scoring
recent projects
Closure
the story
Closure was created for the Ypsilanti 26.2-Hour Film Festival, where our team had just 26.2 hours to write, film, edit, score, and submit a complete short film. I served as a Production Assistant, Lead Audio, and Lead Composer, helping shape both the production process and the emotional landscape of the film. Working under such an intense deadline required quick creative decisions, constant collaboration, and the ability to adapt as the story evolved. While we didn't take home an award, completing a fully original film in just over a day was an accomplishment in itself. The film premiered alongside the other festival entries in April 2026, marking the end of an unforgettable creative sprint.
the music
One of the biggest advantages I had while composing for Closure was being present throughout production. Rather than waiting until the edit was finished, I spent time talking through the story with the writer and staying on set during filming. Listening to conversations between the director and actors, especially notes about pacing, emotion, and line delivery, all gave me a much deeper understanding of the film's emotional direction. That experience made it easier to translate the story into music. Instead of simply reacting to the final edit, I was able to build themes around the intent behind each scene and the performances themselves. The entire project was a race against the clock. Every department was creating simultaneously, and there were moments when it felt like we might not make the submission deadline. Somehow, everything came together, and we successfully delivered the film just in time. This will forever be a reminder to me that great collaboration can accomplish a lot, even in just 26.2 hours.
college projects
The circle of life
the story
The Circle of Life was one of my favorite projects from my university Film Scoring course. Our assignment was deceptively simple: we were given only the script and the film itself, without the original score, and challenged to create our own musical interpretation from scratch. After everyone completed their scores and showed them in class, our professor revealed the original version of the film so we could compare our creative choices to those of the professional composer.
the music
Although I haven't been able to track down the original since, I still remember how surprised I was by the similarities. While the melodies and phrasing weren't identical, the emotional pacing, instrumentation, and overall dramatic arc closely aligned with the original score. It was an exciting reminder that there are moments when careful storytelling naturally leads composers toward similar musical ideas. This project was also my second opportunity to experiment with narration alongside music. I found the story incredibly inspiring, and composing for it felt almost effortless. Every scene presented a clear emotional direction, allowing me to focus on supporting the narrative rather than simply filling silence. It remains one of the projects that strengthened my confidence in trusting my instincts as a film composer.
the story
Delish!
This project was created as part of a film scoring assignment to compose music for a short commercial. The primary objective was to explore how music and sound design work together to enhance visual storytelling, with an emphasis on incorporating sound effects into the score. I actually didn't realize that was one of the parts of the assignment so you won't see much of that here (lol).
the music
For this project, I started with a collection of samples and built original melodies and musical ideas on top of them. I referenced a variety of bright, energetic commercial soundtracks to capture the upbeat, polished feel often heard in advertising while still making the piece my own. This project gave me the opportunity to explore how memorable melodies and strong musical hooks can elevate even a short commercial. It also sparked an interest in commercial composition, and I'd love to continue developing this style of writing in future projects.
the story
Wipers
Unlike the previous commercial assignment, this project gave us complete creative freedom. Instead of composing a traditional background score, I decided to write an original song that could serve as the heart of the commercial. It quickly became one of the most enjoyable projects I completed in the course.
the music
For this project, I shifted away from my usual film scoring approach and leaned into my singer-songwriter roots. I grabbed my guitar, opened my notebook, and started experimenting with melodies and lyrics. The challenge became finding playful metaphors and imagery that could somehow relate to... windshield wipers. Writing a song for such an unexpected subject ended up being a lot more fun than I anticipated. Rather than simply supporting the visuals, I wanted the music to tell its own story while still feeling authentic to the commercial. One piece of feedback has stuck with me ever since. My professor told me the song was "too good for a commercial." It's still one of my favorite compliments because it reminded me that even the smallest creative prompts can inspire something meaningful.
