joined, deposited or enrolled. The published date for the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, may be subject to change, due to the Coronavirus, any future pandemic, international travel restrictions, or other for any other reason. We advise all transport and accommodation bookings should be made once GEMS have confirmed the program will go ahead. Participants are fully responsible for any cancelation or costs for their own travel and accommodation arrangements.

Individual Programs

Due to limited time, participants on the full GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program are prioritised for all one-on-one sessions. Returning GEMS composers and participants on individual program with Christopher Young, could be offered a one-on-one mentor session, dependant upon availability.

GEMS Videos

Copying, duplicating or publishing any or all of the GEMS videos or audio provided to participants during the summer program is strictly prohibited.

GEMS reserves the right to remove without refund any participant who fails to comply with our behavioural code of conduct.

GEMS reserve the right to make all changes to the program, add updates, remove without notice and cancel parts of the program without notice, remove and or replace without notice advertised tutors, faculty, guest speakers, events, programs, change the dates of the program, change the location of the program and the recording, change the orchestra, change the orchestral lineup, delay, postpone, reschedule or cancel the program. All GEMS scholarships are nullified should the program not take place.

Coronavirus Refunds

If the program is cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, you will receive a full refund at what ever stage of the application process you are at. If the program is delayed, postponed, rescheduled, due to the Coronavirus pandemic or a similar pandemic, you can either continue to secure your place on the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program for the new date, with your tuition fee or deposit payments, or if you are unable to attend a new date, have a full refund.

Terms and Conditions

This FAQ page and our privacy policy represents our summer program terms and conditions. By registering, paying the deposit or tution fee and or joining the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program you agree to these terms and conditions. GEMS may change these without notification.

GEMS may need to change, move, delayed, postponed, rescheduled or cancel the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, Spain 2025, without notification.

All decisions by GEMS are final.

If you still need help, don’t hesitate, don't wait, email us music@gems.courses