ABOUT
Three-time Dallas Winds award winning composer, Christian Kolo seeks to meld contemporary, classical, and film music as one, recognizing the beautiful potential and limitless opportunities that each contain. Kolo is a recent graduate from The University of Southern California Thornton School of Music where he received a Masters Degree in Screen Scoring. Born in West Bloomfield Michigan, a suburb of Metro-Detroit, Kolo began composing music in his sophomore year of High School. A graduate of Michigan State University, Kolo studied music composition with Zhou Tian and Ricardo Lorenz receiving high honors for his academic achievements. Along with composition, Kolo is very interested in musicology and music education. He loves making classical and instrumental music fun for all ages and for those who do not have an extensive musical background. Kolo enjoys composing music for all ensembles and skill levels. He especially likes composing for large ensemble which provides a great pallet of color and texture for which he enjoys writing with. Kolo also works with film music website, Soundtrack.net as a film music critic.
Kolo currently resides in the greater Los Angeles area where he composes, orchestrates, and conducts film and media music along with concert works from his studio, Christian Kolo Music.
PERFORMANCES
NOTABLE
2019
2018
2018
2017
2017
2016
2016
2015
2015
Eastwood Scoring Stage, Warner Bros. Studios, Christian Kolo, conductor
University of North Carolina, performance at CBDNA 2018, Evan Feldman, conductor
Detroit Symphony Orchestra Chamber Ensemble
Brooklyn Rider
Michigan State University Wind Symphony, Kevin Sedatole, conductor
Stephen F. Austin Brass, Fred J. Allen, conductor
Michigan State University Symphony Orchestra, Matt Forte, conductor
Dallas Winds, Jerry Junkin, conductor
Dali Quartet
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
AWARDS
2019
2017
2017
2016
2016
2016
2015
2013
TECHNICAL
SKILLS
Sibelius/Finale
Cubase Pro 10.5
Pro Tools
Logic Pro X
MAX/MSP Jitter
EastWest Libraries
Spitfire Audio Libraries
Cinesamples Libraries
Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments
Kontakt Libraries
Vienna Ensemble Pro 7
Microsoft Office
Adobe Premiere
DaVinci Resolve 15
Master of Music in Screen Scoring
University of Southern California Thornton School of Music
Professors: Bruce Broughton, Eric Schmidt, Garry Schyman
Bachelor of Music in Composition
Michigan State University College of Music
Professors: Zhou Tian, Ricardo Lorenz
2019
2018
EDUCATION
PRESS
2019
2019
2019
2017
2017
2017
2016
2015
Christian Kolo announced as 2019 Pete Carpenter Fellow
Michigan State University College of Music Composition, "MSU Alumnus receives the 2019 Pete Carpenter Fellowship in Film, Television, and Video Game Composition"
BMI Foundation News, “2019 Pete Carpenter Fellow Announced”
Dallas Winds News and Updates, “2017 Fanfare Contest Winners”
Michigan State University College of Music News (Spring 2017 Issue), “Composition Undergrad Wins National Grant, Christian Kolo’s work recognized for young and emerging wind band composers.”
The Laker (West Bloomfield, MI), “Composer Kolo Inspired by Teacher”
Dallas Winds News and Updates, “2016 Fanfare Contest Winners”
Dallas Winds News and Updates, “2015 Fanfare Contest Winners”
2019
2018
2018
2017
2017
2016
2016
2015
2015
2019
2017
2017
2016
2016
2016
2015
2013
2019
2018
2019
2019
2019
2017
2017
2017
2016
2015
Zoe Kissel (Director, Writer, Producer, Photographer)
Stuart Heinlein (Director, Writer)
Alyssa Callahan (Director, Writer)
Kim Labick (Director, Writer, Producer)
COLLABORATORS