FAQs Competition Rules & Guide

The ScoreLive Competition is part of our GEMS music educational program, open to every composer of any age, nationality and country of residence, who feel they can take on the creative challenge to tell a passionate and original story through music. If you want to connect with the heart of Hollywood and share your music with an award winning composer during a mentor session. If you want to hear your music played live and recorded by a professional world class orchestra. If you want to sing your own song together with an orchestra, whilst it is being played live for you by the orchestra, then this is for you. If you want to be standing in the same place as some of the best award winning film composers in the world have stood. If this is you, if you are ready, then this ScoreLive Competition is for you.

VIDEO GAME TRAILER COMPETITION TOTAL VALUE OF THE PRIZE 3000€+ WINNER The 2024 ScoreLive WINNER Video Game Trailer Award A full scholarship to attend the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program which includes: 61 Piece Orchestral Recording of your composition The Garry Schyman Video Game Scoring Program All other classes, programs, events, mentoring and more. FINALIST 12 composers will win the FINALIST PRIZE, for their original Video Game Trailer and will receive the following prizes: The 2024 ScoreLive FINALIST Video Game Trailer Award A 25% scholarship to the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program 61 Piece Orchestral Recording of your composition The Garry Schyman Video Game Scoring Program All other classes, programs, events, mentoring and more. RUNNER UP All Runner Up songwriters will each receive the following prizes: A 10% scholarship to the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program 61 Piece Orchestral Recording of your composition The Garry Schyman Video Game Scoring Program All other classes, programs, events, mentoring and more. ALL VIDEO GAME REGISTRATIONS Everyone who registers for the video game trailer competition, regardless of their final position, will be invited to join us to attend part of the Scoring for Video Game Program on the GEMS Film Scoring summer education and training program, taught by the original Middle-Earth Shadow of War composer. Visit the GEMS website for the full summer program details here

THEME SONG COMPETITION TOTAL VALUE OF THE PRIZES 5000€+ WINNER The 2024 ScoreLive Theme Song Songwriter Award 61 Piece Orchestral Recording of your song 2 nights in a hotel in Madrid 500€ towards your travel Orchestration Score Preparation Score Review Meeting with our Music Supervisor Alternatively the winner can choose: WINNER The 2024 ScoreLive Theme Song Songwriter Award A full scholarship to attend the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program which includes: 61 Piece Orchestral Recording of your song Orchestration Score Preparation Score Review All classes, events, mentoring FINALIST 12 songwriters will win the FINALIST PRIZE, for their original theme song and will receive the following prizes: The 2024 ScoreLive FINALIST Theme Song Songwriter Award A 25% scholarship to the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program including your orchestral recording RUNNER UP All Runner Up songwriters will each receive the following prizes: A 10% scholarship to the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program including your orchestral recording Visit the GEMS website for the full summer program details here

THEME TUNE COMPETITION TOTAL VALUE OF THE AMAZING PRIZES 5000€+ The Theme Tune Winner will receive the following prizes WINNER The 2024 ScoreLive WINNER Film Composer Theme Tune Award 61 Piece Orchestral Recording of your Theme Tune 2 nights in a hotel in Madrid 500€ towards your travel Orchestration Score Preparation Score Review Meeting with our Music Supervisor Alternatively the winner can choose: WINNER The 2024 ScoreLive WINNER Film Composer Theme Tune Award Full scholarship to the 2024 GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program Spain including your 61 Piece Orchestral Recording. Orchestration Score Preparation Score Review Meeting with our Music Supervisor FINALIST PRIZE 12 composers will win the FINALIST PRIZE for their original Theme Tune and will receive the following prizes: The 2024 ScoreLive FINALIST Film Composer Theme Tune Award A 25% scholarship to the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program including your orchestral recording RUNNER UP PRIZE All Runner Up composers will each receive the following prizes: The ScoreLive RUNNER UP Film Composer Theme Tune Award A 10% scholarship to the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program including your orchestral recording The GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program includes: Recording with the 61 piece RTVE Orchestra A video of the orchestral recording All classes, events, more ... Visit the GEMS website for the full summer program details here

Now in its 7th year, the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program is one of the most popular international film scoring programs in the world, and brings in award winning Hollywood composers, orchestrators, USC tutors, mentoring, music business industry masterclasses, prizes and awards, events, lunches with the maestros and concludes with a professional live orchestral recording. Check it out.

