Penka Kouneva
{{short description|Bulgarian-American composer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Penka Kouneva
| image =
| native_name = Пенка Кунева
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|2|25}}
| birth_place = Sofia, Bulgaria
| occupation = Composer, Orchestrator, Soundtrack Producer
| website = http://www.penkakouneva.com/
}}
Penka Kouneva ({{langx|bg|Пенка Кунева}}) (/ˈpɛŋkɑː kuːˈnɛvɑː/; born February 25, 1967, in Sofia, Bulgaria) is a Bulgarian-American composer, orchestrator and soundtrack producer. In 1999, she began working in film and television and in 2009 began to score for videogames (Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen video games, with themes by Steve Jablonsky). Her music is a blend of Bulgarian influences, classical training, rock sensibility, and modern film and game soundtracks.
Kouneva has released two award-winning concept albums: The Woman Astronaut (2015, on Varèse Sarabande / Universal Music Group){{cite web|author=Varèse Sarabande |url=https://www.varesesarabande.com/products/the-woman-astronaut |title=The Woman Astronaut | Varèse Sarabande |publisher=Varesesarabande.com |date=2016-06-23 |access-date=2016-08-10}} and A Warrior's Odyssey (2012, on Howlin’ Wolf Records / Sumthing Else){{cite web|url=http://www.howlinwolfrecords.com/storeawo.html |title=Howlin' Wolf Records – A Warrior's Odyssey page |publisher=Howlinwolfrecords.com |access-date=2016-08-10}} both receiving 5-star press.
Adolescence and early career (1990–1999)
Kouneva was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, and began studying piano at the age of six. Her mother was a professor of music theory at the Bulgarian Academy of Music and her father was a scientist at the Institute of Chemical Technologies. At the age of twelve, Kouneva composed and performed incidental music for a children’s theater show that ran for a season. She earned fifteen dollars per show; the official start of her career as a paid composer. Kouneva attended the Sofia High School of Music and achieved a degree in piano. She later enrolled in the National Academy of Music and graduated with a degree in music theory.{{Cite web|url=http://www.californiastringquartet.com/about_penka_kouneva.htm|title=California String Quartet|website=www.californiastringquartet.com|access-date=2016-06-07}}
In 1990, she was awarded the Mary Duke Biddle Graduate Fellowship to study composition at Duke University, North Carolina, USA.{{Cite web|url=https://music.duke.edu/news/duke-composers-meet-north-carolina-symphony|title=Duke composers meet the North Carolina Symphony {{!}} Duke Music|website=music.duke.edu|date=24 March 2016 |access-date=2016-06-07}} At Duke she studied composition and orchestration with the American orchestral composers Stephen Jaffe and Scott Lindroth and with the Dutch post-minimalist Louis Andriessen.{{Cite book|title=The Music of Louis Andriessen|last=Andriessen|first=Louis|publisher=Routledge Publishing|year=2002|isbn=0-8153-3789-2|location=Great Britain|pages=310}} In 1997, Kouneva received Duke University's first-ever Ph.D. degree in composition in the brand-new doctoral program.{{Cite web|url=https://today.duke.edu/2015/09/kouneva|title=Alum's Gift To Fund Student Recording Sessions|website=Duke Today|date=9 September 2015 |access-date=2016-06-07}} In 1997, she also received a Green Card as an “Alien of Extraordinary Abilities.”
