A New Standard in Media Scoring Education

Offering Three Unique Training Experiences for Composers:

Master of Fine Arts in Music for Motion Pictures and Contemporary Media

Full-Time Masters Program

MFA in Music for Motion Pictures and Contemporary Media. 17 recording sessions. (54 credits)

Online Graduate Diploma

Graduate Diploma in Film and Game Scoring. 9 recording sessions. (30 credits)

Film Scoring Summer Program

3.5 weeks on the beach of the Black Sea. 4 recording sessions. (6 credits)

Our Flagship Program:

Master of Fine Arts in Music for Motion Pictures and Contemporary Media

The Ultimate One-Year Practical Experience
for Film and Game Composers

Now Enrolling for 2021:

Submit a Free Application

Dr. Andy Hill

Dean / Program Director

Former Vice President of Music Production at Disney, and Author of the acclaimed book "Scoring the Screen: The Secret Language of Film Music"

Interested in more information? Submit the form:

Students from the United States can request information about Financial Aid at

17 RECORDING SESSIONS

A new standard in media scoring education. 17 recording sessions are provided on the MFA programme, in conjunction with filmmakers and directors across Europe, recorded by the European Recording Orchestra (ERO), and multi-cam HD video recorded for your portfolio. No re-scores.

This is the most substantial portfolio-building package offered by any media scoring Masters programme in the world.

Solo Piano (2x)

String Quintet + 2 Woodwinds

9-piece variety ensemble

15-piece chamber orchestra (2x)

25-piece strings & Bulgarian folk ensemble (2x)

38-piece symphony orchestra

41-piece string / woodwind ensemble

Hybrid Stem Session 1: Brass

Hybrid Stem Session 2: Woodwinds

Hybrid Stem Session 3: Strings

Hybrid Stem Session 4: Percussion

104-piece symphony orchestra & epic choir

110-piece symphony orchestra

38-piece Major Project orchestra

12 MODULE CATALOGUE

Master the art of MIDI Mockups, Mixing and Production, Orchestration and Arranging, Composition for Visual Media, Game Audio, Sound Design, and much more. A 12-module catalogue maintained in close correlation with current industry practices.

Aesthetics & Analysis: A Vocabulary of Motion Picture Music

Advanced Score Analysis for Screen Composers: 20th and 21st Century Explorations

Techniques of Scoring for the Screen I: Contemporary Compositional Practice / Supporting Story with Score

Techniques of Scoring for the Screen II: Developing A Unique Personal Style

Sound Design & Electronic Music Composition

TOTAL: 54 CREDITS

STUDENT BENEFITS

An acceptance package and hardware station for all MFA students, as well as life-changing opportunities designed to plug them into the industry and expose their music to the world.

All MFA students will receive:

Steinberg's Dorico Pro

A copy of Dorico Pro 3.5, Steinberg's revolutionary new notation and scoring software.

Film Music Books

Signed & personalized copies of Scoring the Screen (Andy Hill) and The Emerging Film Composer (Richard Bellis)

Hardware Station

A Nektar 61-key MIDI Keyboard (with sustain pedal), a 24" curved Samsung external display, and a powered USB hub.

Career Mentoring

Career mentoring with our team of World Class Faculty and Guest Lecturers, including George Christopoulos, Agency Director of the Oticons European Film Composers Agency

Internship Opportunities

Every year, the Film Scoring Academy of Europe will hire two of its graduates to stay in Sofia and serve as paid interns for the incoming class. More opportunities to develop your career.

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Live Performances

Partnerships with the Plovdiv Opera Orchestra, Vratza Symphony and the Varna Opera Orchestra for public performances in Plovdiv and Sofia. Global tours with the Dublin Philharmonic.

FILMMAKER RELATIONSHIPS

Partnerships with top European film schools, so MFA students work with filmmakers to create scores for original content rather than re-scoring films.

HD MULTICAM FOOTAGE

Each recording session is professionally audio and video recorded, and students receive all content from all sessions for their portfolio development.

MIXING AT DOLI MEDIA STUDIO

Every student has access to Doli Media Studio's mixing rooms and booths, so they always have the option of mixing on world class equipment.

24/7 ACCESS
VIA SWIPECARD

Students have 24/7 access to the Film Scoring Academy of Europe Headquarters during their studies via individualized swipecards.

6 SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Six merit-based scholarships offered to qualifying students as determined by the Admissions Board, all of which include one-on-one time with the awarding composer.

