Music in The Woods 2026: Apply now for your full scholarship!
Music Production, Film Scoring, Game Audio, Songwriting
Music in The Woods 2026 offers direct access to the international music industry from September 16 to 20 in the Waldviertel region. Workshops, collaboration sessions, and networking included. Lecturers and mentors include Harald Kloser (Alien, Independence Day), Bernhard Melbye Voss (Netflix, Disney), SLOMO (Ness, Mathea, Mark Forster), Monika Ballwein (ESC, Starmania, Helden von Morgen), and many more. The event opens doors to Eurovision stages, Hollywood studios, and global media productions. Secure one of 30 full scholarships now – application deadline: August 16.
In autumn 2026, the tranquil village of Gutenbrunn (Lower Austria) will transform for five days for the third time into a creative hub for the next generation of innovative sound architects. Music in The Woods is entering its next round – and we are looking for you!
The limitless diversity of music production
Music in The Woods is an intensive creative gathering dedicated to music production in all its facets. We build bridges between craftsmanship, creativity, and marketing. Whether your background is in film scoring, game audio, or songwriting: production itself stands above everything else as the connecting element — the creation of unique sonic worlds, musical storytelling, and sounds capable of succeeding internationally. Alongside intensive input sessions and free creative phases (alone or collaborative), the fourth of the five days features a presentation of the participants’ work in front of guests from culture, politics, music, and media. This creates a direct and approachable networking opportunity with decision-makers and key figures from the industry.
YOUR APPLICATION: FAST & UNCOMPLICATED
From all submissions, our expert jury will select the 30 best talents. Simply send the following materials by August 16, 2026 to:
musicinthewoods@jammusiclab.com
- Abstract: A short text about yourself, your previous work, and your goals.
- Audio Sample: One MP3 file featuring one of your productions.
- Visuals (optional): An MP4 video accompanied by your music.
Every participant receives full catering, accommodation on site, a possible bus transfer from Vienna to Gutenbrunn and back, and of course access to all workshops. Eligible to participate are Austrian citizens or persons residing in Austria of all ages.
YOUR BENEFITS
Intensive Mentoring
Work side by side with major industry professionals for five days and receive direct feedback from experts shaping the sound of today. Workshops covering essential thematic areas provide valuable input guaranteed to move your music career forward. Find here the general Info on Music in The Woods:
Sustainable Networking
Connections created at the camp continue far beyond the event itself. Numerous collaborations among participants as well as projects with mentors underline the extraordinary networking value of our community.
Career Launchpad
Our track record speaks for itself: former participants represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, such as Abor & Tynna, while CHOVO won the Austrian Protestsongcontest 2025.
Insights into the world of blockbusters
Our lecturers belong to the international top tier and score major productions for cinema, TV, and games in Los Angeles. Three participants of the production challenge following the first edition of Music in The Woods traveled to Hollywood for one week as their prize. At the studio complex of Hans Zimmer, the winners gained behind-the-scenes insights from legends such as mix engineer Alan Meyerson (Gladiator, Dune, Miley Cyrus) and networked on eye level with giants like Harry Gregson-Williams (Shrek), Emmy winner Freddie Wiedmann (Star Trek), and game audio expert Jeff Rona (God of War). A meeting with Lily Marlovits (Marvel’s Daredevil), who after her education in Vienna is now continuously setting new milestones in Hollywood, also left a lasting impression. Find here their report sharing their experiences of the trip
Global Showcase (Red Bull)
Through our partnership with Red Bull, participants can present their work directly to music supervisors of a global media company and receive professional feedback. Those who impress here gain access to the worldwide production music catalogue SOUNDS OF RED BULL — an opportunity others can only dream of. Three participants earned a place in the international portfolio of the media giant through their outstanding performances in the Sounds of Red Bull Challenge.
LEARN FROM THE BEST: OUR MENTOR TEAM 2026
The following lecturers and mentors will be part of this year’s edition:
Harald Kloser
Two-time BMI Film Music Award winner and composer of international blockbuster films such as The Day After Tomorrow and Alien vs. Predator. In 2008, he made his debut as film producer and screenwriter with Roland Emmerich’s movie 10,000 B.C. He also returned in 2022 as co-writer for Emmerich’s sci-fi production Moonfall.
Bernhard Melbye Voss
Conductor, composer, and pianist. He also works as a session conductor at Vienna Synchron Stage, leading recordings for international productions by Disney, Netflix, Marvel, and Warner Bros. together with the Vienna Synchron Orchestra.
SLOMO
Producer and songwriter with several million streams. Known for collaborations with NESS, Mathea, and Mark Forster, as well as modern productions between pop and urban music.
Monika Ballwein
Singer, vocal coach, and one of the most important mentors for emerging talents in the German-speaking pop world. She was part of Austria’s Eurovision Song Contest team five times — first as a backing vocalist and later as vocal coach for Conchita Wurst and JJ during their Eurovision victories in 2014 and 2025. In addition, she worked as a vocal coach for TV formats such as Starmania, Die große Chance, and Popstars, and collaborated with artists including Christina Stürmer, Rainhard Fendrich, and Wolfgang Ambros. She also teaches vocals at JAM MUSIC LAB Private University.
Lawrence Shragge
Award-winning film and TV composer with more than 160 soundtracks for international film and television productions, as well as two Emmy nominations. He collaborated for many years with directors David Wu and John Harrison on fantasy and drama productions and is regarded as one of the established names in the North American screen scoring scene. He is also a long-standing member of the Screen Scoring Faculty at the University of Southern California (USC).
Sounds of Red Bull
Insights into international music and brand strategies through the Red Bull Music Community, featuring expertise from Martin Brem, former Head of Global Music Services at Red Bull.
The entire program is led by:
Michael Klimas
Producer & singer (Söhne Mannheims), lecturer at JAM MUSIC LAB Private University.
Oliver Schmellenkamp
Expert in film and game music (Head of the Media Music Program at JAM MUSIC LAB Private University).
Become part of the Music in The Woods Community 2026 – from Gutenbrunn to the world!
Music in The Woods is a cooperation between the JAM MUSIC LAB Private University, the AKM, and the Veranstalterverband Österreich.
