(L-R) BMI’s VP, Creative, Film, TV and Visual Media, Tracy McKnight and Former Sundance Film Music Director, Peter Golub.
For composers looking to break into the ever-evolving world of film and television scoring, BMI is once again opening a door that’s notoriously hard to crack. The BMI Composer Lab is back for its second year, doubling down on its mission to nurture the next generation of media composers with a program that blends mentorship, craft, and real-world industry access.
After a successful inaugural run, the lab returns with an even sharper focus—and a clear sense of purpose. As BMI’s Vice President of Film, TV & Visual Media Tracy McKnight puts it, “Watching our first year of the Composer Lab come to life and seeing how much the composers grew over the course of the program, affirmed exactly why this work matters.” She adds that this next chapter will build on that momentum, with “even deeper focus on mentorship, real‑world insight, and creative collaboration.”
Co-leading the lab once again is acclaimed composer and longtime educator Peter Golub, whose résumé includes decades of work across film, theatre, and concert music—as well as his influential tenure with the Sundance Film Music Program. Together, Golub and McKnight will guide a select group of finalists through a rigorous hybrid experience: a nine-day virtual workshop followed by a 10-day, in-person intensive in Los Angeles.
That in-person component is where things get especially real. Participants won’t just be workshopping ideas—they’ll bring them to life, culminating in orchestral recording and mixing sessions with The Hollywood Cinematic Orchestra at Bandrika Studios.
Golub, reflecting on the program’s first year, noted, “Watching our first class of composers grow throughout the program was rewarding,” adding that he’s eager to see what the next group brings to the table. And with a roster of advisors that reads like a who’s who of modern film scoring—including James Newton Howard, Thomas Newman, and Harry Gregson-Williams—the bar (and the opportunity) is set high.
Beyond the composers themselves, the lab also taps into the business side of the industry, bringing in top-tier executives and music supervisors to offer perspective on how scores actually make it from studio to screen. As McKnight explains, “What sets this lab apart is the access to not just tools and techniques, but to the people who’ve spent decades shaping the sound of film and TV. That kind of mentorship can be very impactful in a composer’s career.”
Applications for the 2026 BMI Composer Lab are open now through April 24, with finalists to be announced July 15. The program kicks off online in August before heading to Los Angeles in September—offering a rare, immersive pathway into one of the most competitive corners of the music industry.
For those ready to trade bedroom demos for scoring stages, this lab might just be the first real cue.
For more information, visit bmicomposerlab.slideroom.com
