Today we’d like to introduce you to Christa Duggan.
Hi Christa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey with music started when I was pretty young. I grew up in Fort Lauderdale, FL and was first introduced to music at a summer camp called “Music Makers.” At this camp, I learned how to play violin, cello, recorder, all types of percussion instruments, and piano. Each student also participated in chorus where we would sing songs from all the different decades including “Sing, Sing, Sing” from the 1930s, to “Bohemian Rhapsody” from the 1970s to Coldplay. I continued to go every summer and looked forward to going each year. Piano was the instrument I connected with the most, so I started taking private lessons. Starting off, I was a pretty terrible piano student actually. My teacher would always give me pieces to learn, and I would practice to an extent, but I never wanted to play what was written on the page. I always wanted to do my own thing and would come up with small improvisations–which led me into composition.
I became more serious about writing music when I was around the age of 13. I remember I was watching “Lawrence of Arabia” and it was my first experience where I remember actually listening closely to a film score. I was so inspired by the expansive dessert shots and how the score was so majestic and grand. I decided then and there that I want to be able to do that someday. That’s when I learned about the possibilities of having a career in film scoring and also the first time I learned about USC’s screen scoring masters program.
For my undergrad, I wanted to focus on understanding the foundations of composing music before getting into writing music for film. That’s why I decided to go to the Boston Conservatory at Berklee where I received my Bachelor of Music in composition. Because the Conservatory merged with Berklee College of Music, I was able to study classical composition while taking film scoring classes at Berklee, giving me the best of both worlds.
Going to USC had always been a dream of mine ever since learning about film scoring. But when COVID hit in the middle of my Junior year, I contemplated not pursuing a master’s in film scoring. Everything felt so uncertain, but a month before the submission deadline, I decided I was going to apply to USC. It was an insane amount of work to do in a month in the middle of a pandemic, on top of finishing my bachelor’s degree online, but I am so happy I applied. In March 2021, I got my acceptance letter, graduated in May and then moved out to LA in August.
During my time at USC, I learned so much about what it takes to be a film composer. A large portion of USC’s program are the recording sessions where we are able to work with incredibly talented musicians and learn about all the many aspects that go into making music for film. The recording sessions were always so rewarding and always were the best experiences. Another large portion of the program is working with the film students at USC. I was able to collaborate with so many talented and wonderful filmmakers and take part in so many inspiring projects.
While at USC, I was selected to be in Thornton’s mentorship program where I was individually mentored by Randy Newman. Since graduating, Randy has continued to mentor me and I have learned so much from him. His love for music and his encouragement and generosity continues to inspire me, pushing me to not only be a better composer but also a better person.
Today I am working as a freelance composer while also working as a composer’s assistant. I have been able to work with such talented composers who I admire and look up to, and have learned so much from them. I have really enjoyed all the collaborative experiences I have been a part of since graduating and am looking forward for more to come in the future!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Obstacles and challenges are definitely hard to avoid. There are so many factors that go into pursuing a career in film music, but I feel my journey overall has been a pretty smooth road.
The thing I love most about film music and music in general is that I am always learning something new every day. Of course, when you’re learning new things for the first time, it can be confusing and sometimes incredibly frustrating, but persevering through the rough parts always leads to the payoff. Since I have graduated, I never expected to learn as much as I have now and each day, I continue to learn more — even if it isn’t easy at first.
When obstacles and challenges do happen, I have always relied on my community to get me through it. Having family, friends, and mentors that I can always go to has helped so much and I am so grateful to have such incredible people in my life.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a composer. My main passion is to write for Film and TV, but I also love writing concert music and music for dance.
When I am writing music for film, I am always thinking first about the story. I love when directors send me the script, especially before any footage, because I am able to imagine my own version of the film. It is always so interesting when I see the footage for the first time because sometimes the film can be exactly what I imagined, and other times it can totally surprise me.
When I start the composition process, I sometimes write themes before seeing any footage, and other times I don’t start writing until after I see the film. When I am determining the sound of a score, I rely heavily on the visuals of the film — how it is colored, the lighting in the scene, the facial expressions of the characters, the location of where the film is shot, what props are used, etc. These details really help me determine the sound palette & instrumentation I will use and how those sounds will interact within the score throughout the film.
In my music, I love exploring different sounds and textures to create really colorful scores. I enjoy any opportunity where I can experiment and try something new that I have never thought of trying before.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think risk taking is an essential ingredient to following your dreams. When we take risks, we are completely out of our comfort zone, which can be really uncomfortable, but sometimes that is where we need to be in order to grow.
I feel like each time I have taken a risk in my career, I have not only grown as a composer but also as an individual. I have challenged and pushed myself to try things I never thought I could before. I am not going to lie, it’s absolutely terrifying while it’s happening, especially when the outcome is uncertain, but I always learn from the experiences. And in the best cases, those risks payoff!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christaduggan/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001465365763
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristaDuggan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@christaduggan5803
Image Credits
For personal photo: Photo by Dave Green. Copyright 2019 Boston Conservatory at Berklee. For additional photos: Photos by Christian Amonson.
