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Film Composer Matt Gates: Bio

Composer Biography

My life has always been defined by music. When words could not express something music has always been my answer. It is a pure art with amazing potential to recreate an experience from the creator to the listener. Some important times in my life might shed some light by which to understand my musical perspective.

From the first moment I understood the mechanics of music I began writing it. I remember those first moments of creative bursts as being the most exhilarating experience of my life to that point. The most important thing in my life from that moment on became recreating that experience for people other than myself. I want to give this gift to people in mass, billions of people would not be too many.

Every life choice I have made has been guided by this overwhelming desire to recreate these special moments for the listner. Throughout my life I have been trying to find ways to make my music reach more people. There are basic skills required so that one can express in common terms what is in other ways inexpressible. I have lapped up knowledge in this area with great fervor so that my music might be able to express things on a high level of thought while being extremely easy for the listener to interpret. Every course I have taken in college and graduate school and every composer I have been mentored by has brought me to a point where I can convey the most abstract thought in musical terms of such clarity that it will be understood across endless borders of interpretation.

I have become deeply involved in areas where music is at its most expressive. Films are possibly the greatest combination of all known art forms and serve as my primary canvas of expression. I also work to create dynamic and expressive music for a new generation of concert goers and performers. Art music is the arena where creativity becomes unbridled by any but my own vision (how ever much I enjoy sharing in other's visions). Video games, amazingly enough, have proven to be another arena where music can truly be effective; video game music has come a long way from the days when it was pings and pongs to today when a composer can create something that underlines the subtle subtext and emotions of the game.

I hope, if you are reading this, that you will take a moment to consider two questions. Can we work together to create something that will be a truly amazing experience for millions? Can I share my music with just you; in this moment, can I accomplish all my goals instantly and in total fruition? I hope the answer is yes.

Awards

Top Ranked Senior - The University of Arkansas (2004)

BMI Jerry Goldsmith Film Scoring Award (2005)
awarded semi annually by a panel of industry veterans

ASCAP Film Scoring Fellowship (2006)
selected to one of 15 positions out of over 300 candidates

Credits

Feature Length Films:

(2010) The Message, Staring Erica Leerhsen (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)

(2010) Head Case

(2010) Mystic

(2009) Star Watch, Starring Carlos Gallardo - El Mariachi

(2009) Love Conquers Paul, with Peter Riegert (The Mask / Animal House)

(2009) A Letter To Dad, Starring Corin Nemec, John Ashton (Beverley Hills Cop) and Paul Gleason (the Breakfast Club)

(2008) Seal Team 6: Journey Into Darkness, Featuring the US Navy and California National Guard

(2008) The Carbon Copy, Staring Jonathan Breck (The Creeper in Jeeper Creeper 1 and 2)

(2008) Pilgrim's Progress

(2008) God of Wonders (feature length documentary)

(2005) EZ money (Composer)

Other Credits:

(2010) Wonder Boy (Composer additional music)

(2009) Eyeborgs, Staring Danny Trejo and Adrian Paul (Composer add music, Musical score supervision)

(2009) Chamaco, Starring Martin Sheen and Michael Madsen (Composer add. music, Musical score supervision)

(2009) Never Surrender featuring fighters of the MMA (Composer add. music, Music editing)

(2009) The Scarf (Add. music)

(2008) Pig Tales (Princess and The Pea Chronicles) Cartoon Series, Feature Films For Families (Composer)

(2008) Beethoven's Big Break (Add. Orchestrations)

(2008) Skeletons in The Desert (Music Creative Executive)

(2008) The Poker Club (Composer add. music)

(2007) The Mercy Man (Composer add. music)

(2006-2007) Warlords Online Video Game (Composer)

(2005-2006) "Finding Nemo" Disney Attractions (Composer add. music, Arranger, Orchestrator)

(2006) Trailers for "My Big Trailer"

(2005-Present) Library music for Extreme Music (Composer, Orchestrator)

(2005) Bewoulf Prince of The Geats (Composer, themes)

Short Films:

(2005) Out of Ink
(2004) Fortune Misfortune
(2004) E.M.S
(2004) Hazelnut Drive
(2004) To Steel a Kiss
(2004) Exegi Monumentum
(2004) Inside

Education

University of Arkansas
B.M., Music Composition, Summa Cum Laude
4.0 GPA - topped Ranked Senior
2004

Pacific North West Film Scoring Program
Summer 2003

University of Southern California
Advanced Studies Certificate, Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television
May 2005

ASCAP Film Scoring Work Shop
Summer 2005