Music Composer & Scoring Artist (Volunteer)

Music Composer & Scoring Artist (Volunteer)

PromiseStudios | Original Music, Film Scoring & Sonic Storytelling

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: PromiseStudios

Location: Remote with NYC-based collaboration as needed

Type: Volunteer Creative Role

Commitment: Approximately 5–10 hours per week, depending on production schedules

Minimum Commitment: 6-month commitment required

Works Closely With: Creative Directors, Filmmakers, Animators, Podcast Producers, Writers, Editors, Sound Designers, and PromiseStudios Leadership

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City–based nonprofit supporting children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, literacy, education, social-emotional learning, creative expression, storytelling, and community-centered opportunity.

Through PromiseStudios, MAP develops original films, animation, podcasts, documentaries, and other creative projects that amplify stories, explore meaningful ideas, and bring our mission to audiences through powerful visual and audio storytelling.

About PromiseStudios

PromiseStudios is MAP’s creative media and production division.

Our teams bring together filmmakers, animators, producers, writers, photographers, editors, designers, audio professionals, and other creative collaborators to develop mission-driven media.

We believe music is not simply something placed behind a story.

Music is part of the story.

Role Overview

Mentor A Promise is seeking a talented and collaborative Music Composer & Scoring Artist to create original music for MAP’s growing portfolio of creative productions.

The Composer will develop original scores, themes, cues, transitions, soundscapes, and musical identities for projects including:

• Animation
• Short films
• Documentaries
• Podcasts
• Children's storytelling
• Promotional and campaign films
• Digital media
• Original series and special productions

Working closely with directors, producers, animators, editors, and sound teams, the Composer will translate story, character, emotion, movement, pacing, and atmosphere into music.

We are looking for someone who understands that a powerful score does not compete with a story—it helps audiences feel what words and images alone cannot communicate.

Key Responsibilities

Original Composition & Scoring

• Compose original music for film, animation, podcasts, documentaries, and digital productions.
• Develop themes and musical motifs for characters, stories, programs, and productions.
• Create emotional and atmospheric scores aligned with each project's creative vision.
• Compose opening themes, closing themes, transitions, stingers, background cues, and other musical elements.
• Adapt compositions to different lengths, scenes, formats, and production requirements.

Film & Animation Scoring

• Score scenes to support emotion, pacing, character development, tension, humor, wonder, and narrative movement.
• Work closely with filmmakers and animators to understand the dramatic purpose of each scene.
• Synchronize musical moments with visual storytelling where appropriate.
• Revise scores as animation, editing, or picture timing evolves.
• Develop musical identities that create continuity across longer productions.

Podcast & Audio Identity

• Develop original themes and sonic identities for MAP podcasts and audio productions.
• Compose intro, outro, transition, and segment music.
• Help establish recognizable musical identities across episodes and seasons.
• Collaborate with podcast producers and audio editors to ensure music enhances rather than distracts from dialogue and storytelling.

Creative Collaboration

• Interpret creative briefs, scripts, storyboards, rough cuts, animatics, and director feedback.
• Participate in creative discussions with directors, producers, writers, animators, editors, and sound professionals.
• Present musical concepts and explain creative choices.
• Receive feedback professionally and revise compositions collaboratively.
• Help establish a consistent musical language for major PromiseStudios productions.

Music Production & Delivery

• Produce high-quality recordings, demos, mockups, and final music assets.
• Prepare stems and alternate mixes where required for post-production.
• Maintain organized project files and version control.
• Deliver music according to agreed production schedules and technical specifications.
• Maintain accurate records regarding original compositions, third-party materials, samples, collaborators, and music assets.

Rights, Originality & Ethical Production

• Create original work and clearly identify any third-party samples, loops, recordings, or other licensed material used.
• Follow MAP's requirements regarding intellectual property, licensing, attribution, permissions, and documentation.
• Do not incorporate copyrighted music or unlicensed materials into MAP productions without appropriate authorization.
• Collaborate with production and organizational leadership on music rights and usage requirements.

Ideal Candidate

Strong candidates may have experience in:

• Film scoring
• Animation scoring
• Music composition
• Podcast music
• Television or digital-media scoring
• Orchestration
• Music production
• Songwriting
• Sound design
• Audio engineering
• Music technology

We welcome composers from a wide range of musical traditions and styles.

Experience with industry-standard digital audio workstations and composition tools is strongly valued.

Formal music education is welcome but not required. A strong portfolio, musical judgment, storytelling ability, reliability, and collaborative spirit matter greatly.

What We're Looking For

The strongest candidates will demonstrate:

• Strong musical composition and storytelling ability
• Understanding of how music influences emotion and narrative
• Ability to compose to picture
• Musical versatility across moods and genres
• Strong sense of timing, rhythm, dynamics, and pacing
• Ability to interpret creative direction
• Collaborative and receptive approach to feedback
• Strong organization and reliability
• Ability to work independently in a remote production environment
• Respect for deadlines and production schedules
• Commitment to MAP's mission and creative values

Portfolio

Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide a portfolio or reel demonstrating original composition.

Relevant examples may include:

• Film scores
• Animation scores
• Podcast themes
• Documentary music
• Short films
• Character themes
• Children's media
• Original compositions
• Soundtracks
• Experimental or interdisciplinary work

We care about what your music makes an audience feel, not simply the size of the productions you have previously worked on.

What Success Looks Like

Success means MAP develops an increasingly distinctive musical identity across its creative productions.

Our animation feels more alive.

Our films carry greater emotional depth.

Our documentaries give audiences room to reflect.

Our podcasts become recognizable from their opening notes.

And our stories remain with audiences after the screen fades or the episode ends.

Why This Role Matters

A character can walk into an empty room.

The image tells us where they are.

The dialogue may tell us what happened.

But sometimes it is the music that tells us how it feels.

PromiseStudios wants to create work where image, movement, voice, sound, and music become part of one storytelling language.

We are looking for a composer who wants to help build that language.

Write the theme. Score the moment. Shape the emotion. Help us create stories people can hear, feel, and remember.

Commitment

• Approximately 5–10 hours per week, depending on active productions
• Minimum 6-month commitment required
• Remote collaboration with NYC-based opportunities as appropriate
• Reliable participation in production meetings and creative reviews
• Timely communication and delivery of agreed creative work

What You'll Gain

• Original scoring credits across film, animation, podcast, and digital-media projects
• Portfolio-building opportunities across multiple creative formats
• Collaboration with filmmakers, animators, producers, writers, editors, and sound professionals
• Opportunity to develop recurring musical themes and original sonic identities
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Meaningful creative experience supporting stories connected to MAP's mission

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply directly through Idealist and submit:

• Resume or CV
• Portfolio, demo reel, or examples of original compositions
• Brief statement of interest

Please highlight relevant experience in composition, film or animation scoring, podcast music, music production, orchestration, songwriting, sound design, or related creative work.

Every story has a rhythm. Every character can have a sound. Help us compose the music behind the stories we want the world to remember.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Mentor A Promise. At this time, volunteer opportunities are limited to individuals based in the United States due to legal, safeguarding, data-privacy, and programmatic requirements. We appreciate your interest in our mission and your understanding of these requirements.