Program Guide & FAQs

The 2026 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 RTVE the National Symphonic Orchestra of Spanish Radio and Television at the magnificent Teatro Monumental in Madrid, 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 2026.

What's Included:

RTVE 61 Piece Orchestral Recording

Film Scoring Program

Orchestration Program

Video Game Scoring Program

Orchestration Score and Parts review

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 if teaching

Mentoring 1 on 1 session · Christopher Young if teaching

Official Program T-shirt

Official Program Photos

Official Video of your RTVE Orchestral Recording

Lunch with a Tutor

All Social and Musical Events

Flamenco Party

New and Returning 2026 tutors & guest speakers to be announced

What's Included:

Christopher Young Film Scoring Program if teaching.

Mentoring one-on-one session with Christopher Young*

Awards · Scores · T-shirt · Certificates

Visiting Artists MasterClasses from the main program that coincide are included

*Conditions see T&Cs in the FAQs

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 three years, 2022, 2023 and 2024 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 2026 GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program will be held in Valencia with our partner college here:

July 1st - 10th 2026

The GEMS Summer Program will take place here:

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

10th July 2026

Calle de Atocha, 65 Madrid 28012 España

MAP Direction

Now! Registration is open now here

Admissions Deadline

Registration Deadline closes · June 1st 2026

Deposit Deadline closes · June 1st 2026

Tuition fees Deadline closes · June 1st 2026

Early Registration Discount Deadline

Early Registration opens · January 1st closes April 30th 2026

Early Deposit Deadline closes · April 30th 2026

Early Tuition fees Deadline closes · April 30th 2026

Scholarship Deadline

Registration opens · March 31st 2026

Scholarship announcement · April 7th 2026

Scholarship Deposit Deadline · April 14th 2026

Scholarship Tuition fees Deadline · June 1st 2026

Extended Admissions Deadline if places are still available

Extended admissions opens · June 1st 2026

Extended admissions closes · June 30th 2026

Extended Tuition fees Deadline closes · June 30th 2026

Tuition Fees here

APRIL 1st - 31st REGISTRATION DISCOUNT

Film Scoring Program with RTVE 61 piece orchestral recording · 2595€ a discount of 500€

Standard Tuition Fee:

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

ScoreLive 2026 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 RTVE 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 RTVE 61 piece orchestral recording · 2,785€

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. See T&Cs in the FAQs

Once registered, you can:

Pay directly

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 full remaining tuition fee payment here or by bank transfer by June 1st 2026

2. Or pay incrementally here or by bank transfer by June 1st 2026

Scholarship Tuition Fee

1. Pay your deposit here to secure your scholarship application by April 14th 2026

2. Pay your full remaining scholarship tuition fee payment here or by bank transfer by June 1st 2026

3. Or pay your scholarship tuition fee incrementally here or by bank transfer by June 1st 2026

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 2026 program as well as participants from previous programs, faculty and tutors.

All tuition payment fees must include your transfer fee charges. See T&Cs in the FAQs

The GEMS scholarships are for 1 Contemporary Female Composer and 1 Contemporary Male Composer. 600€ deducted from the tuition fee.

The 2 scholarships will be awarded on April 7th 2026 for 2 composers who have completed registration for the scholarship here by April 7th 2026 and who will deposit for the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program by April 14th 2026.

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.

For 2026 Scholarships, please visit our online application here

Your application check list deadline dates and items we requir

1. Register by April 7th 2026

2. Submit all items by April 7th 2026

3. Payed your Tuition Fee Deposit Payment by April 14th b if selected

4. Completed submit the 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 T&Cs in the FAQs

Software Requirements

If you are attending the GEMS summer program with the RTVE 61 piece orchestral recording you will require a computer with DAW software such as Logic, and you may prefer to bring a midi keyboard. We have several Midi Keyboards available to use during the summer program.

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 have an orchestral recording with the 61 piece RTVE orchestra. During the Film Scoring Program you are given an assignment to score, either 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 an original composition you have written to record with the RTVE 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. It must be an original piece of music written entirely by you.

Currently, since Coronavirus, regulations have changed and currently this is not available. 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 GEMS RTVE orchestral recordings will be catalogued and uploaded to our Dropbox account and made available within 48 hours after the recording. Alternatively, we can send the audio files via a file transfer platform.

All participants will need to send in a brief paragraph about themselves, and a photo for the GEMS Magazine by June 1st 2026.

Full details of this and the schedule are available in your GEMS Welcome Guide, 2026, 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 digital copy of your main 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.

• Remain seated during a recording

Deposits

All Deposits are fully refundable up to May 1st 2026

All Deposits are non refundable from May 2nd 2026

Tuition Fees

All Tuition fees are fully refundable up to May 1st 2026

All Tuition fees are half refundable between May 2nd - May 31st 2026

No Tuition fees refunds from June 1st 2026.

Cancellations

Late cancellations after June 1st 2026, 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 May 2nd - May 31st 2026 to pay for all program classes, services, orchestral recordings etc they have been allocated 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.

See T&Cs in the FAQs

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 Deposit by April 14th 2026 and the final tuition payment by June 1st 2026. Unclaimed scholarships will be redistributed in April 2026. 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 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 2026, 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. These can be added separately or for a single GEMS Members Tuition Fee. 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.

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.

Blog

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.

Your 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 June 1st 2026, once the program has started. Late cancellations after June 1st 2026, 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 2026, the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program may be postponed to 2027 and full refunds made to all those who had joined, deposited or enrolled. The published date for the GEMS 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, once confirmed teaching, could be offered a one-on-one mentor session, dependant upon availability.

Code of Conduct

For your RTVE recording we require a signed document confirming you agree to the recording terms and conditions issued to us by RTVE, that cover items such as behaviour during the recording, access to the the theatre and the recording, confirmation that the recording is original and you wrote, score and parts reviews, submission deadlines, etc. This will be presented to you during the summer program to sign. GEMS reserves the right to remove without refund any participant who fails to comply with our behavioural code of conduct.

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 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 or a similar 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 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 tuition fee and or joining the GEMS 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 Summer Program, Spain 2026, without notification.

All decisions by GEMS are final.

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