Yes! Sing live with the orchestra Appoint another person to sing with the orchestra Record the music then add the vocals in post production

WHAT MUSIC CAN I SUBMIT? The ScoreLive Competition makes this a real world working experience. It gives you the best possible opportunity to see what you can compose. To show our judges just how well you can write for a big orchestra, or show your songwriting skills and abilities are off the charts! For the Theme Tune Competition, and the Video Game Trailer Video Competition, your music must be your own original composition. For the Theme Song Competition you can have co writers. Competition 1 YOUR VIDEO GAME TRAILER ENTRY For the Middle-Earth Shadow of War video game trailer, create a score to picture. You can submit your Video Game Trailer as an audio+video file Using any library of sounds We do not require you to add SFX etc, only music The video files comes without an audio track or with the original audio track. Competition 2 YOUR THEME TUNE ENTRY If you have an original composition you simply love, with a great memorable melody you think would be chosen for its synchronisation potential and would fit perfectly at the top of a movie or series as an iconic main title theme tune, or closing the film or series during the end credits, that's your entry. You can submit your theme tune as an audio file using a DAW backing track Any library of sounds Competition 3 YOUR THEME SONG ENTRY Write a theme song you think would be chosen for its synchronisation potential for a movie or a series and win a chance to sing and record your theme song with an orchestra! It has to be a theme song that has a great, singable melody. That would fit perfectly at the top of a movie or series as an iconic main title theme song, or closing the film or series during the end credits. ​ You can submit your theme song as an audio file singing it accompanied by a guitar or piano, or any other instrument using a DAW backing track a full band rendition It’s up to you, however it comes. All you need is your song, your melody line, your chords. The winning songwriter does not need to be the singer but if you are then you can sing live with the orchestra, or have someone sing it for you with the orchestra, or record the music with the orchestra and add your vocals in post production. That's it! So if you are up for the challenge of composing a Theme Tune or Theme Tune or the Video Game Trailer then this is for you.

Once registered, you will have access to download the video with a start and finishTimecode. You can use these start and finish Timecode points to score between. We do not require you to add SFX etc, only music The video files comes without an audio track or with the original audio track.

You can join either competition here Video Game Trailer Competition Theme Song Competition Theme Tune Competition Once on the competition page, simply click on the registration button that will take you to the registration form, fill in your details, and submit your music before the deadline.

Now! Registration is now open January 21st 2024 · Registration opens noon (GMT) May 1st 2024 · Submission Deadline & Registration close noon (GMT) May 14th 2024 · Announcement Day noon (GMT)
 You can not submit after the deadline The deadline can not be extended (Compare GMT with your timezone)

To register you need the following details ready your name email address telephone number with country code country of citizenship registration fee

Yes. Once registered, you can submit your music anytime before the deadline using the Upload Button at the bottom of the home page here. or email your music to support@scorelive.london with your name on the audio file.

Registration fee 60 Euros The registration fee is payable via our website, using PayPal or Credit Card. To avoid disappointment, we recommend payment in advance, before the deadline. We reserve the right to close entry before the competition deadline.

We will announce both competition winners and finalists on our ScoreLive Facebook page, and notified you via your registered email, on May 14th 2024.

Yes! If you win, are a finalist or a runner up and attend the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, you can record a different composition or song with the orchestra, other than your competition entry. It must be your own original piece.

July 10th - 23rd or 24th 2024 The Gems Film Scoring Summer Program is in Valencia The Orchestral Recording is in Madrid Check out the GEMS website for full details

We would love to welcome you to the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, either online or in person, so you get to reap the rewards of the competition and benefit from the full GEMS summer program experience, including the orchestral recording. It’s just great having you with us and sharing the program with you. Whilst we understand there may be professional or personal circumstances that prevent you from attending, in order for us to organise your winning place on the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program we would need a commitment from you to attend some or all of the program, either online or in person, to allow us to plan your classes, score reviews, mentor sessions, recordings, events etc.

Submit your music as an audio file. Submit the video with your music embedded as a .mov or .mp4 file Go to your ScoreLive Competition page and upload your audio or video file using the upload button at the bottom of the page. Title your audio or video file with your full name and track title (this will be removed before judged) Use the same email address you used to register when you submit your audio or video file Alternatively, send your audio or video file to our email address support@scorelive.london using a file transfer platform such as WeTransfer In the message section on the file transfer platform, add your full name you used when you registered We will send you an acknowledgement email once we have successfully received your audio or video file
 (No click tracks are required on the video)

For both the Theme Song and for the Theme Tune A minimum of 2:00 minutes A maximum of 3:30 minutes And anywhere in between For the Video Game Trailer Video You can use the start and finish Timecode points to score between.

