Past Program Highlights
GEMS
2024
The GEMS 2024 summer program was our 8th program and second in my home town of Valencia. What a joy this was to share this magical city with our composers, faculty and guests, the beach, the medieval city center, the lakes and rice fields, the arts and science city and of course, the food!
This year we welcomed composers from all over the globe and partnered with the magnificent Conservatorio Superior de Música Joaquín Rodrigo to host this years program, before heading off to record with the RTVE Symphonic Orchestra in the Teatro Monumental Madrid.
Check out the 2024 GEMS Summer Program!

Past Program Highlightst
GEMS
2024
Christopher Young
The fabulous Golden Globe & two-time Emmy nominated composer Christopher Young, returns on top form, with his exceptional Film Scoring Program. Passionate about melody writing, Christopher brings new insights and ideas about melody writing for film to composers and in the final challenging assignment, to score one of his main titles. Christopher continues to create his own musically synergy between himself and each composer.Nothing less than a huge success!

"This was one of the most inspiring time in my life!"
Gabriel Romberger
Nigel Ashley Lees
Founder & Director of GEMS, Nigel Ashley Lees has a vision to create dynamic, exciting, enjoyable & purposeful, quality music education programs for people wishing to enter the Global Entertainment Industry. Bringing together professionals, industry specialists, educators, award winning music experts and composers to share craft skills & career development best practices for students entering the global entertainment industry.

"The GEMS course one of the best experiences of my career!"
Stefan Ilievski
Johnny Yates
Award winning composer Johnny Yates joined us for a very personal talk about his work as a film and series composer, his creative process, music contracts, working with directors, the importance of trust, and his great advice and tips he learned based on his own early experiences of networking, really connected with our composers. Such a pleasure to have had Johnny with us.

Nigel, both himself and his program, are 100% absolutely the best there is overseas."
Christopher Young
Ivan Capillas
Ivan Capillas is a former GEMS Alumni and multi award winning composer who just knows how composition works. Ivan's spectacular masterclass in Composition is a must for all composers. Ivan also assisted Pete Anthony during Pete's orchestration program, and brought a ton of joy and professionalism to the GEMS summer Program. Extremely funny guy who is a must have composer on your next movie project.

"A great musical experience for me"
Andrzej Gladkowski
Frankie Camera
Fantastic composer, orchestrator, educator and instructor. Frankie Camera is a part of the GEMS score preparation and review team. Frankie also joined us as Studio Manager day 2 of the RTVE recordings. Frankie is also a GEMS 2021 alumni who were the first composers to record with RTVE. Frankie spoke Japanese to our Japanese composer Yukino Takehana during the score review which brought a great deal of shock followed by delight on Yukino's face. Bravo!

"A great musical experience for me"
Andrzej Gladkowski
Alberto Anaya
Alberto Anaya is a part of the GEMS score preparation and review team, who joined us this summer from the USA supporting composers with additional orchestration score preparation for the RTVE orchestral recording. Totally professional, supportive and such a welcomed addition this summer.

"Friends for life after it!!"
Cameron Moody
Gabriel Romberger
"This summer I am so happy and overwhelmed that I won the 2024 ScoreLive Competition. I still can’t believe it!Congratulations to all the other finalists and big thanks to Nigel, Juanjo and Ivan. I am looking forward to seeing you all in Spain!”

I feel rejuvenated motivated than ever to pursue my own creative endeavours
Polina Tserr
Flamenco Party
Every year celebrate a Spanish cultural experience like no other with our composers. Our legendary GEMS Flamenco Night Party. This year we rock up to RADIOCITY home to live music since 1979, here in the heart of the old town in Valencia, Spain. Check out this fantastic Flamenco trio. What a moment!

“I had the most incredible experience"
Polina Tserr

SkyBar
This year the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program came from the beach city Valencia. We meet every year on a rooftop hotel to watch the sunset and get started meeting your next best friends. This year we were in the Town Hall Square watching the sun go down, making new friends, listening to flamenco in the rooftop.

"This is such a high level film scoring program"
Svetlana Krylova
Pete Anthony
Pete Anthony is one of the most hard working and exciting orchestrators in the industry today. Pete generously gave GEMS composers back to back daily masterclasses over the week on orchestration and finishing with individual score reviews before composers headed of to the RTVE orchestral recording. Leaving our GEMS composers with a massive injection of orchestration knowledge.

"I've had 2 incredible weeks in Valencia that I will never forget!"
Mirela Baba
RTVE
RTVE is one of the best orchestras in Europe, and we have the absolute privilege of recording with the National Symphonic Broadcast Orchestra for our composers final orchestral recording as part of the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program here in their HQ the Teatro Monumental in Madrid.

" I highly recommend GEMS! An incredible learning experience."
Caroline Bordignon
Anze Rozman
After a short break (10 years jaja) I catch up with the wonderful Anze Rozman, Emmy nominated composer, cellist and all round great guy, to talk about his career, his work ethic, leaving home to work in LA, working with Hans Zimmer, and the importance of teamwork and trust. He left the class breathless with his honesty, openness and kindness. A wonderful fella. Go check out Beckham on Netflix!

