Welcome to the 2026 GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, Valencia Spain.

OVERVIEW

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.

FILM SCORING

Participants attending this program will want to learn new and additional composition craft skills such as how to create a memorable main title. Challenge themselves creatively and be keen to show us what they can do.

FILM SCORING LEARNING OUTCOMES

Once successfully completed, you will be able to focus on song form and create memorable main titles. Have best practices for faster composition methods and greater understanding of notation techniques and instrumentation selection.

ORCHESTRATION

Participants attending the orchestration program are interested in learning new and additional orchestration skills that apply and can be used for their compositions and their compositional process.

ORCHESTRATION LEARNING 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. T

GAME SCORING

Participants attending this program will have an interest in composing, using combat, action, aleatoric techniques. Gain insights in to the specific software required and the process of composing and recording for Video Game.

GAME SCORING LEARNING OUTCOMES

Once successfully completed, participants can focus on incorporating combat, action, aleatoric techniques. Have transferable compositional skills from game to film and understand the effects of adaptive music on your compositions. Further understanding of Video Games software composition options.

YOUR RTVE ORCHESTRAL RECORDING

You can record a piece of music composed during the summer program or a composition all ready written. Your music must be original and your own. The participant keeps full ownership of the recording and music rights.

FILM MUSIC HISTORY

BBC Broadcaster and Silent Film Composer Neil Brand presented his fantastic, bespoke and insightful nightly programs, opening up historical film scoring major events by the major studios, composers and directors.

MUSIC BUSINESS

Want to meet your next manager, your agent, your public relations team, your music supervisor, a label or streamer, then look no more, as we bring you the best music companies and industry professionals here on the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program. They explain their professional roles, how they develop relationships with clients, the services they offer to composers such as yourself, what they look for in a composer they want to sign, and share how they do it. It's AMAZING!

COMPOSER TALKS

Composers, performers and conductors will join us to give talks about their creative process and careers, providing insights on a work-life balance, working with directors and producers, the scoring process, making partnerships with orchestra, conductors and the orchestrator, being a woman in the industry, career longevity and what you need to succeed.

WHAT TO BRING

Enthusiasm, Passion, Originality! You will also need experience in music theory. Have ideas about composing for Film, Game & Visual Media. A laptop with a DAW installed, Sibelius recommended. An optional midi keyboard. (A limited number of AKAI Midi Keyboards are available to use and book out.) Headphones. Examples of your music for your. For Software Requirements see our faq page

What's Included

GEMS Summer Program

GEMS Hollywood Film Scoring Program

GEMS HollywoodOrchestration Program

GEMS Hollywood Game Program

GEMS Score Preparation Program

All Events

All Guest Talks

A 61 Piece recording of your composition by RTVE, The Symphonic Orchestra of Spanish Radio Television

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

GEMS Magazine

The Flamenco Party

Message from our founder Nigel Ashley Lees

"I am proud to welcome you to the 2026 GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program. Our GEMS program provide the contemporary composer with an intensive experience that gives you opportunities to grow creatively, develop new craft skills, meet like minded musicians, study with established composers, in an enthusiastic, enjoyable, safe and purposeful program. This marks our sixth year partnership with RTVE, a truly unbelievable opportunity to have your composition recorded by the national Symphonic Orchestra of Spanish Radio Television at the Teatro Monumental. You now have a massive canvas upon which to record your composition.”

We look forward to welcoming you to the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program in Valencia, Spain.

In English

The GEMS Summer Program will be taught in English. You will need the ability to speak, understand and work in English, or follow with an AI translator. Bi-lingual Faculty support will be available during classes, mentoring session, and orchestral recording.

Itinerary

Class times are currently being scheduled. Dates, tutors and all program details are subject to change

Lunch Times

13:30 -15:30

Program Location

CSMVALENCIA

Conservatorio Superior de Música Joaquín Rodrigo

Calle de Ricardo Muñoz Suay, nº 4 46013

Valencia

Spain

MAP Direction

Recording Location