BIMM Berlin Students Collaborate with German Film Orchestra
BIMM University Berlin recently collaborated with Berlin’s premier game audio studio, Audio Creatures and the world-renowned German Film Orchestra for the exciting initiative, LiveScore Berlin.
This partnership, which aims to bring the world of video game scores to life, saw students and graduates rescore the teaser trailer for Skyblivion, a modding project by the TESRenewal group. Skyblivion sees a recreation of the fourth Elder Scrolls game, Oblivion, in the Skyrim engine. AudioCreatures’ Lead Composer Markus Zierhofer recorded the original score.
Following a rigorous selection process, three students and graduates were selected to have their composition brought to life by the world-renowned German Film Orchestra.
Additionally, students from BIMM University Berlin’s school of film, MetFilm School, also attended the recording session to capture some moments from the day. You can see their work below.
Our collaboration with LiveScore Berlin
LiveScore Berlin is a project crafted by AudioCreatures, a Berlin-based game sound and audio studio. Ahead of the recording session, students from our music faculty had the opportunity to take part in a masterclass with AudioCreatures’ CEO and Lead Composer, Markus Zierhofer.
This masterclass covered the art of orchestral scoring and was a unique opportunity to work with a composer and producer who has worked with big industry names such as Netflix, Sony, Tencent, THQ, Daedalic, Nacon and more.
Following the masterclass, students submitted their compositions for consideration from Markus, the team behind Skyblivion and BIMM University Berlin faculty. Ultimately, three compositions were selected to be recorded by the orchestra:
- Elias Cadalanu and Anton Hilden, BMus (Hons) Songwriting: ‘The Gates are Open’
- Niclas Brauchle, BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance: ‘The Secret Son’
- Christophe Mirkes, MA Popular Music Practice: ‘An Empires’ Pride’
In their compositions, students drew on skills developed in their courses through specialist optional modules such as Sound Design and Writing for Media (Songwriting) and Scoring for Drama (Songwriting, Popular Music Performance).
“We are very grateful to BIMM because they gave us this amazing opportunity to meet Markus and collaborate with AudioCreatures in this way. It’s fantastic because it shows us that there’s more that we can do in terms of games and audio.”
Claudio Spagnoli, MA Popular Music Practice graduate
Working with the German Film Orchestra
Through participating in LiveScore Berlin, students had the unique experience to work with one of the last remaining professional film orchestras in Western Europe. First established in 1918 as the Ufa Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra today gets its name from the legendary Babelsberg Studios, where it has been based since 2007.
Alongside working with artists such as Shania Twain and Celine Dion, the orchestra has produced music for films and video games such as Ad Astra (starring Brad Pitt), The Outrun (starring Saoirse Ronan) and Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius.
Through LiveScore Berlin, students had the unique opportunity to delve into the world of game sound and audio, and each left with a top-quality live recording for their portfolios.
“Working with a live orchestra is more than an opportunity for a music student – it is a transformative experience that bridges theory and practice. It is where lessons learned in the classroom come to life, and each note played becomes part of a larger, living narrative. This hands-on collaboration fosters not only technical skill, but also emotional depth, teamwork and a deep understanding of the power of music to unite and inspire.”
Luisa Lerma, Head of School: Music
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