Hollywood career (1999 – present)
In 1999, Kouneva arrived in Los Angeles. Her first mentor was the Emmy-winning composer Patrick Williams whom she met at Duke.{{Cite web|url=http://gamesartandmusic.com/gaam-show-2/penka-kouneva-a-warriors-odyssey/5334/|title=Penka Kouneva: Game And Hollywood Composer|date=2012-10-15|website=GAAM: Games Art And Music|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-15}} She began her career by scoring independent features and thesis films for graduates at the American Film Institute.{{Cite news|url=http://www.shadowsthemovie.com/Shadows/Press_files/Newspaper%20Articles.pdf|title=The Catalyst|date=21 March 2001}} In 2004, she began to score TV specials and genre telefilms for the SyFy Channel (Chupacabra: Dark Seas, Ice Spiders, Nuclear Hurricane). In 2004, Kouneva met Steve Jablonsky (composer for the Transformers films) and became his orchestrator. She scored video games in 2009 with Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands and Activision’s Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen games. For the Transformers game, Kouneva wrote original high-action loops incorporating the musical style that Jablonsky established in the Transformers films – epic orchestra, rousing action melodies and heavy percussion. For the Prince of Persia game, Kouneva composed two hours of original in-game interactive score, fusing inspirations of Persian, Indian and Middle-Eastern music with epic orchestra.{{Cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/princepersiaforgotten.shtml|title=Game Music :: Prince of Persia The Forgotten Sands Original Soundtrack :: Review by Chris|website=www.squareenixmusic.com|access-date=2016-06-15}}
Her credits also include independent features (Primrose Lane, The Third Nail (starring Chloë Grace Moretz), Midnight Movie (starring Brea Grant) as well as in television (Forensic Files, Modern Marvels)). Since 2012, Kouneva has been scoring many independent games (PS4 Medieval game Rollers of the Realm,{{Cite web|url=http://reviewfix.com/2014/08/review-fix-exclusive-tony-walsh-talks-rollers-of-the-realm/|title=Review Fix Exclusive: Tony Walsh Talks 'Rollers of the Realm'|date=2014-08-20|website=Review Fix|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-06}} VR action project Hades, the military shooter H-Hour on Steam{{Cite web|url=https://www.sofstudios.com/index.php?/page/index.html|title=SOF Studios|website=SOFs Community|access-date=2016-05-06}} and iOS titles IronKill, Black Hole Explorer, Pierre Roux’s Infinite Warrior.)
In addition to composing, Kouneva is a studio orchestrator and has made Hollywood history as the first woman Lead Orchestrator on studio blockbusters since Shirley Walker.{{Cite web|url=http://filmschoolrejects.com/features/its-been-nearly-two-decades-since-a-woman-was-lead-orchestrator-on-a-tentpole-film.php|title=It's Been Nearly Two Decades Since a Woman Was Lead Orchestrator on a Tentpole Film — Film School Rejects|last=Allison|date=2013-09-05|website=Medium|access-date=2016-05-06}} (Walker was instrumental for Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman and others.) Kouneva was Lead Orchestrator on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, Elysium, Ender's Game (films) and Sony's 2015 Game of the Year Bloodborne. Other orchestration credits include the franchises The Matrix, Transformers, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End; the games Gears of War 2 & Gears of War 3, World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, Diablo III, Overwatch, Sims, Lord of The Rings: War in the North,{{Cite web|url=http://www.hans-zimmer.com/index.php?rub=rcpmember&numid=179|title=Hans-Zimmer.com – Penka Kouneva|website=www.hans-zimmer.com|access-date=2016-06-15}} and many low-budget independent films, such as Alfons Conde's scores for Elio Quiroga's films Home delivery, The Dark Hour (2006 film) or No-Do, and games.
