About
What I Do:
I’m a composer, with a central style that is emotive and cinematic. (Check out my music reel here.) Composers need to wear a lot of hats these days, so in addition to my formal training in scoring, arranging, and orchestration, I’ve sought training as a sound engineer. I can record, mix, and master audio, handling the music creation process from start to finish. The result is a product that meets your individualized needs as well as current industry standards.
My Bonafides:
I hold a degree in Music Composition from UT Austin, and just completed a second degree in Sound Recording Technologies from Texas State University, where I graduated Summa Cum Laude. I have hundreds of hours of studio experience. I’ve scored music for several short films, commercials, and music videos, and look forward to adding a variety of projects as time goes on.
For a more precise list of tools and training expertise, check out my LinkedIn page, which includes a resume I regularly update, or you can download a resume right here.
A Note on Composing Style:
This section is here for one key purpose: everybody has strengths and weaknesses, and I’d be lying if I told you I can do “everything”. For example, if you want me to lay down some incredible beats for your rap tune, I’m probably not a good match. But if you want a cinematic sound; something orchestral, something driven by a melody that follows the emotional ebb and flow you’re focused on relaying to your audience, I may be an excellent fit. I am extremely responsive to the subject material, and to your personal input. If you need something to precisely match your work, and library music just won’t cut it, that’s where I can really help out.
If you’re not sure whether I’m right for you, I’d start with the music reel, then reach out to me here. Tell me what you need, share your thoughts. (A video clip is also a huge help, if you have it.)
Professional Best Practices:
– We’ll nail down the timeline and budget for the music early on. That way, we’ll both have clear expectations up front; a recipe for success!
– I will maintain two redundant copies of every project, kept on separate hard drives, in separate locations.
– You will receive a hard copy (via hard drive, CD/DVD/Blu-ray, or flash drive, depending on your preference) of the completed, mastered product, as well as a compressed, streaming-friendly version online via Dropbox.
– I will be accessible to you. For remote work, we can video chat, speak by phone, text, and/or email. For local work, we can also meet in person and review to be sure the music is headed in the right direction.
My Setup:
My tools include Pro Tools 12, an array of sound libraries by EastWest, Kontakt, and others, along with various audio manipulation and monitoring plugins which, together, allow me to provide you with a wide variety of soundscapes and instrumentations. RME’s HDSPe audio interface allows for pristine, high fidelity sound output. I also have a modest set of microphones and a recording rig for smaller scale sessions, and am comfortable in a larger studio when scaling up is needed. As a multi-instrumentalist, even when working with a smaller MIDI-centric production, I add real instruments in whenever possible so as to take the sound to the next level. I have years of training as a flutist and vocalist, play piano as well as various hand drums, and frequently add found object sounds for a unique mix. When scoring for studio musicians, I use the Finale music notation program.
A Personal Note:
Life is an incredible adventure; a true epic playing out around us! Just as characters in our most beloved stories grow and develop, I personally believe in a Divine force guiding us through our own unique story arcs, full of love and loss, hope, struggle, and, ultimately, a liberation we can scarcely imagine. Maybe not surprisingly, projects I love best of all feature strong characters who grow when challenged, much like Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon, or Chihiro in Spirited Away.
Another powerful story (and a true epic) is The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien. Elbereth Gilthoniel, my namesake, brings light in the darkest of moments to Frodo and Sam, and others. Bearing her name reminds me to focus on the higher qualities, such as fearlessness, selflessness, an individual’s volition of willpower to overcome, and the power of all conquering love, which includes a lighthearted, joyful love of life!