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About

Award winning composer and conductor Christian Kolo strives to tell larger-than-life stories that inspire emotions only music can evoke.

 

A native of Detroit, Kolo attended Michigan State University where he studied composition with composers Zhou Tian and Ricardo Lorenz. Moving west, Kolo refined his craft for film scoring at the University of Southern California, training with acclaimed composers Bruce Broughton, Christopher Young, and Garry Schyman.

 

Kolo has gone on to create music for popular films, television, and video games, including Marvel’s Midnight Suns, Total War: Warhammer III, and Supernatural. He has been privileged to work alongside prolific artists such as Tim Janis, Pinar Toprak, Tim Wynn, and Trevor Morris.

 

Kolo currently resides in Los Angeles where he composes, orchestrates, and conducts music for the screen and the stage.

Christian Kolo Headshot.jpg

Notable Performances

  • Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, Christian Kolo, conductor

  • Dallas Winds, Jerry Junkin, conductor

  • Michigan State University Wind Symphony, Kevin Sedatole, conductor ​ ​

  • University of North Carolina, performance at CBDNA, Evan Feldman, conductor ​

  • Detroit Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble ​

  • Brooklyn Rider ​

  • Eastwood Scoring Stage, Warner Bros. Studios, Christian Kolo, conductor​

  • Dali Quartet

  • Czech Television Sound Stage, Adam Klemens, conductor

  • Stephen F. Austin Brass, Fred J. Allen, conductor ​

  • Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra, Matt Forte, conductor ​

  • Scottish Session Orchestra, Glasgow

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Awards

  • BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) Foundation 2019 Pete Carpenter Fellowship​

  • Nominated for Best Original Score at The Little Wing Film Festival, On The Way Up​

  • Dallas Winds Brass Fanfare Competition, awarded for Adventure Awaits​

  • ACCBDA James E. Croft Grant for Young and Emerging Wind Band Composers, awarded for The River Runs Silver​

  • Michigan State University Large Ensemble Competition​

  • Dallas Winds Brass Fanfare Competition, awarded for To The Stars​

  • Dallas Winds Brass Fanfare Competition, awarded for Valiant​

  • Duluth Superior Orchestra Young Composers Competition, Runner-up

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Education

Master of Music in Screen Scoring​

University of Southern California Thornton School of Music ​

Professors: Bruce Broughton, Eric Schmidt, Garry Schyman​

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Bachelor of Music in Composition​

Michigan State University College of Music​

Professors: Zhou Tian, Ricardo Lorenz

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Technical Skills

  • Cubase Pro

  • Logic Pro

  • Dorico

  • Sibelius

  • Pro Tools ​

  • Vienna Ensemble Pro 7​

  • Microsoft Office​

  • Apple & Microsoft OS

  • Spitfire Audio Libraries ​

  • Cinesamples Libraries

  • EastWest Libraries ​​

  • Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments

  • Kontakt Libraries

 

Christian Kolo Headshot Conducting.jpg
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