Image via SOPHIE’s Facebook Page
One of the most visionary artists of her generation, SOPHIE transformed the landscape of electronic music; not only through sound, but through identity, aesthetics, and the unapologetic embrace of possibility. Now, her legacy continues in a new direction: as a catalyst for education, access, and structural change, defiantly pushing back against institutions that seek to diminish marginalised people.
Launched in collaboration with music charity We Are Moving The Needle, the SOPHIE Scholarship Fund is a newly established grant supporting women, trans, and non-binary students pursuing studies in audio engineering and music production across the United States. The initiative offers awards of $5,000 or $10,000 to cover tuition and associated educational expenses – a practical but powerful step toward addressing the deep gender disparities that still exist in the recording industry.
In a statement, We Are Moving The Needle described SOPHIE’s legacy as “a beacon of inspiration to countless creators,” and affirmed the fund’s mission to honour her not only as a trailblazer, but as a bridge to future generations: “Her innovations continue to shape the future of music. We are thrilled to celebrate her indelible mark as it lives on in the next generation of trailblazers.”
SOPHIE’s representatives, announcing the initiative via Instagram, echoed that same spirit of continuity: “Sophie was passionate about the future of music, and, just like she did, we can’t wait to see many more women, trans and non-binary creators change the game.”
In a music industry still skewed toward cis male dominance, structural change begins with access: to tools, to spaces, to education, to the confidence that one belongs. SOPHIE’s work, from her radically synthetic sound design to her boundary-dissolving visuals, was never interested in fitting in. She created space for herself, others, the strange, and the beautiful. That spirit lives on in this fund: a small but significant site of resistance, empowerment, and hope.
The SOPHIE Scholarship Fund is open to students currently enrolled in accredited US colleges or universities. Funds may be used toward tuition, course materials, or other academic expenses. Applications close Sunday, April 27 at 11:59PM EST, with recipients announced by May 26. Apply HERE.
For those continuing to build a more inclusive music future, SOPHIE’s light remains. Not only in memory, but in motion.
