Daily Inspiration: Meet Ching-Shan Chang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ching-Shan Chang.

Hi Ching-Shan, It’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us. To start, could you share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a composer based in Los Angeles, and I am originally from Taipei, Taiwan. As the youngest and only artist in my family, my musical journey began at age 5 when my parents enrolled me in a well-structured pre-elementary music institute to learn piano, composition, and improvisation. Among the three kids, my interest, passion, and creativity in music were evident. This early experience solidified my decision to pursue classical music seriously, leading me to attend the prestigious Eastman School of Music.

I collaborated with student filmmakers, animators, and game designers in my junior year. Multimedia scoring fully utilized my skills and talent and aligned with my musical principle: “Music must tell stories.” During my master’s degree at New York University, I was involved in a variety of productions, including a 100-person musical, orchestral arrangements of famous Taiwanese folk tunes—one suite debuted atop Taipei 101 on Taiwan’s National Day—and short films showcased at various film festivals.

After graduation, I was fortunate to be selected as a mentee by Hollywood composer Tom Holkenborg (aka Junkie XL). This internship was a life-changing experience, providing me with invaluable knowledge that I still benefit from today. It opened many doors, allowing me to explore and sincerely appreciate the world of film and concert music. In recent years, I have written music for studio films such as “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” (Paramount, Universal) and “Rebel Moon” (Netflix), scored feature-length films like “Laws of Man,” and will be the composer for an upcoming short film titled “Cry Eat Cry.” My diverse cultural background and classical and contemporary multimedia music education have given me a unique voice, earning favor from directors, orchestras, and other industry professionals.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have always considered myself fortunate for my parents’ support, regardless of their limited understanding of the film and music industry. However, there have certainly been obstacles and challenges, and finding answers as I go has become a daily lesson.

• First and foremost is the challenge of standing out with your voice. With the rapid advancement of technology, most people can make samples sound good, but film music is increasingly becoming homogenous, both artistically and musically.
• The second is networking. Having the right connections is just as important as writing good music. However, the frustration lies in the uncertainty of it all and the fact that you never know which relationships will flourish and which will hit a dead end.
• Third is the industry’s inherent uncertainty. Luck plays a role, and everyone follows vastly different paths, so no guaranteed solution works. When I moved to LA, I threw myself into this jungle full of talent. Even after a few years, I sometimes struggle to find my footing while climbing the ladder. However, we must create our own when we can’t find the answer.
• Lastly, and most importantly, you should learn to appreciate what you have earned in this journey and to be sincerely happy for your competitors. We all fall into the trap of feeling jealous about what people post on social media and devaluing ourselves for seemingly not doing as well. This is understandable and normal human behavior. However, maintaining a healthy mindset helps us tremendously in pushing forward in this challenging journey, and fighting negative energy should be a priority and practiced consistently to succeed in this marathon.

Thanks for sharing that. Please tell us a bit more about your work.
I’m a composer who writes music for concerts and multimedia. With my thorough classical training, I specialize in orchestral writing across various settings and styles. However, I have expanded my palette to hybrid scoring, incorporating synths, sound design, and non-orchestral elements through collaborations with multiple composers. For several reasons, I have learned to detach myself from my music once it is completed. One reason is that it might pose a problem when other professionals alter my music in production, and my ego could get in the way if they request revisions. Therefore, I focus on giving my best in every piece of music I write and take pride in my hard work. The film and music industries are saturated with highly talented individuals. However, I’m confident in my ability to communicate seamlessly with clients, quickly understand and address their unspoken concerns and questions, instinctively analyze what the picture needs in music to help tell the story, and apply my knowledge and experience in various music styles.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I cannot thank Hollywood composer Tom Holkenborg enough for recognizing my potential upon graduation from NYU. He invited me into his studio, generously sharing his years of knowledge and experience during my internship. Almost like a parent guiding me through this wild industry, he provided invaluable insights into how a studio film is made from start to finish. I learned essential skills, such as communicating effectively with directors and other film professionals, addressing notes, what conforming entails, and what a professional delivery looks like for music editors and orchestrators. Most importantly, he allowed me to lead the music team as a senior assistant. Thanks to my time with Tom, I now feel more confident handling various situations, both in communication and in music production for films of all sizes. This experience has truly made my journey as a composer more exhilarating.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chingshanchang.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cschang_music/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cschangcomposer
• soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/chingshanchang
• Other: https://vimeo.com/chingshanchang

Image Credits
Boris Nazarov Notley Hawkins