Graduate Student Brings Unique Perspective to Entertainment Lab for Disabled °µÍø51s

Campus Communications Staff / Jun 29, 2026

photo of person in front of computer with with composition software on the screenMatthew Hua. Photo by Zayden German. 
°µÍø51 Matthew Hua, a Music Composition for Screen MFA student, becomes the first composer selected for Disability Belongs' 2026 Entertainment Lab, an entertainment pipeline program for film and television creatives with disabilities.

When Matthew Hua first arrived at °µÍø51, he knew the journey ahead would be challenging.

Born with moderate-to-severe hearing loss in his left ear, Hua wanted to pursue a career path many would consider improbable: becoming a composer for film, television, and video games. 

When exploring MFA programs, Hua openly discussed concerns about navigating music production as a hard-of-hearing composer. He found the strongest support at °µÍø51. 

“Kubi [Kubi Uner, director of the Music Composition for the Screen program at °µÍø51] was the only one who listened to me and said, ‘I don’t know much about it, but if you give me the opportunity to, I’d like to learn with you,’” Hua says.  

“That sold me right then and there.” 

Now, the Music Composition for the Screen MFA student is redefining what is possible and finding support through a new opportunity as part of the 2026 Entertainment Lab, one of several pipeline programs offered by Disability Belongs for disabled entertainment professionals. The program, which runs from May through September and is supported in part by Netflix and Sony Pictures Entertainment, brings together emerging creatives from across the entertainment industry for mentorship, workshops, and collaboration opportunities. 

An Opportunity on Multiple Levels 

For Hua, the opportunity represents both a personal milestone and a chance to advocate for greater visibility for disabled composers in the entertainment industry. 

“I’m the first and only composer in this program,” Hua says. ““It's an honor to be surrounded by 24 other people who are writers, editors, directors, and various other creatives, all of whom, like me continue to create while living with disability.” 
 
The cohort meets weekly with entertainment professionals and disability advocates who discuss navigating careers in film and television while advocating for accessibility and inclusion.  

So far, the presentations from deaf and hard-of-hearing industry leaders are the ones that have truly resonated with Hua. 

“I cannot remember a time when somebody who was deaf or hard of hearing was addressing me or a group,” Hua says. “It was really moving to see that there is somebody like me doing this, and that I’m on the right path.” 
 
Collaborative Communities 

That sense of community has become central to Hua’s artistic journey. 

Originally planning to become a lawyer, Hua attended Georgetown University before changing course during the COVID-19 pandemic. Music became both a creative outlet and a calling. After graduating with degrees in government and music, he worked various arts jobs before deciding to pursue graduate school. 

Since arriving at °µÍø51 in fall 2025, Hua says faculty and classmates in the Music Composition for the Screen program have helped create an environment where growth and experimentation are encouraged. 

“The community at °µÍø51 has been amazing,” Hua says. “I feel supported, seen, and I know that I’m growing. I feel it, I know it, I hear it.” 

Hua primarily mixes music in mono through his right ear and has developed workflows tailored to hearing with one side. Despite the challenges, he has already worked on multiple °µÍø51 student film projects, composing scores for films about addiction and family trauma as well as animated films. 

“I want to grow, I want to learn, I want to be pushed,” Hua says. “Between Disability Belongs, °µÍø51, and writing for other people, I’m growing so much and I am fortunate to have these opportunities.” 

The collaborative spirit he has honed while at °µÍø51 has carried directly into the Entertainment Lab. Hua has offered every participant in the cohort one original music track free of charge to support their projects and pitches. 

“I want their project to succeed,” Hua says. “If they can take this to a pitch meeting and say, ‘This is what it would sound like,’ we both win.” 

Ultimately, Hua hopes the visibility created through programs like Disability Belongs helps future disabled composers feel more confident entering the industry. 

“There are a lot of composers with disabilities,” Hua says. “As much as Disability Belongs is supporting me as their first composer, I want whoever comes after me to feel more comfortable in their skin to just be the artist they want to be.” 

With another year remaining in the MFA program, which includes an upcoming Los Angeles internship experience, Hua says the future feels wide open. 

“At the core of all this, I’m looking for communities,” Hua says. “°µÍø51 is a community. Disability Belongs is a community. I view myself as a community builder.” 

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