It offers an invaluable opportunity for five composers in the early stages of their career to gain hands-on experience of composing for screen while working with a professional orchestra and learning from industry experts.
Find out more about Film Composers Lab from last year’s participants and mentors:
To write full-scale orchestral music, it is of huge benefit for early-career composers to hear their developing work performed by a professional orchestra. The Film Composers Lab provides a sought-after opportunity for talented UK-based composers to develop their skills in film composition over the course of a full orchestral season. Working closely with the Orchestra, RSNO staff and experts from the film and music industries, participants will rescore an existing short film, creating a brand-new composition for full symphony orchestra.
Delivered in a hybrid format, the project will culminate in a workshop and recording at the RSNO’s world-class recording facility, Scotland’s Studio.
Each participant will receive a bursary to make their participation in the project financially sustainable.
Taking a holistic approach to participants’ development, the Film Composers Lab will include:
Film Composers Lab activity will be delivered between November 2023 and May 2024. The key dates that participants need to commit to are as follows:
One-to-one sessions with project mentors will happen throughout the year. Travel and accommodation bursaries are available to all participants to ensure that there are no financial barriers to participation in the in-person Film Composers Lab sessions in Glasgow.
Film Composers Lab is aimed at composers who can demonstrate interest in expanding their careers in film composition. The only specific eligibility criteria are that applicants must be:
We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, disability, or socio-economic background.
Applications are now closed for 2023:24.
Applicants must be based in the UK and a member or applying member of PRS. Candidates are also expected to have prior experience of composing music and an interest in composition for screen. We are accepting applications from composers of all ages but you must be in the early stages of your career.
Anyone living in the UK can apply. Since in-person sessions are being held in Scotland, travel and accommodation bursaries are available for all selected candidates.
The selected candidates must be a member of PRS and therefore we encourage all applicants to apply now if not already a member.
It is preferred, but not necessary, that applicants have some experience of writing for film. However, general composition experience and a keen interest in writing for film is essential.
You are required to submit two examples of your own work. Both should include a score and recording. A music video is encouraged as a form of recording but applications without will also be considered.
All genres of composition will be accepted but we are encouraging film score submissions.
Your application submissions could be a composition for a short film or contrasting excerpts from a longer length film. The panel will be looking for brief examples of your work that demonstrate your skill and ability, and will not be able to watch full feature length film compositions.
Applications will only be shared with panellists and all submitted material will be deleted following the selection process.
Applications will be judged on creativity and skill rather than recording quality.
You can still apply if you don’t have experience scoring music. In this case, we would encourage you to submit a visual example of the score for the panel to understand your creative process.
If your question has not been answered here, please contact engage@rsno.org.uk
