BMI’s Inaugural Composer Lab Champions the Next Generation of Composers

(L-R, top) Catherine Nguyen, Tan Onwimon, Kaman Chang, BMI's Louie Stephens, Adam Smalley, BMI's Tracy McKnight, Thanh Tran, Nathan Barr, Ishaan Chhabra, Ed Shearmur, Peter Golub, Emiliano Mazzenga, Diego Ratto, (L-R, bottom) Kevin Smithers, Ishaan Tyagi, Natasha Frank, Andrew Asemokai, and Sadie Currey during the BMI Composer Lab at Bandrika Studios in Tarzana, CA. Photo: JC Olivera for BMI.

BMI recently concluded its inaugural Composer Lab; a one-of-a-kind program designed to nurture and uplift the next generation of composers. The two-week online workshop and nine-day in-person intensive in Los Angeles brought together ten exceptional emerging composers for an immersive experience led by acclaimed composer and former director of the Sundance Film Music Program Peter Golub, and BMI's VP of Film, TV & Visual Media Tracy McKnight.

Over the course of the program, the finalists experienced guest sessions with industry luminaries across film, TV and visual media. These sessions offered rare behind-the-scenes insights and invaluable mentorship from a roster of industry professionals and BMI composers including Nathan Barr, Kathryn Bostic, Sean Callery, Sherri Chung, George S Clinton, Chanda Dancy, Bryce Dessner, Stephanie Economou, Fil Eisler, Kurt Farquhar, James Newton Howard, Mark Isham, Christopher Lennertz, Nami Melumad, Tony Morales, Blake Neely, Thomas Newman, Carlos Rafael Rivera, William Ross, Ed Shearmur, Rob Simonsen, Dara Taylor and Harry Gregson-Williams.

In addition to these masterclasses, finalists engaged in collaborative scoring exercises and honed their craft in a hands-on creative environment. The Lab culminated with a professional orchestral recording session at Nathan Barr's Bandrika Studios, where finalists had the opportunity to conduct alongside the Hollywood Cinematic Orchestra and record original compositions developed throughout the program.

"With the BMI Composer Lab, we set out to create a space where new voices in composition could hone their craft and gain access to the kind of mentorship and resources that are often out of reach," said McKnight. "Over the course of the lab, we achieved that and so much more. We found that the composers also developed a strong sense of community through collaboration with their peers and the guidance they received from our wonderful mentors, who shared invaluable tools and industry insights to help propel their careers forward."

Through initiatives like the Composer Lab, BMI is proud to champion emerging talent and provide meaningful opportunities that shape the future of music for film, TV and beyond.