A new scholarship established in memory of pioneering musician SOPHIE supports underrepresented voices in audio production through We Are Moving the Needle.
The music world still feels the absence of groundbreaking producer and DJ SOPHIE, who died tragically in an accident at age 34 over four years ago. Her innovative approach to electronic music continues to influence creators worldwide, and now her legacy takes a new form through a dedicated scholarship fund.
Launched in partnership with nonprofit We Are Moving the Needle, the scholarship targets women, transgender, and non-binary individuals specializing in electronic music production. Recipients will receive financial assistance for college-level audio engineering and production programs, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.
Since 2021, We Are Moving the Needle has distributed more than $600,000 in scholarships. The organization focuses on increasing representation in technical music roles where women and non-binary people remain significantly underrepresented despite their creative contributions to the industry.
"SOPHIE's innovations continue to shape music's future" notes the organization. "As a Resonator Hall of Fame inductee, her boundary-breaking approach inspires countless creators, and we're honored to help her influence extend to the next generation".
U.S. citizens and residents can apply through the organization's website until April 27, 2025. The scholarship joins several other funding opportunities offered by We Are Moving the Needle to address persistent gender disparities in music production and audio engineering.