Jeff Kryka, an award-winning Hollywood composer who received his doctorate from UCLA less than three years ago, has already compiled a comprehensive resume – one that encompasses film, television and live performance.
Most recently, Kryka’s work has included “Star Trek – Live in Concert” with celebrated film composer Michael Giacchino, known for his work in “Lost” and “Ratatouille.” The project involved re-orchestrating Giacchino’s film scores for two of the most recent “Star Trek” films, directed by J.J. Abrams. The 21st Century Symphony and Chorus will give a series of live performances – based on Kryka’s work – synchronized to film this May in London and Lucerne, Switzerland.
Kryka’s introduction to Hollywood began when he won first prize in the 2006 Turner Classic Movies Young Film Composers Competition. His score was chosen out of more than 650 international composers and judged by Academy Award-winning composer Hans Zimmer.
Since then, Kryka has worked with Giacchino on 2010’s “Let Me In,” on the television series “Fringe” and with noted composer Chris Tilton on the popular video game “SimCity,” among many other projects.
Though Kryka’s school endeavors led to paid professional work, not every step of his career path was mapped out in advance.
“The route I took to working with Michael Giacchino was a completely random one,” Kryka said. “A conductor wrote an email to the UCLA composers wondering if anyone was available at the last minute to help out with an orchestra piece.”
It turned out that the composer of this project was the main scoring assistant to Giacchino, Kryka said. After the orchestra performance went well, Kryka was hired to work with Giacchino on the horror film “Let Me In.”
An arranger, orchestrator, composer and performer (his primary instrument is cello), Kryka’s creative process involves putting all these pieces together, one by one. He also teaches at the Colburn Conservatory in downtown Los Angeles and is a lecturer at UCLA, where he received the Henry Mancini Award for his outstanding achievement in film music composition.
“Even before (Kryka) arrived (at UCLA), his personal voice as a composer was already well-formed and very beautiful,” said Paul Chihara, head of UCLA’s Visual Media Program. “He proved himself immediately as a very capable and extremely accomplished composer.”
Chihara said that Kryka has emerged as a professional role model for other aspiring film composers.
“(Kryka) was the kind of person who knew exactly what he wanted to do and how to achieve that,” said Ian Krouse, the chair of the UCLA composition program. “Everything he did seemed to focus on making his dreams come true.”
Kryka said it’s always exciting to hear his original compositions performed and rehearsed by an orchestra, especially after spending so much time composing by himself.
“My advice to younger composers would be: Get your music performed as much as possible,” Kryka said. “That is really where I think you learn how to be a composer. And listen to a lot of music – go to concerts, look at tons of scores.”
Kryka’s ability to recognize and jump on sudden opportunities seems to have been a major factor in his success, from winning the Turner composition prize to working on “Let Me In,” which eventually led to his most recent “Star Trek” project.
“When other people start taking time to learn what I’ve written, that is really thrilling,” Kryka said. “It pushes you to try to write something substantial and worthwhile.”
Though he has worked on large productions and has devoted much of his time to composing, Kryka still tries to balance life and work.
“Music is a huge part of my life, but it is not the sum of my life,” he said. “You make time for the things you want to do, and you parse your daily schedule out into composing, teaching and other projects, while still making time for family, friends and relaxing.”
Very well written!