A Career Composing Music: Griffin Jennings ’18
May 13, 2019
Jane Hobson ’22
At Oberlin, Griffin Jennings majored in TIMARA and English. Outside of the classroom, he was involved in film, dance, and a variety of collaborative artistic projects.
Since graduating in 2018, Jennings has been working as a freelance composer. He recently created a company called Mikrofon Music, which he intends to use as a platform for future work.
What have your recent projects been?
I composed original music for a documentary on the PBS show Frontline called ‘‘Right to Fail.’’ I also composed for a podcast from Radiotopia called ‘‘Spacebridge.’’ Both projects were incredibly fulfilling because I cared about the topics and had great relationships with the editors, which made the back-and-forth process of sending music drafts collaborative and mutually beneficial.’
What do you enjoy about your work?
Being a freelance composer is difficult, but rewarding. The difficult part is finding work, especially work that you’re passionate about. But if you do find those jobs—and I have been lucky enough to work on two amazing projects since graduating—the work is just the best. I can get paid for writing music I actually like? That's so crazy!
Photo credit: Griffin Jennings
What advice do you have for Obies who aspire to work in music?
Use your Oberlin network! There are so many incredible composers and media producers who went to Oberlin, and they want to help you out. The more relationships you can establish, the more doors will open up for you.
In the future, Griffin hopes to continue building his resume and working on creative projects to further establish himself as a composer.
Tags:
You may also like…
Finding the Joy with Seckou Keita
November 20, 2024
Nicknamed the “Hendrix of the kora,” Seckou Keita is today’s most influential and inspiring performer on the instrument, and is considered a leader of the newest generation of African traditional musicians, fusing traditional forms and instruments with those of other cultures.
Beyond the Writing Center: Abbie Patchen ’24
November 7, 2024
Abbie Patchen ’24 is a Juris Doctor (JD) candidate at the University of North Carolina School of Law. While at Oberlin, Abbie pursued a minor in Writing & Communication, and was involved with the Writing Associates program, where students assist their peers through writing advice and tutoring. Recently, her work was published within the scholarly publishing collaborative WAC Clearinghouse — work that began as an assignment for Teaching and Tutoring Writing Across the Disciplines, taught by Professor of Writing and Communication Laurie Hovell McMillin. Here, she reflects on how her Oberlin courses and professors shaped her approach to learning and writing.
Richard Miller Classical Voice Competition for High School Students returns in November
October 31, 2024
Oberlin Conservatory is proud to announce the return of the Richard Miller Classical Voice Competition for High School Students, a festival aimed at encouraging and supporting high school students in the pursuit of a career in classical vocal music. The festival is named in honor of Richard Miller, a member of the voice faculty at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music for more than 40 years.