In 2013, the Dallas Chamber Symphony commissioned Kouneva to write an original film score for By The Sea starring Charlie Chaplin.{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=D. |date=2013-11-25 |title=Three Concerts Raise Same Question: Do Add-on Sounds or Images Enhance or Hinder Classical Music? |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2013/11/three-concerts-raise-same-question-does-film-enhance-or-hinder-classical-music/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=D Magazine |language=en-US}} The score premiered live to film in concert on November 19, 2013 at Moody Performance Hall with Richard McKay conducting.{{Cite web |date=2013-11-13 |title=Concert #2: The Comedic Three {{!}} Dallas Chamber Symphony |url=http://www.dallaschambersymphony.org/portfolio-item/concert-2-the-comedic-three/ |access-date=2024-12-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113023843/http://www.dallaschambersymphony.org/portfolio-item/concert-2-the-comedic-three/ |archive-date=13 November 2013 }} {{Cite web |last=Laughlin |first=Jamie |title=I Love You, But I've Chosen Keaton |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/arts/i-love-you-but-ive-chosen-keaton-6431231 |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=Dallas Observer |language=en}}
Industry leadership
Kouneva is on the Advisory Board of Game Developers Conference, the world’s foremost conference for game professionals (2014–present),{{cite web|url=http://www.gdconf.com/aboutgdc/advisoryboard.html |title=GDC 2016 | March 14–18, 2016 | Moscone Convention Center | San Francisco, California |publisher=Gdconf.com |access-date=2016-08-10}} an Advisor for Sundance Composers Lab (2002–2015) and a Mentor for Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.) Scholars (2014–current). As a guest artist, she has presented invited lectures and seminars at Duke University, Davidson College, USC, Berklee College of Music, Berklee Valencia, CalArts, The Musicians’ Institute, CSULB and many others. She has also presented at the following conferences: Game Developers Conference (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016),{{cite web|url=http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1023339/The-Gothic-Horror-Music-of |title=The Gothic Horror Music of 'Bloodborne' |publisher=GDC Vault |access-date=2016-08-10}} East Coast Game Conference (2012),{{cite web|last=Dealessandri |first=Marie |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/press-releases/read/east-coast-game-conference-2012-announces-full-lineup-of-speakers-and-technical-programs/094737 |title=East Coast Game Conference 2012 Announces Full Lineup of Speakers and Technical Programs | games industry | MCV |publisher=Mcvuk.com |date=2016-06-28 |access-date=2016-08-10}} Power Of Play (2015, 2016),{{Cite web|url=http://powerofplay.us/speakers/|title = 2017 Speakers}} Intel Buzz Workshop London (2016),{{cite web |url=http://intelbuzz.bemyapp.com/2016/london/ |title=INTEL Buzz Workshop | London 2016 |website=intelbuzz.bemyapp.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420135136/http://intelbuzz.bemyapp.com/2016/london/ |archive-date=20 April 2016 |url-status=dead}} The Society of Composers and Lyricists (2013),{{cite web|url=http://thescl.com/SCL_Seminar_Women_in_Film_TV_Musical_Theater_and_Video_Games |title=Calendar :: Recent Events : SCL Seminar: Women Composers in Film, TV, Musical Theater and Video Games |publisher=The SCL |access-date=2016-08-10}} Game Sound Con (2013, 2014, 2015),{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamesoundcon.com/#!speakers/cfvg|title = Game Music and Sound Design Conference}} amongst many other.
Kouneva is profiled in two textbooks (Chance Thomas' “Composing Music For Games” (2016) and Tom Hoover's “Soundtrack Nation” (2011), in a Keynote address (Game Sound Con 2015 Keynote address),{{cite web|author=Paula Parisi |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6753852/gamesoundcon-video-game-music-women-celebrated-under-represented |title=Women in Video Game Music Celebrated at GameSoundCon But Still Underrepresented |publisher=Billboard |date=2015-11-05 |access-date=2016-08-10}} in national press{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2015/06/18/voices-video-games-e3-technology-diversity/28907861/ |title=Voices: Video games making strides in technology and diversity |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=2015-06-21 |access-date=2016-08-10}} and NPR.{{cite web|url=http://www.classicalmpr.org/story/2015/04/30/penka-kouneva-and-a-composers-authentic-voice |title=Penka Kouneva and a composer's 'authentic voice' |publisher=Classical MPR |date=2015-04-30 |access-date=2016-08-10}} Additionally, she has been included in two feature-length documentaries: Beep: A Documentary History of Game Sound (2016){{cite web|url=https://beep.vhx.tv/packages/beep-a-documentary-history-of-game-sound |title=A Documentary History of Game Sound |publisher=Beep |date=2010-02-04 |access-date=2016-08-10}} and SCORE: A Film Music Documentary (2016).
