For more than two decades, performing-rights society BMI partnered with the Sundance Institute on a well-regarded Composers Lab, in which young filmmakers and composers collaborated and learned about the power of music in film.
That ended in 2022 when Sundance, in a cost-cutting move, scrapped its film-music program. But now BMI is launching its own Composer Lab, scheduled for August and September, with longtime Sundance Film Music program director Peter Golub as one of its principal directors.
Golub, an award-winning composer and director of film-music studies at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music, will oversee the lab alongside BMI vice president of film, TV and visual media Tracy McKnight. The program will select 10 composers to participate in a two-week online workshop followed by a nine-day onsite intensive in Los Angeles.
The program, BMI announced today, is “designed to provide emerging composers with a one-of-a-kind experience to foster artistic growth and professional development. Together, Golub and McKnight will guide the finalists through a series of interactive workshops that will culminate with orchestral recording and mixing sessions with the Hollywood Cinematic Orchestra at Bandrika Studios.”
Golub and McKnight have lined up an all-star roster of top film and TV composers to serve as advisers and mentors, including James Newton Howard, Thomas Newman, Harry Gregson-Williams, Mark Isham, Ed Shearmur, Bryce Dessner, Kathryn Bostic, Chanda Dancy, Dara Taylor, George S. Clinton and William Ross.
Also on that list of advisers and mentors are Nathan Barr, Sean Callery, Sherri Chung, Stephanie Economou, Fil Eisler, Kurt Farquhar, Christopher Lennertz, Nami Melumad, Tony Morales, Blake Neely, Carlos Rafael Rivera and Rob Simonsen.
Industry professionals adding their expertise to the program include Warner Bros. president of music Paul Broucek, agents Laura Engel and Robert Messinger, film producer Scott Macaulay, Society of Composers & Lyricists president Ashley Irwin, music supervisor Julia Michels and music contractor Peter Rotter.
“I’m delighted to introduce the launch of the BMI Composer Lab and work alongside my longtime friend and collaborator Peter Golub to shape the next generation of musical talent,” said McKnight. “This program will provide participants with the rare opportunity to engage directly with some of the most revered composers in the industry, who will share their expertise and creative journey in scoring some of the most celebrated works in film, television and video games.”
Added Golub: “How great to be partnering with BMI in curating a program that will help the selected artists develop their unique voices and take bold steps forward in their musical journeys. It’s exciting to continue my work as a dedicated educator while embarking on this new program.”
Lab finalists will be announced on July 16, with online sessions slated for Aug. 11-22 and in-person sessions for Sept. 18-26. BMI-affiliated composers of all musical backgrounds can apply through May 30 at bmicomposerlab.slideroom.com.
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