Mark Smythe

Composer | Conductor
Mark is a New Zealand-born, Los Angeles-based composer known for his film, choral and contemporary classical music. His most recent film score was the 2022 shark thriller The Reef: Stalked. Other credits include Natural History New Zealand's Flying South, The Things She Did starring Daryl Hannah and Boar, one of four collaborations with horror master Chris Sun. Mark won Best Score in the Australian Screen Industry Network Awards for Sun's Little Girl and to date has four nominations in the Hollywood Music In Media Awards. Mark's latest project was Korimako Bells, a chamber work written for Nikau Harp Trio, who featured it in their 2022 concert tour.

Mark made his conducting debut in 2017 with Bulgaria’s Rousse Philharmonic, performing Fiordland from Flying South. That same year Christchurch Symphony Orchestra performed the film live-to-picture, with Mark guest performing on ukulele.

Mark served as COO of the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) from 2018 - 2020, hosting numerous events with such luminaries as John Williams, Thomas Newman, Alexandre Desplat, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Trent Reznor and Thom Yorke. He regularly interviews composers for the SCL Score magazine (notably Jonny Greenwood for The Power of the Dog) and is a popular moderator for awards season Q and As.
Location - Los Angeles

Full Biography

Credits
Composer
2022 - The Reef: Stalked Feature Film
2021 - Love You Like That Feature Film
2021 - The Possessed Feature Film
2020 - Main Title Theme Canvasing the World with Sean Diediker Television
2017 - Boar Feature Film
2017 - Unfallen Feature Film
2015 - Flying South Short Film
2014 - Living Life Forwards Feature Film
2014 - Charlie's Farm Feature Film
2013 - The Things She Did Short Film
2012 - Daddy's Little Girl Feature Film
2011 - These Empty Streets Short Film
2010 - Not So Straight Feature Film
2010 - There Once Was an Island: Te Henua e Noho Feature Film
2009 - Nero's Short Film

Classical Works
2022 - Korimako Bells - Harp Trio
2020 - Moto Revivo - Harp
2017 - Flying South Suite - Symphony Orchestra
2015 - Piagne E Sospira - Choir and Electric Guitar
2014 - Moertalitatis - Female Choir
2013 - Persephone - Female Choir and Harp
2012 - Moto Mojo - Harp + Delay Pedal
2011 - Nox Noctis - Choir and Electric Guitar
2010 - Out of the Cradle Endless Rocking - Choir
2008 - Umbra Animae - Choir
2007 - Alleluia - Choir
2006 - Ave Verum Corpus - Choir
2005 - A Solis Ortus Cardine - Choir
Training
​Graduate Diploma, Screen Composition - Distinction, Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) 2006 - 2008

Awards
2021 - Hollywood Music In Media Awards Nomination - Contemporary Classical
2017 - Hollywood Music In Media Awards Nomination - Best Original Score - Independent Film - Unfallen
2015 - Hollywood Music In Media Awards Nomination - Best Original Score - Independent Film - Flying South
2015 - Australian Screen Industry Network Awards - Nomination - Best Score - Charlie's Farm
2013 - Hollywood Music In Media Awards Nomination - Best Original Score - Short Film - The Things She Did
2013 - Grant Recipient - Australian Council JUMP Mentorship - Jeff Cardoni (USA)
2013 - Finalist - APRA Professional Development Awards - Film & Television (Australia)
Skills
Composer, Conductor
Piano, Ukulele, Mandolin
Guitars Electric, Acoustic, Classical, Bass

Showreel