€5,000

Maria Zaharenia
USA / Greece - 2020 Conrad Pope Scholarship Recipient
Trimor Dhomi
Kosovo - 2020 Jan A.P. Kaczmarek Scholarship Recipient
Tania Vanegas
Sweden - 2020 AWFC Scholarship Recipient
Maya Harrigan
Bulgaria - 2020 Andy Hill Scholarship Recipient

MULTIMEDIA

Browse some of our videos, including showcased student works, faculty interviews and informational clips.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM INFORMATION

2021-2022 Academic Calendar

Two semesters of course work with a third semester dedicated to the Major Project. 2021-2022 Academic Calendar SEMESTER 1 -- Full-time, presence in Sofia required Sept. 6, 2021 -- Semester 1 commences Nov. 25-26 -- Thanksgiving Holiday Dec. 10 -- Final day of classes Dec. 11 -- Winter break SEMESTER 2 -- Full-time, presence in Sofia required Jan. 10, 2022 -- Semester 2 begins Mar. 17 -- St. Patrick's Day Holiday May 13 -- Final day of classes May 31 -- Semester 2 ends SEMESTER 3 - Presence in Sofia Optional Jun. 1, 2022 -- Semester 3 commences Sept. 4 -- Major Project 38-piece Orchestra Recording Session Sept. 11 -- Semester 3 Ends, Major Project materiald due

Tuition & Fees

Total MFA Program Tuition: €34,300 2021-2022 Payment Schedule Program Deposit: €2,000 (Due Immediately to Enroll) Tuition Downpayment: €5,000 (Due June 1, 2021) Payment 1: €10,300 (Due September 1, 2021) Payment 2: €8,500 (Due December 1, 2021) Payment 3: €8,500 (Due March 1, 2022) The MFA program at the Film Scoring Academy of Europe is the most affordable full-time Masters program in film & game scoring available today, while simultaneously offering more recording sessions than any other program in the world. Be sure to check out the "Costs of Living in Sofia" dropdown to see how much more affordable Sofia is compared to other major European and American cities. Financial Aid Programs: All students searching for scholarships should search this website: https://www.wemakescholars.com USA: FAFSA - https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa Norway: Lanekassen - https://www.lanekassen.no/ Colombia: Colfuturo - https://www.colfuturo.org/ South Africa: National Film and Television Foundation (NFVF) - https://www.nfvf.co.za/home/ South Africa: Oppenheimer Trust - https://www.omt.org.za/

Costs of Living in Sofia

Costs of living in Sofia are extremely low in comparison to other major European and American cities. Exponentially cheaper than LA, NYC, London, Valencia, or Boston, while maintaining a comfortable standard of living. Sofia, Bulgaria compared to other cities that are home to Film Scoring Masters degrees: 73% lower than New York City 65% lower than London 64% lower than Los Angeles 66% lower than Boston 30% lower than Valencia For more information on comparing prices between cities, visit www.numbeo.com The Film Scoring Academy of Europe has real estate agents in Sofia that work to help MFA students find accommodation that fits their needs and budget. MFA Students who wish to live together will be able to find shared accommodation for as low as €150 - €200 per month. MFA Students wo wish to live alone will be able to find accommodation for as low as €350 - €400 per month.

Technology Requirements

Technology Requirements: -- Avid Pro Tools 12 -- DAW (Logic Pro X, Cubase, Digital Performer, etc.) -- NI Kontakt Full -- Serum by Xfer Records -- High Quality Reference Headphones -- EastWest Composer Cloud Technology Recommendations: -- Apple Macbook Pro (minimum quad-core, 16GB ram, SSD) -- Other Industry Standard Orchestral Sound Libraries -- NotePerformer Playback Engine -- Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.5 -- Soundtoys, Slate Digital, or Waves Mixing Suite -- 1TB External SSD for Sound Libraries -- MIDI Keyboard (for home use) All students will receive a copy of Steinberg's revolutionary new notation and scoring software, Dorico Pro. Students will also have access to a hardware station in the Film Scoring Academy of Europe headquarters that is equipped with a Nektar 61-key MIDI keyboard (with sustain pedal), a 24" curved external display, and a powered USB hub.

Application Requirements

Submitting your free application is simple. Click here to submit your application and read about the application requirements.

Visa Requirements

Accepted students from the EU do not need a Visa. Accepted students from outside the EU will require a Type-D Student Visa. It is advisable that accepted students from outside the EU prepare the Student Visa requirements on the Bulgarian Embassy website in their country.