About

Brendan Galvin is a composer and music editor working across film, animation, theater, and dance. With a background in scoring for a range of styles, from full orchestral works to the more electronic and experimental atmospheric textures, to delicate, minimalist piano or guitar pieces. He blends acoustic and digital elements to create immersive soundscapes. Skilled in Logic Pro and Pro Tools, he specializes in composing, editing, sound design, and score preparation.

Brendan completed his Master of Fine Arts in Film Scoring at Victoria University of Wellington, where he interned for David Long, an experience that profoundly shaped his approach to film composition. As an intern in The Swearing Room, Brendan worked on major projects, including The War of the Rohirrim, Secrets at Red Rocks, and The Choir Games, gaining hands-on experience in professional post-production environments. His responsibilities included:

Score Preparation & Orchestration

Assisted in preparing orchestral and choral scores for major recording sessions, including those held at Abbey Road Studios.
Worked directly with conductors, ensuring clean and accurate materials for performers.

Recording Sessions & Post-Production

Served as a take logger during multiple recording sessions, meticulously documenting performance evaluations to streamline the comping and editing process.
Assisted in comping and editing takes in Pro Tools, preparing final mixes for delivery.
On multiple occasions, even performed in recordings—including singing on a demo that unexpectedly made it into the final mix for The War of the Rohirrim’s end credits song (uncredited).

Sound Design & Sample Library Creation

Co-developed custom sample libraries for Secrets at Red Rocks, including a distorted cello library and rock percussive grooves, which became defining elements of the show’s sonic identity.
Experimented with Kontakt and Pro Tools processing, refining sample textures through layering, dynamic control, and effects manipulation.
Worked alongside David in a highly collaborative environment, learning how to balance organic experimentation with professional-level execution.

Arranging & Orchestral Expansion/Music Editing

Orchestrated and expanded piano-and-vocal performances into full orchestral cues for The Choir Games, transforming small-scale performances into sweeping cinematic moments.
Recreated and transcribed licensed music for performance when original recordings were unavailable, adapting arrangements to fit production needs.

Brendan’s time working with David Long was nothing short of life-changing. Sitting beside Long in the studio, watching him compose, record, and mix in real-time, was an education in both technical mastery and creative confidence.

Beyond technical skills, Brendan took to heart the philosophy that David embodied: music-making should be joyful, collaborative, and unafraid of risk, while remaining genuinely kind collaborator on every project.

Other Major Composition Projects

Beyond his internship, Brendan has composed scores for live-action, animation, theater, and chamber music commissions. Some of his work included the following:

Dance On – A solo oboe and string quartet piece commissioned for a gallery performance. Inspired by themes of home and personal loss, the piece became a tribute to a former student, balancing joyful movement with deep emotional resonance.
Echoes of the Wild – A score for an animated short. The final score balanced orchestral warmth with a sense of magic and wonder.
Ruru – A live-action film incorporating Māori instruments, requiring careful research and adaptation to respect cultural traditions while maintaining his own artistic voice.

Classical Training & Background

Before shifting his focus to composition, Brendan earned a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied under Mario Guarneri. His classical background informs his orchestration techniques, ensemble writing, and understanding of live performance dynamics.

In addition, Brendan brings nearly a decade of experience as a music educator, balancing technical expertise with a collaborative and adaptive approach to storytelling. His work across different mediums—film, theater, dance, and live performance—has shaped him into a versatile and intuitive composer, always ready to tackle new creative challenges.

Let’s Work Together