Question 1

My academic journey

Accepted Answer

I was classically trained from a young age as a violinist and through the French music schools, before finding my calling in the field of composition for motion pictures.
 
After graduating with a Music Technician Certificate from a Music High School in the outskirts of Paris, I started attending the "Institut Supérieur des Techniques du Son" (Superior Institute of Sound Technics) in the center of Paris.
 
I moved to San Francisco, California in 2011, where I received a Master of Fine Arts degree in "Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media" with an emphasis on Film Scoring from the Academy of Art University.
 
In 2021, I received my Teaching Certificate in Higher Education from Harvard University, and accepted an offer to teach music for visual media at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

I have since taught numerous classes including Music Production focused on Apple's Logic Pro software, a "Soundtrack Industry Overview" course (of which I am the author). and a "Composer Demo Reel" class for senior students. While I am mostly an onsite instructor, I have taught fully online (ZOOM and asynchronously), and in hybrid format (onsite + ZOOM, simultaneously). About half of my students are Graduates, while the other half are Undergraduates. Additionally, I have served on the University's review committee to grade demo reels of graduating students in the scoring section, music production section, and sound design section of the Music and Sound department.

Question 2

My work

Accepted Answer

Over the years, I have composed music for a variety of projects in categories including animated short, feature film, documentary, advertising, and Public Service Announcement (PSA). I have also created original music for figure skating shows featuring World champions, Olympians, performers from Disney on Ice, Stars on Ice, Holiday on Ice, Broadway on Ice, Ice Capades, and from Cirque du Soleil. Click HERE (https://www.jonathan-galland.com/listen)for Demos.
 
My work has been featured in trade publications such as Music Connection magazine and on various news sites. My music has received in-depth reviews by both film and music critics and has been discussed on various film music blogs. A lot of my scores are available across most music platforms such as iTunes, Amazon, Shazam, and on internet radios such as streamingsoundtracks.com, where one of my soundtracks was voted among the database’s top 100 film scores. See the Press Section.(https://www.jonathan-galland.com/press)
 
In 2019, I founded "Bending Reed Music" to serve as a publishing entity. I also began mentoring, and collaborating with then 7-year-old singing talent Danica Lipetsky,(https://www.jonathan-galland.com/danica) who since gained valuable recognition in the music industry.

Question 3

Awards

Accepted Answer

I am honored to have received music awards, prizes and accolades in more than 20 countries on 5 continents. Issuers include the Global Music Awards, the InterContinental Music Awards, and many international film festivals. Awards received include: "Soundtrack of the Year", "Best Song of the Year", "Best Composer", "Best Original Music", "Best Film Score", "Best Trailer Arrangement". The detailed list can be provided upon request.
 
I was nominated three times for a Crystal Pine Award at the International Sound & Film Music Festival in Croatia, alongside nominees John Williams, John Powell, Ludwig Göransson, Gary Rydstrom, Nicholas Britell, Tyler Bates, Thomas Newman, Alberto Iglesias, Gabriel Yared, Max Richter, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Alexandre Desplat and James Newton Howard.
 
I was equally privileged to have been awarded six American music grants, to date.

Question 4

Memberships & Judging

Accepted Answer

I am presently a member of the Recording Academy (host of the annual Grammy Awards) and am approved to submit work for Academy Award consideration in the “Best Original Score” category.
 
I have been a member of the Canadian Academy of the Recording Arts & Sciences, where I was brought in to serve as one of their music judges for the JUNO Awards, in Canada. Categories I judged in over the years include: "Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble", "Classical Album of the Year: Small Ensemble", "Classical Composition of the Year", "Instrumental Album of the Year" and "Children's Album of the Year".
 
I also had the privilege to be selected as a voting member on the panel of the 2021 World Soundtrack Awards in Belgium. Current and former WSA judges include John Williams, Vangelis, Danny Elfman, Alexandre Desplat, John Powell, Terence Blanchard, Howard Shore, Dario Marianelli, Alan Silvestri, James Newton Howard, Mychael Danna, Rupert Gregson-Williams, Ramin Djawadi, Rachel Portman, Cliff Martinez, Lalo Schifrin, Elliot Goldenthal, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Carter Burwell, Jonny Greenwood, Alberto Iglesias, Joe Kraemer, Atli Örvarsson, Bruno Coulais and Pinar Toprak.

Question 5

My Teaching Philosophy and Original Curriculum

Accepted Answer

View the PDF (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d8XwcNoTs4OxM8qVWFTu-guHP6e8bH8O/view?usp=sharing)   (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d8XwcNoTs4OxM8qVWFTu-guHP6e8bH8O/view?usp=sharing)

Question 6

Curriculum Vitæ

Accepted Answer

View the PDF(https://drive.google.com/file/d/13fzi8j_Fsi3IedJp7mdl9IPFPRxatxBf/view?usp=drive_link)

Jonathan Galland

Professor of Music & Sound for Visual Media, in Higher Education

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