SCORING YOUR CAREER
Branding and Business for Film and Visual Media Composers
OCTOBER 20 - NOVEMBER 14, 2025 SIENA, ITALY
INTENSIVE CAREER-STARTER COURSE FOR COMPOSERS OF MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA
a project of the LuceLab Cinecittà in collaboration with the Accademia Musicale Chigiana.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: SEPT. 15, 2025
THE PROGRAM
The course aims to provide young composers in the audiovisual sector with the practical and theoretical tools to develop a solid, recognizable, and sustainable career.
Through a structured program that combines personal branding, entrepreneurial skills, communication strategies, legal aspects, and opportunities for networking and placement, participants will learn how to build a consistent professional identity and effectively promote their work within the competitive landscape of the audiovisual industry.
OBJECTIVES
The program aims to guide young artists in creating an effective portfolio, managing their online and offline presence, and accessing essential resources and collaborations for launching and developing their professional careers.
THE PROGRAM AT GLANCE
COURSE DATES:
Monday Oct. 20 – Friday Nov. 14, 2025
ONLINE Oct. 20 – 25 and IN PRESENCE Oct. 27 – Nov. 14, 2025
MO-FR CLASSES: 9am – 1pm & 2 – 7pm
WHERE: Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Via di Città, 89 Siena
NO. of PARTICIPANTS : 15 (NO AGE LIMIT)
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
online application, CV, video portfolio
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sept. 15, 2025
INSTRUCTION BEGINS: Monday Oct. 20
FORUM November 11, 2025
TUITION FEES: FREE
COURSE MODULES
PRD 001 CREATIVE PORTFOLIO AND PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION
Resume, bio and CV, show reel, presentation video, verbal and non-verbal communication, public speaking
BRN 002 PERSONAL BRANDING FOR COMPOSERS
Building artistic identity and effective communication in the audiovisual sector
COM 003 ONLINE AND OFFLINE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
Social media, interviews, promotion at festivals, film commissions, and PR in the sector.
PRD 002 COMPOSITION
Inside the Pitch: how to present and deconstruct a score in dialogue with directors.
MRK 004 ENTREPRENEURIAL ELEMENTS FOR COMPOSERS
Tools and mindset to start and sustain a freelance or entrepreneurial career.
LGL 005 LEGAL ASPECTS OF MUSIC FOR IMAGES
Contracts, copyright, licensing, and new challenges in the digital distribution sector.
INT 006 INTERNSHIP AND PLACEMENT IN THE FILM INDUSTRY
Opportunities to work alongside international composers and professional collaborations.
FIN 007 FUNDING AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES
Strategies to obtain scholarships, grants, and support for music production
LAB 200 Lab hours (supervised)
Admission applications must be submitted exclusively through the LucelabCinecittà online platform, accessible here, by following the provided instructions. The deadline for submission is September 15, 2025, at 12:00 noon.
All details regarding the official calendar will be published on the LuceLab website (www.lucelabcinecitta.com) on the course’s dedicated page, following the candidate selection process and the announcement of the admitted students’ ranking.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Age: Candidates must be over 18 years old.
- Educational qualification: Candidates must possess a high school diploma (or a foreign equivalent translated in accordance with current regulations) at the time of submitting the enrollment application.
- Knowledge of the Italian language: Candidates are required to have a good knowledge of the Italian language, which will be verified by the Examination Committees during the selection process.
- Knowledge of the English language: Candidates are required to have a good knowledge of the English language, which will be verified by the Examination Committees during the selection process.
- Ability to read music: Fundamentals of music theory, including all major and minor scales, major and minor keys, circle of fifths, intervals and inversions, types of chords, symbols and inversions, triads, seventh chords, and basic notions of orchestration.
- Good knowledge of a DAW software package (chosen from ProTools, Logic Pro X, Cubase, DP) and related plugins.
- Knowledge of basic sound synthesis and sound design techniques.
- Knowledge of a music notation software (Finale, Sibelius, Dorico).
