From Waldviertel to Hollywood: Music in The Woods Challenge winners went to L.A.

An exclusive look at the "Music in the Woods" winner's trip to Los Angeles: What began as a creative experiment in the tranquil Waldviertel region reached its climax in the heart of the global film industry. For the three winners—Sara Sacoto, Desiree Weber, and Lukas Rösch—the Hollywood dream became a reality.

Inside the "Sanctuary": Visiting Hans Zimmer & Alan Meyerson

A standout highlight was the visit to Remote Control Productions, the studio complex of Oscar-winner Hans Zimmer. The students met Alan Meyerson, Hans Zimmer's long-time mix engineer and "right-hand man," responsible for the iconic sound of blockbusters like Inception.

Sara Sacoto was moved by his approach: "Alan Meyerson told us how to make music with intuition and soul, without getting too bogged down in technical aspects."

Focusing on Narrative: Lawrence Shragge

The winners also had the privilege of learning from multi-award-winning Hollywood composer Lawrence Shragge, a composer and longterm member of the Screen Scoring Faculty at the University of South Carolina (USC), who is renowned for his work on high-profile TV productions  Shragge is an renownded expert in musical storytelling. He provided the students a masterclass in musical storytelling, demonstrating how musical sensitivity can transform a visual image into a deeply narrative soundscape. For the winners, his insights highlighted the crucial role of a composer in not just accompanying a film, but actively shaping its emotional and narrative arc.

Spotlight: Lily Marlovits – Bridging JAM and Hollywood

A special highlight of the trip was meeting Lily Marlovits. As a former student of JAM MUSIC LAB Private University, she perfectly embodies the project's vision: the direct path from academic training to the international top tier. Lily shared her experiences on how the skills learned at JAM translated into a career in L.A., serving as a vital link for the winners.

Networking at Eye Level with Industry Giants

The trip offered unprecedented access to industry titans. Harry Gregson-Williams (Shrek, The Martian) welcomed the group to his studio.

"He welcomed us as if we were part of his home, played the Shrek theme on the piano and shared his creative process with a passion that touched us," Sara Sacoto recalls.

Meetings with Emmy winner Freddie Wiedmann, game audio expert Jeff Rona, the Emmy-nominated Julia Newman, and Harald Kloser provided deep insights into various career paths.

For Lukas Rösch, the practical exchanges were most impactful:

"What was almost even more exciting for me were the conversations with their assistants. That’s where it really got down to the practical stuff: how to get those jobs, how the entry into Hollywood works... It was all very direct and honest."

The local networking events also connected the winners with successful pros like Lukas Geppert, Adam Lukas (Bleeding Fingers Music), Gerrit Wunder and Paul Gallister

Lukas Rösch summarizes:

"You notice that people over there tick a bit differently than here in Vienna. Very open, very direct, but also totally interested. The next trip is already booked."

Sara Sacoto sees the journey as a turning point: "This trip was undoubtedly a 'golden ticket' that brought me closer to the world we dream of. It filled me with a creative energy that is hard to put into words."

Music in The Woods - Creative Retreat, Industry Networking, Career Springboard

Music in the Woods is an extraordinary music project and funding format that connects young Austrian media music talents directly with the international music scene. Initiated by the JAM MUSIC LAB Private University, AKM, and the Austrian Organizers Association (Veranstalterverband Österreich), the project offers hands-on access to the worlds of film music, game audio, and music production.

Outlook: The Third Edition in 2026

Following the success of previous years, the hit format is entering its next round: The third edition of "Music in the Woods" will take place in 2026. With this, the project establishes itself as a permanent fixture in Austrian talent promotion, continuing to build the bridge from the Waldviertel directly to Hollywood.