Stefan L. Smith
Composer, Songwriter, Music Producer, Violist
Featured Credits
Highlights Reel
To download full credits and bio as a PDF, click here.
Credits
Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures (2023)
PBS | Animated Series
Original songs and score
Batman: The Doom That Came To Gotham (2023)
Warner Bros. Animation | Animated Feature
Dir. Sam Liu
She Dreams At Sunrise (2021)
Moon Jelly Pictures | Animated Short
Dir. Camrus Johnson
*Winner, Best Score - Short Film (Animation)
Hollywood Music In Media Awards
*Premiere, 2021 Tribeca Film Festival
Lazarus (2020)
Overdog Entertainment | Feature Film
Dir. R. L. Scott
Stick & Move (2020)
Joyline Pictures | Custom Trailer Music
Dir. Connor Lang
SWA-TECH (2018)
Locusts Films | Feature Film
Dir. Rome Williams
Pepper Mill (2018)
Web Series
Dir. Calvin Gibbon
Bred For War (2018)
Lolabo Pictures | Short Film
Dir. Tim Biemann
Haunt (2018)
AFI Conservatory Films | Short Film
Dir. Nikki Born
A Virtual Nightmare (2018)
Nukazooka | Short Film
Dir. Andrew McMurry
Darth Vader VS Buzz Lightyear (2018)
Nukazooka | Short Film
Dir. Andrew McMurry
Liquid Metal (2017–18)
Save State Games | Video Game
Ruins (2016)
Sermpol Productions | Short Film
Dir. Vanat Sermpol
The Source (2015)
Skiptown Productions | Web Series
Dir. Vincenzo Carubia
Static (2007)
Galatrax Pictures | Short Film
Dir. Brian Klemesrud
Bloom (2005)
Whatever Films | Feature Film
Dir. D. De Los Santos
The Death of Noir (2004)
Galatrax Pictures | Short Film
Dir. Brian Klemesrud
Bio
Meet Stefan L. Smith (he/him), a multi award winning film composer and violist hailing from Joliet, Illinois. Stefan’s musical talents were recognized early on, as he earned a full tuition scholarship for his Bachelor degrees in Music Composition and Viola Performance from DePaul University’s School of Music. He was also awarded a full tuition scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in Viola Performance at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, studying with violist pedagogue Donald McInnes. It’s no surprise he made the move to Los Angeles in 2008, where he continues to hone his craft.
Stefan’s musical prowess knows no bounds. He’s a true multitasker, composing music for film, TV, video games, concert halls, R&B, pop, and even EDM, all while maintaining an active professional performance/recording career, serving as a principal (and/or guest principal) and section violist with some of the most prestigious American orchestras such as the Hollywood Studio Symphony, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, The Academy’s Oscars Orchestra, and many more. He’s even been featured as an on-screen musician, appearing in major productions like the 94th Academy Awards, Modern Family, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The West Wing, and more.
The awards and recognition that Stefan has received throughout his career is a testament to his talents. Most recently, he won the 2022 Hollywood Music In Media Award for Best Score in an Animated Short for his score to She Dreams At Sunrise. He is also the recipient of the the 2021 ASCAP David Rose Award for Film Scoring and the National Award of Merit at the National Fine Arts Festival of 2000. In 2013, he was invited to join the UC Berkeley Young Musicians Program Faculty, where he taught violin, viola, and music composition. He is also a sponsored artist with leading companies such as William Harris Lee, a former Maestro Foundation Performing Artist, Coda Bow International Performing Artist, and Remic Microphones.
In 2019, Stefan was commissioned to write a symphonic work for the Chicago Sinfonietta which premiered at Orchestra Hall. He was also commissioned by the Colburn School in 2022 to compose a concert work for the principal bassoonist of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Andrew Brady. In 2023, Smith was commissioned to write a string quintet work, “Quintet in the Key of Blue”, for the National Orchestra Institute and the Savannah Music Festival, which was premiered by Joseph Conyers’ Dubhe Ensemble in June 2023. Stefan is a former Artistic Director of Fever Up’s “Candlelight” chamber series, and is also the Artistic Director of the Metropolis Chamber Musicians. With his striking viola performances, heart-stirring compositions and an unwavering passion for music, Stefan L. Smith is truly a unique force within the global music and film industries.