- Good knowledge of film and audiovisual language.
Further infos on admission requirements and selection criteria can be found in the official documents linked below:
– BANDO DI SELEZIONE (CALL FOR ADMISSIONS)
– DISCIPLINARE DI SELEZIONE (SELECTION CRITERIA)
– PROGRAMMA DIDATTICO (PROGRAM)
PROGRAM
CREATIVE PORTFOLIO AND PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATION
Participants will learn to craft an impactful portfolio, including a professional resume, showreel, photos and presentation video, while developing strong communication and public speaking skills.
COMPOSITION: INSIDE THE PITCH
With guidance from seasoned professionals, participants will learn how to read a script, present and discuss their scores with directors, articulate their musical vision, and respond effectively to feedback in collaborative and professional settings.
ONLINE AND OFFLINE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES
Participants will develop strategies for using social media, interviews, presence at festivals and film commissions, to promote one’s work and manage public relations.
PERSONAL BRANDING FOR COMPOSERS
This module focuses on building an authentic artistic identity and communicating it effectively within the ever-evolving audiovisual sector.
LEGAL ASPECTS OF MUSIC FOR IMAGES
This module provides essential knowledge on contracts, copyright, licensing, and emerging issues in digital distribution. Participants will learn how to navigate and confidently engage with this complex and often underestimated aspect of the music industry.
ENTREPRENEURIAL ELEMENTS FOR COMPOSERS
A practical approach to tools and mindsets for launching and sustaining a freelance or entrepreneurial career in music.
INTERNSHIP AND PLACEMENT IN THE FILM INDUSTRY & FUNDING AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES
This module explores pathways to internships and professional collaborations, working alongside established international composers. It also will cover strategies for securing scholarships, grants, and support for music production and career growth.
SUPERVISED LAB
Lab hours are dedicated to the practical application and in-depth exploration of the various course modules, with the goal of completing two final projects: a portfolio with showreel, and a pitch/interview aimed at securing a professional assignment.
FACULTY
LAWRENCE SHRAGGE
Composition
Professor Thornton School of Music
USC Los Angeles
JEANINE COWEN
Professor and Director
Screen Scoring Program Thornton School of Music USC Los Angeles
JAY KOGEN
Writing and Dramaturgy
Professor School of Cinematic Arts USC Los Angeles
CHRISTINE RUSSELL
Founding Partner
Evolution Music Partners
Los Angeles
SARAH BELLE REID
Professor
Music Technology
University of British Columbia Victoria, Canada
Avv. DARIO DE CICCO
Legal aspects of music for images
Studio Legale De Cicco Arts and Media, Rome
GIUSEPPE VASAPOLLI
Composition and Mock-up
Professor Conservatorio “A. Scarlatti” Palermo, Italy
ANTONIO ARTESE
Dean and Program Director
Chigiana Global Academy Programs
ALESSANDRO MOLATORE
Video Shooting and Editing
Visiting Artist
Mexico City
CARLO VIGNI
Photography
Catoni & Associati, Firenze, Italy
TBA
Acting coach
FEDERICO TORRI
Teaching Assistant
MATTIA CELLA
Tech Assistant
PROJECTS
FORUM
As part of the final week of the “Screen Your Career: Branding and Business for Media Composers” the Accademia Chigiana will host a special Industry Forum, bringing together leading Italian and European professionals from the worlds of film, television, and audiovisual media. Join industry insiders, festival representatives, renowned faculty, and emerging composers for an open exchange on the state of the market, professional pathways, and the evolving role of music in visual storytelling.
The Forum is designed as a dynamic networking event, offering participants and the wider public a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and explore new collaborations within the ever-changing landscape of media composition. Attendance is free and open to all.
Wednesday, November 11, 2025 | 3-7PM | Salone dei Concerti, Accademia Musicale Chigiana
OUR PARTNERS
The Screen Scoring Intensive Program is a project of the LuceLab & Cinecittà in collaboration with Accademia Musicale Chigiana and top level academic and technical partners.
