It’s been more than four years since the pioneering musician and DJ SOPHIE passed away in a sudden accident at the age of 34, but her legacy is still felt keenly in music and beyond. As it continues to inspire a new generation of creatives – and especially musicians – a new scholarship fund has been unveiled in her name, alongside the nonprofit organisation We Are Moving the Needle.
Open to women, non-binary, and trans creators who specialise in producing electronic music, the fund will award financial support to college students in audio engineering and production. The aim is to “carry forward SOPHIE’s legacy of breaking boundaries and championing underrepresented voices,” says We Are Moving the Needle.
The organisation – founded on the goal of supporting women to work as recording industry professionals, audio engineers and producers – has awarded more than $600,000 in scholarships since 2021. These have allowed women and non-binary people, who are still vastly underrepresented and discriminated against in the music industry, to attend workshops and programmes across the globe.
“A Resonator Hall of Fame inductee, SOPHIE’s legacy is a beacon of inspiration to countless creators and her innovations continue to shape the future of music,” reads a statement on the scholarship fund. “We are thrilled to celebrate her indelible mark as it lives on in the next generation of trailblazers.”
Alongside other scholarship funds, SOPHIE’s will provide $5,000 to $10,000 in financial support to successful applicants. Applications are open to US citizens or residents here, until April 27, 2025.