"Thank you Nigel for such a wonderful experience."
Emma Trowbridge
London Voices
Ben Parry joins us for the third year to talk about LONDON VOICES whose choir has sung on some of the greatest films and songs you know! LONDON VOICES are exceptional! Founder Terry Edwards had a vision and ethos which Ben as Director & Manager continues to this day. Ben gave a great talk about working with composers, the process, and insider tips + stories.

"Incredibly passionate & animated about this wonderful chance I had to learn with GEMS."
Samuel Wright
Patrick Kirst
We have been trying to work with Patrick for years, finally our situations alined and Patrick joined us this summer for the Orchestration Individual Score Review, his contribution and guidance was amazing to hear thoughtful, clear direction. After meeting on the GEMS, Patrick generously invited one of our 2024 GEMS composers to attend a recording in LA.

"A great musical experience for me"
Andrzej Gladkowski
Neil Brand
Returning Masterclasses Sounds of Cinema with Silent Film Composer, Author and Broadcaster, Neil Brand who rocks us with his amazing knowledge of film music history in his excellent Masterclasses during the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, Valencia, Spain covering Film Noir, Electronic music, Sound design, Minimalist music, Pop and Rock music. Plus, we get to see him interview some of the worlds best directors and film composers, and each composer received a copy of his brilliant TV series. Yeesss!!!

"GEMS was an amazing experience!"
Edwin Miller
ScoreLive
This summer amazing composers who registered and entered the ScoreLive Competition to score the Shadow of War trailer video from our collaborator Warners. Bros. and the Main title competition all joined us on this summers Gems Music Film Scoring Summer Program, Valencia Spain as part of their prize as the Winner, Finalists, TOP 12’s and Runner Up’s. Can't wait to hear their live Orquesta y Coro RTVE orchestral recordings they wrote and watch their videos.

I feel rejuvenated motivated than ever to pursue my own creative endeavours
Polina Tserr
Flamenco Dance
To welcome our illustrious guest of honour, The fabulous Golden Globe & two-time Emmy nominated composer Christopher Young, we start with a surprise GEMS Events Live & direct Flamenco performance in the 400 seat theatre at the Conservatorio. The quartet have a magical performance that you only ever get with Fantastic, Passionate Virtuosos.

"This was an invaluable and unforgettable experience."
Christoph Peters
Magazine
The GEMS Magazine is our annual introduction to meet the composers joining us for the GEMS Summer Program, share their work and their story. We also include GEMS Alumni composer interviews, reviews about GEMS Alumni visiting Los Angeles, profiles on the guests and tutors and some industry new and career extras for the GEMS composers eyes only!

I joined the Gems from Japan, and it was totally worth it!"
Ayaka Nakamoto
Garry Schyman
BAFTA winning and BAFTA nominated composer Garry Schyman gives another one of his fabulous masterclass USC programs on Video Game Scoring. Garry brings with him such a clear delivery of musical composition for video game and its cross over applications, it is without doubt the best game scoring program ever.

"had an amazing time at the GEMS Summer Program.”
Levente kovacs

Yulia Protasova
Yulia Protasova is a GEMS Alumni and an award winning composer receiving the 2024 SGAE Award for Best Original Soundtrack at the Sitges International Film Festival. Yulia, is assistant to the Program Director, Social Media creator for all our posts and assistant to Maestro Christopher Young. Yulia provided calm creative support + direction for composers preparing their RTVE orchestral recording. Producers and new Directors check out this great composer!

"A great musical experience for me"
Andrzej Gladkowski
Paul Farrer
The Fantastic Paul Farrer joined us for a talk about his career and the amazing challenges of writing great theme tunes, the importance of trust, fees and working on projects. WOW what a blast! big thanks to Paul Farrer, see you next time. Check out the magic

"I have been so honoured to be a part of GEMS"
Tom Godbert
LA Production
19 year old Patrick Bennett scores a hit by getting hired to compose the music for a UK Police Drama series for LA Productions. Paddy tells us how it happened and is coping with his first year at LIPA and being a composer for TV series! What an amazing success. LA Productions director Colin McKeown shares his remarkable career in British TV and the reason he hired Paddy.

"TOTALMENTE RECOMENDADO"
Ivan Capillas
Sergio Llopis
Joining us this year is composer and orchestrator Sergio Llopis whom we are absolutely delighted to welcome to the GEMS faculty. Sergio held individual score review sessions for selected composers to work with on their scores before submitting to the RTVE librarian.

"Friends for life after it!!"
Cameron Moody

Mentoring
The Christopher Young one on one mentor sessions have become an indispensable part of the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, and incredible experience for our GEMS Composers. Christopher reviews your music and resume before meeting you to discuss and advise and listen. An absolutely priceless experience.

"The care provided, generosity of time, knowledge given is truly amazing
Robyn Bryant
Levente Kovacs
"I absolutely loved the task for this competition. I think it is a very important skill for a composer to be able to write great theme tunes. Not every film needs a melodic theme but themes are what stay with us even after watching a movie."

I feel rejuvenated motivated than ever to pursue my own creative endeavours
Polina Tserr
Valencian Dance
To kick off the start of the 2024 GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program we brought in the traditional historical heart of music and dance in Valencia. The reed instrument is a Dolcaina, the drum is Tabal, the beautiful costumes, music and dance are performed at festivals and events all year round, and can be seen and heard everywhere especially during Las Fallas Festival, Valencia, Spain.

"Such an irreplaceable and valuable experience"
Ayaka Nakamoto