Daily Inspiration: Meet Joëlle Nager

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joëlle Nager.

Hi Joëlle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in 2000 in Basel and raised in Binningen, a small town in Switzerland. I started to have piano and singing lessons at the age of six, and throughout my youth, I participated in many piano and composition competitions, workshops, and masterclasses. During my juvenescence, I won several prizes at the Swiss Youth Music Competition in the categories of piano as well as composition. From a young age, I noticed that I was no longer playing the notes in front of me but that my fingers diverted and guided me into different tunes – I started to compose. From the piano, it gradually evolved into compositions for full orchestras. The different layers and voices of the orchestra started to form in my head and every school break I went down (as all music rooms were in the cellar) to the piano room to lay down what I had in my head as well as to create new sounds. Whilst simultaneously completing High School, with a major in Biology and Chemistry, I was taken up at the Talent Promotion Program in Composition at the Conservatoire of Basel and completed these two programs at the same time.

Right after my successful Matura (Matriculation Exams), where my final project was a composition to an animation that was graded with the highest mark, I was taken up in the Screen Scoring Program at the University of West London where I completed my Bachelor’s Degree with First Class Honours and simultaneously fulfilled a Conducting Diploma. During my Bachelor’s Degree, I already received my first movie commission that twice won the Best Original Score Award. After finishing my Bachelor’s Studies, I received a Scholarship for Outstanding Achievements at the Berklee College of Music, where I completed my Master’s Degree in Scoring for Film and TV while only 22 years old. Recording sessions involved the Air Studios London, the Budapest Art Orchestra, the Valencian Community Orchestra, and the Hilaris Chamber Orchestra. During this time, I received a commission from the SUISA, the Swiss Music Rights Organization, to compose an orchestra piece for their 100-jubilee concert.

Now, I have undertaken the voyage to Los Angeles, where I received two simultaneous internships within the film music industry and I am excited to explore and broaden my scope within the film-music industry of Los
Angeles.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a film music composer is a life-long journey where patience, persistent consistency, and hard work are key to the profession. It is like a mountain track – keep going!

In my case this path led to a lot of traveling as I was first studying in London, then in Spain, and within that period I attended masterclasses all around the world. I always try to learn as much as possible; now for example, I additionally attend UCLA extension courses. Moving from one place to another can be challenging, but it is a road that fills me with joy as composing is like a second heart to me.

I am excited about how my journey will unfold.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialized in screen scoring as well as concert composition. Throughout my journey I was always interested in both sides, be it composition for real instruments or electronic sounds, as well as in conducting – one says a table is strongest with three legs. Or all good things are three! In my compositions, I always let my creativity flow as my ideas never stop. I am fascinated by the world of moving pictures, I love the playfulness in animations. From joyfulness to dramatic underscoring – the beauty of being a film music composer is that you can adapt your music to the needs and the storyline of the movie which flows into the blossoms of musical inventions.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success for me is happiness. If what you do makes you happy, you’re successful in my point of view.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joellenager.com
• LinkedIn: Joëlle Nager