For both the Theme Song, the Theme Tune and the Video Game Trailer You can use any orchestral instruments from your DAW sound library, including effects, also voice/s, live instruments, a live band, group or musicians, etc.

No! It’s your choice which instruments you use for your Theme Song or your Theme Tune composition and recording. This is your opportunity to create a fantastic composition or song, so go for it!

The Theme Tune Winner can bring their score and parts to the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program for review by our orchestrators who will help prepare the score and parts for your orchestral recording. The Theme Song Winner will work with our orchestrators to prepare your song during the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program and create the score and parts for the orchestral recording. If the Theme Song Winner has score and parts for their Theme Song, they can bring them in to the program for review. If you have been advised to make orchestration or arrangement changes to your song or composition during your score review sessions during the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program and you chose not to make those changes, this may effect the quality, time and playability of your composition, which could result in an incomplete performance, or not having your piece played at the orchestral recording. We will work our hardest to ensure your music is performable. ScoreLive reserves the right to cancel the performance of your piece, if it is deemed unplayable by our orchestrator or the director of the orchestra.

Judge/s will be announced shortly. (the jury is subject to change)

We look for the best! All registered composers music and songs will be individually reviewed and placed in ranking order. The top ranking composer and songwriter will be announced as the overall winner, followed by the finalists. All composers music is randomised and anonymous when sent to the judges and are graded on the following criteria. VIDEO GAME TRAILER COMPETITION Demonstrated ability to create an effective score for the video game trailer Melody & Harmony, Orchestration Skills Counterpoint Techniques, Texture Variety Spotting Originality THEME TUNE COMPETITION Demonstrated the ability to create an effective piece of music that has Synchronisation Potential and a memorable melody which could be used as a theme tune in a series or movie Demonstrate an understanding of playability for an orchestra (Orchestration)
 Demonstrate Composition 
 Demonstrate Texture Variety

 Demonstrate Melody & Harmony THEME SONG COMPETITION Demonstrated the ability to create an effective song that has a memorable melody which has Synchronisation Potential and could be used as a theme song in a series or movie Demonstrate an understanding of storytelling through lyrics
 Demonstrate a Singable Melody
 Demonstrate an understanding of song structure and song composition Demonstrate Melody, Harmony, Rhythm, Colour or Tonal quality


ScoreLive will provide written feedback for only the winner and if available, for the finalists.

Yes. You keep full ownership and all the authors rights to your music you submitted. Anyone who accepts a prize from the competition agrees to provide a non-exclusive perpetual license to ScoreLive Competition, GEMS Film Scorings Summer Program and founder Nigel Ashley Lees, to share, perform, and promote all or a parts of their work created for the ScoreLive Competition including including your orchestral recording. You can publish your music you submitted and record with the orchestra for personal use and non commercial purposes. If you wish to publish your music for commercial or professional use, you will need to contact the orchestra and studio for a licence.

No. Publishing, broadcasting, distributing nor sharing of the trailer Middle-Earth Shadow of War or the images, audio, dialogue within the trailer in any way with or without your music attached, is not permitted. Please respect the owners rights who made this amazing opportunity available to our composer community. See FAQ 30

Be prepared to have an amazing time, ask questions, learn, be yourself, and have fun Be punctual and on time for your classes, events and recording Remain respectful towards fellow participants, technicians, staff, tutors and musicians Attend classes


The winner, finalists and runner ups, who accept the prizes, agree to provide ScoreLive Competition and GEMS full ownership of the any or all audio, video, digital content of them or that includes them, created on, during or for the ScoreLive Competition or GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, to use in our promotions, marketing and admissions campaign across our social media and websites. Digital content will be shared with all participants for them to use as well.

