Fulham Composer Wins Prestigious Film Scoring Scholarship
Jack Ryan attends Berklee College of Music in Boston
From left: Oleg Smirnov, assistant chair of screen scoring; Tim Huling, associate professor of screen scoring; composer Fil Eisler; Jack Ryan, student scholarship recipient; Tracy McKnight, BMI vice president of creative for film, TV, and visual media; Rodney Alejandro, dean of professional writing and music technology; and Sean McMahon, chair of screen scoring. Picture:Michael J. Thomas III
October 27, 2025
Jack Ryan, a student composer originally from Fulham, has been awarded the BMI Film Scoring Scholarship at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The announcement was made during Berklee’s annual BMI Day, held earlier this week on campus, which celebrates the partnership between the college and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).
The scholarship is presented annually to a student selected by Berklee’s Screen Scoring Department based on musical ability, financial need, and potential for success in the film industry. Jack, who is currently studying screen scoring at Berklee, received the award in recognition of his developing talent and commitment to the craft.
Born in London to Irish and Japanese parents, Jack initially intended to pursue psychology at the University of Cambridge before shifting his focus to music composition. His decision to study at Berklee was influenced by the work of composer Pinar Toprak, a Berklee alumna. Over the summer of 2025, Jack interned at Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions in Los Angeles, gaining insight into professional scoring environments.
The BMI Day event included a studio orchestra class led by composer Fil Eisler and a panel discussion featuring Eisler and Tracy McKnight, BMI’s vice president of creative for film, TV, and visual media. The scholarship was first introduced in 1998 by composer Michael Kamen and continues to support emerging composers in visual media.
Jack expressed appreciation for the support he has received from Berklee faculty, peers, and mentors, including Alexis Bragga, Will Marriott, and the team at Remote Control Productions. He said, “Receiving this award would not have been possible without the guidance from the faculty and my peers.I am grateful to be able to continue growing as a composer with the support of BMI.”
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