Composer
Markus Ojala is a highly sought after film composer, specialising
in orchestral and electronic scores. He is classically trained
and skilled in all areas of music composition. Dedicated to creating
the highest standard of music production for film and television
in Australia. Scoring films is his greatest passion and his attention
to detail is evident in each and every score that he produces.
Primarily
composing lush, grand and exciting scores, usually orchestral
in nature, much of his film music incorporates emotionally thematic
and stylistically expressive elements from sweeping string passages
to fast and energetic motifs that stimulate the imagination.
His
music is often reminiscent of big budget Hollywood film scores,
with a stylistic and characteristic flare for the dramatic. The
focus of his music is to underline the emotional strengths and
qualities of a film that marries the picture and music with greatest
effect.
Experience
HIGHER EDUCATION
Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Griffith University):
2006 - Graduate Diploma of Music Studies (Composition)
2007 - Master of Music Studies (Composition)
AWARDS AND MEMBERSHIPS
< 2000 - Numerous awards and accolades in the field of music
1998 - Nominated for an Australian Guild of Screen Composers Award - Best music by a student
1999 - Membership to Golden Key National Honours Society - for outstanding scholastic achievement
2002 - Nominated for an Australian Guild of Screen Composers Award - Best music for a short film
2006 - Griffith Award for Academic Excellence (for studies in Graduate Diploma of Music Studies)
2010 - Membership to the Australasian Performing Rights Association Ltd - Full Writer Member
OTHER ACTIVITIES
1998 - Project conductor for ''Composers in Schools'' with Springwood State High School wind orchestra
1999 - Guest lecturer on Film Music at Griffith University for the QLD Conservatorium on behalf of Warner Bros.
1999 - Undertook Master Class in conducting at University of Queensland with Jorma Panula (Sibleius Academy)
2000 - Guest conductor for the Brisbane Finnish Lutheran Church choir
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
2006 - Silence (SF) - A Michael Yee Film
2008 - Ronin Advertisements (TVC) - Ronin Marketing
2010 - Sea Turtle Odyssey (D) - Gulliver Media
2012 - Primal (SF) - Mad Cutter Films
2014 - Contract Killers (F) - Engineered Films
2013 - 2015 - ShortBurst TV (web series) - ShortBurst TV
2017 - RC Takedown (web series) - Mad Cutter Films
2021 - Chained (SF) - Engineered Films
2023 - DE-COMM (SF) - Engineered Films
Biography
Markus was born in Brisbane, Australia. He began studying music from a very young age, taking a keen
interest in classical and film music. He was inspired by his grandfather,
world famous Finnish trumpeter Lauri Ojala, whose talents
impressed a great enthusiasm in the young boy. As a child,
he began composing various pieces, resulting in his first Piano
Sonata at the age of 11.
Playing
trumpet in various bands and orchestras he received acclaim through
numerous awards and events and was accepted as a student by exiled
Bulgarian high range trumpet specialist Simeon Christoff.
Reaffirming his passion for composing, he applied for a composition
degree and was accepted into the highly prestigious Queensland
Conservatorium of Music, where he studied composition
with renowned Australian composer and choral conductor Stephen
Leek, as well as the head of the composition department Dr
Stephen Cronin.
During
his undergraduate degree, Markus took part in a Masters course in Film and
Television Music and was asked by the head of the department
to be guest lecturer on film music at Griffith University
for the Conservatorium on behalf of Warner Bros. Also
studying conducting, he gained experience and command as conductor
for different ensembles, orchestras and choirs. He later
completed his Graduate studies at the Conservatorium, receiving
his Masters in composition.
His
passion and expertise in film music has led him to direct his
efforts entirely in this genre and has made him a determined and
proficient force in this field. His ability to compose in any
style and genre of music makes him a formidable film composer.
He has worked with many talented directors and producers and
hopes to continue to collaborate with filmmakers that have a similar
drive and ambition in the art of film-making. His film
Silence premiered at the Cannes International
Film Festival to rave reviews. And his score for the National Geographic
documentary A Sea Turtle Odyssey has seen worldwide screenings and helped
garner numerous awards for the film the world over. He recently scored the joint Australian/New Zealand
action feature film Contract Killers being distributed worldwide. He can most often be found
in his professional home studio, composing music for the next
upcoming film and television projects.