ScoreLive Competition reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all registration fees, any participant who fails to submit their music by the stated deadline. By submitting your music, you, the participant agree, that your composition is an original score, song or composition composed only by you. For the Theme Song Competition you can have a co writer. You cannot submit your entry after the deadline. The deadline cannot be extended. ScoreLive reserves the right to close entry before the competition deadline. If sufficient registrations are not met by April 14th 2024, the ScoreLive Competition will be closed on April 21st 2024, and all registration fee refunds made. Participants hold the competition organisers harmless and will indemnify against any costs or damages or liabilities incurred by breach or alleged breach of this representation. ScoreLive Competition is under no obligation to provide comments or feedback regarding the submitted composition or the decision process. ScoreLive will provide written feedback for only the winner and the finalists. ScoreLive Competition deny any responsibility for, and will not be held responsible or liable for, the contents of any internal comments or feedback regarding any score. If you are under 18, and win, it is exclusively your responsibility to attend the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program in line with any and all legal parental or guardian consent and supervision. ScoreLive will not be held responsible. Prizes are not transferable to another person nor another date. Scholarship awards are deducted from the full tuition fee from the GEMS Film Scorings Summer Program. See the GEMS full tuition fees here. The awards will reduce the tuition fee by the percentage won. Tuition fee payments can be paid in instalments. ScoreLive Competition scholarships are nullified should the competition not run. Your ScoreLive Competition scholarship will be nullified if you do not attend the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program. It will be offered to the next available composer below in the ranking list. If you cannot attend the program what so ever, your prize will be offered to the next available composer below in the ranking list. To ensure someone benefits from the prize. Whilst we understand there may be professional or personal circumstances that prevent you from attending some or all the program, if the winner can only attend some of the program, online or in person, we will discuss your availability and make a decision, before committing to and awarding the winning prize. Our aim is to make it work for you, be flexible and open to supporting your availability, as best we can, and share this amazing experience with you. If the winners agreed attendance diminishes during the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, your orchestral recording may be cancelled. We will refund and return your registration fee within 7 days after registration, before you access the video download page, if applicable, deducting all bank, credit card or PayPal transfer charges we incur upon receipt. Any return fee charges incurred by ourselves or the recipient will not be included. Registration fees will be returned via the same platform from which they were issued. We will publish your submitted music on our ScoreLive website or our ScoreLive Youtube channel once the competition has finished. From either of these sites, you can link or embed your music to your personal websites. ScoreLive reserve the right to make changes to the competition, add updates without notice, delay, postpone, reschedule and cancel the competition. If the ScoreLive Competition is cancelled, registration refunds will be made. Deadlines may be extended for individual cases whom have experienced technical issues, illness, accidents, covid, displacement or war apply. All the ScoreLive Competition details are subject to change. ScoreLive and GEMS reserves the right to make changes to GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program and add updates without notice and cancel the program. If the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program is cancelled for what ever reason, GEMS and ScoreLive can decide whether to allow the winner, finalists, runner ups to pass on their ScoreLive Competition prizes to the following years GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program or replace them with a cash prize on July 1st 2024, 500€ for the winner, 200€ for the finalists, no runners up cash prize. The ScoreLive Competition prizes are to attend the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, in what ever form and content the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program takes. ScoreLive and GEMS are not responsible for any technical issues from third party providers during the orchestral recording caused by the orchestra, the venue, or video production company. The published date for the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program, may be subject to change, due to coronavirus pandemic, international travel restrictions, or for any other reason. We advise all bookings should be made once GEMS have confirmed the program will go ahead. Participants are fully responsible for any cancelation or costs for their own travel and accommodation arrangements. Once registered, the trailer game video Middle-Earth Shadow of War which will be sent to you, is only for the Scorelive competition. Publishing, broadcasting, distributing, licensed, sold, nor sharing of the trailer game video Middle-Earth Shadow of War or the images, audio, dialogue within the trailer in any way with or without your music attached, are not permitted. Not in broadcast, print, online, mobile, internet; other means of publication, both electronic and non-electronic, nor promotional, publicity, teaching, training opportunities on any new, existing or any known digital or terrestrial platform. By registering for any ScoreLive Competition, you agree to all of the ScoreLive competition terms of use and conditions listed on this FAQ page. Including for the game trailer competition, the Warner Bros. terms of use and all policies, restrictions and procedures posted by Warner Bros. regarding the use, publication, posting and/or dissemination of the game trailer Middle-Earth Shadow of War apply. Failure to comply to their terms of use could result in action against you from Warner Bros. Please respect the owners rights who made this amazing opportunity available to our composer community. Due to the current global coronavirus health situation, and the recurrence of coronavirus, the form and content of the GEMS Film Scoring Summer Program may change. All decisions by the Jury and ScoreLive Competition are final.

If you still need help, don’t hesitate, don't wait, email us support@scorelive.london