Past Program Highlights
GEMS
2017
Welcome to our first GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, Madrid Spain.
What a thrill this was, building the musical foundations that would grow in to what we now have. This was Christopher Youngs first ever film scoring program in Spain and his first of many to come. We kicked off by meeting Christopher Young at Madrid Airport with an Orchestra playing music from his films! Meet these fabulous, great young composers who joined us for our inaugural summer program and helped start our vision.
Check out the 2017 GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program!
Past Program Highlights
GEMS
2017
Christopher Young
Hollywood Film Composer Christopher Young arrived in Madrid, Spain July 2017, for his first ever film scoring program in Spain.
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"It’s an incredible experience!"
Mara Jimenez Ruiz
Sponsors & Awards
Every participant received one or more of these amazing awards from our sponsor awards partners. NATIVE INSTRUMENTS
POSITIVE GRID. SCORING THE SCREEN
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Check out the award winners here
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"A fantastic course"
Christian Ramirez Parrilla
Recording
Participants got to write a compositional cue to one of Christopher Youngs films & record it with a 12 piece ensemble, in a professional Recording Studio.
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Check out the music here
Do it! It’s great, incredible!
Eva Fernández
Scores
Each participant took home their own signed score from the feature, Spiderman 3 with a personal message added from Christopher Young.
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"I was so happy and proud."
Carles Tur
Fans
Spanish fans arrived throughout the program and the recording session, to meet Christopher Young, share & swap stories, take selfies, get LPs, CDs, DVDs, film posters and books signed, with the ever welcoming Christopher Young.
"I had the time of my life!"
Francesco Bortolussi
Composer Videos
Check out some of the final videos edited with the produced music tracks. Awesome!
""Great to conduct the orchestra!"
Joris Hermy
Madrid
Facilitating this unique summer program, was the beautiful capital city of Madrid, Spain, with its cosmopolitan vibe, parks, cafes, restaurants, historical and modern architecture and night life.
"Excellent course with great people"
Fernando Cabrera Perez
Classes
Participants had an amazing series of craft skilled based classes with Christopher Young, including compositional assignments, reviews, & individual one on one Mentoring sessions.
" I had the time of my life."
Francesco Bortolussi
Friends
A beautiful atmosphere of warmth and belief was created, that lead to great lasting friendships being made during the program, with composers from all over the world finding a common bond to share hopes & dreams together.
"The best experiences!"
Verónica Amaya Escrig
Interview
Christopher Young sits down with GEMS founder Nigel Ashley Lees to discuss his approach to teaching film scoring, career, mentoring and his experience on the GEMS film scoring summer program.
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Watch the interview here
"This was the best experience of my life."
David Palacios Alvarez
Positive Grid
The Fantastic Positive Grid were with us and supporting us from day one WONDERFUL!
"This has been one of the best experiences ever."
Veronica Amaya
Airport Music
We kicked off the GEMS Film Scoring Program, by welcoming Christopher Young at Madrid Airport, surprising him at arrivals, with our orchestra playing his music from Spiderman & Drag Me to Hell!
Check out the airport video here
"An unforgettable experience!"
Joris Hermy
Andy Hill
My old friend the wonderful Andy Hill, former Head of Music at Disney, came on board our first inaugural GEMS summer program in 2017. I got copies of his first book for all the participants and Andy gave a masterclass. Super Kick 0ff from the original Mr Disney!
"Top class course, friends for life!"
Clare Martyn
Mentorship
Each year GEMS students are invited to one on mentor session with Christopher Young - check out the composers interviews to hear what happened in their personal one on one with Christopher Young.
"TOTALMENTE RECOMENDADO"
Fernando Ortega
Press
Sound Track Fest Director Gorka spent 2 days at the program interviewing GEMS, Christopher Young and all the participants, providing students with valuable international press interview experience.
"Grazie Nigel, Fantastico"
Riccardo Belletti
Native Instruments
The Fantastic NATIVE INSTRUMENTS LOS ANGELES were with us once again and have been supporting us from day on. WOW! WONDERFUL!
"Friends for life after it!!"
Clare Martyn