I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what progress actually looks like as a composer.
It’s not always viral music or massive credits.
Sometimes it’s finishing a piece you weren’t sure you could pull off.
Sometimes it’s getting a quiet yes after a string of rejections.
And sometimes it’s seeing your work brought to life in a way that reminds you why you started all this in the first place!
This month, two composers in the Discord community shared some really awesome wins.
They reflected the kind of steady, intentional progress that adds up over time. The kind of work that says…
I’m doing this. I’m in it. I’m growing!
🎻 First Up: Alexander had his North Africa Suite performed live by the Biola Symphony Orchestra.
The suite includes five distinct dances—Berber, Moroccan, Arabian Waltz, Nubian Celebration, and a Finale—and each one carries its own rhythmic identity, stylistic nuance, and cultural reference point.
That kind of project takes real intentionality—not just in the writing, but in how you approach research, orchestration, and cohesion across movements.
What I love about this kind of work is that it reflects a composer who’s not afraid to think BIG.
It’s a body of work that explores a theme across multiple ideas, while still holding together as a unified piece. That takes a lot of skill, dedication, and trust in your own voice.
Congrats on the performance!! 👏
🎬 And then there’s Brian, who just started working on his first feature-length documentary score.
The film was already finished a few years ago using music from a stock library—but the filmmaker reached out wanting to replace it with custom music so he can try to license the doc to cable.
What stood out to me wasn’t JUST that Brian got the gig which is fantastic!
It was the filmmaker’s openness to custom music in the first place. That’s not always the case.
And honestly, our job isn’t always to convince people to hire us—it’s to help them make the best choice for their project.
Sometimes that means guiding them toward custom music. Other times it means pointing them to a different solution.
Either way, they’ll remember how you cared about their film—not just your role in it. And when collaboration starts from that place, the music always ends up stronger!
We all have different definitions of success.
For one person, it’s hearing their work performed by a live orchestra.
For another, it’s landing their first feature film.
These moments don’t have to look the same to count as a win! They all move us forward.
They’re reminders that showing up, doing the work, and staying open to what’s next does lead somewhere.
I'm really proud of this community.
If you have any wins you’d like to share, definitely come join the Discord!