Mentoring and advocacy
Kouneva is known for building and training high-performance teams for score production.{{cite web|author=Events |url=http://www.bmi.com/events/entry/559690 |title=Penka Kouneva Studios presents…Master Classes: February 16, 2013 | Calendar |publisher=BMI.com |date=2013-02-16 |access-date=2016-08-10}} Amongst her notable protégés are the Hollywood composers and orchestrators Philip Klein,{{cite web|url=http://philipkleinmusic.com/about/ |title=Biography « Philip Klein |publisher=Philipkleinmusic.com |access-date=2016-08-10}} Ben Bromfield, Alexandre Cote,{{cite web |url=http://alexandre-cote.com/my-role-on-the-woman-astronaut/ |title=My Role on The Woman Astronaut {{!}} Alexandre Cote |website=alexandre-cote.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211033504/http://alexandre-cote.com/my-role-on-the-woman-astronaut |archive-date=2016-02-11}} Catherine Grealish, Dallas Aimer,{{cite web|url=http://dallasaimer.com/?p=2 |title=Composer/Orchestrator |publisher=Dallas Aimer |access-date=2016-08-10}} Nicolas Repetto,{{cite web|url=http://nicolasrepetto.com/about-nicolas/ |title=About Nicolas |publisher=Nicolas Repetto |access-date=2016-08-10}} Steven Melin,{{cite web |url=https://www.stevenmelin.com/ |title=Home |website=stevenmelin.com}} Amie Doherty, Fred Emory Smith{{cite web|url=http://fredemorysmith.com/bio/ |title=Bio — Fred Emory Smith |publisher=Fredemorysmith.com |access-date=2016-08-10}} and many others. Kouneva's arrival to Hollywood was unprepared for the business aspects of entertainment, so she focuses to instructing her protégés to be ready for such challenges.{{cite web|url=https://music.calarts.edu/visiting-artists/spring-2015 |title=Spring 2015 Visiting Artists | The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts |publisher=Music.calarts.edu |access-date=2016-08-10}} Kouneva’s Composer Career Master Classes are published online by Designing Music Now.{{cite web|url=http://www.designingmusicnow.com/bio-penka-kouneva/ |title=Bio – Penka Kouneva |work=Designing Music NOW |access-date=2016-08-10}} Her Gears of War 2 main theme analysis is published by Output.com.{{cite web |url=http://output.com/gears-of-war-main-theme-analysis/ |title=Behind The Music - Gears of War 2 {{!}} OUTPUT |website=output.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919061115/http://output.com/gears-of-war-main-theme-analysis/ |archive-date=2015-09-19}}
Kouneva is also an advocate for artist growth and for the advancement of women composers.{{Cite web|url=http://soundworkscollection.com/news/gdc-2015-women-in-game-audio-panel|title = Soundworks Collection}} She has led, curated and participated in panels, seminars, and concerts promoting women film and game composers in Los Angeles,{{cite web |url=http://www.asmac.org/first-wednesdays-celebrate-women-composers/ |title=First WEDNESDAYS: "Celebrate Women Composers" |website=www.asmac.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915175126/http://www.asmac.org/first-wednesdays-celebrate-women-composers/ |archive-date=2016-09-15}} at Game Developers Conference, and the Society of Composers and Lyricists.
Philanthropy
In 2015, Kouneva established and funded an Orchestral Reading for Duke Graduate Composers with the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. Two graduate composers selected by Duke Music Department will receive a professional reading and recording of their compositions by the nationally recognized symphony orchestra. With this opportunity, she hopes to give a competitive edge to composers as they start their careers.{{Cite web|url=http://today.duke.edu/2015/09/kouneva|title = Alum's Gift to Fund Student Recording Sessions| date=9 September 2015 }}
Personal life
In 2004 Kouneva married music editor Daniel Schweiger and has one daughter with him, born in 2006.
Discography
The lists below show some of Kouneva's most notable work.
= Composer =
== Albums ==
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Title !Label |
|---|
| 2015
|The Woman Astronaut |
| 2012
|A Warrior’s Odyssey |Howlin’ Wolf Records – Sumthing Else |
| 2011 |
| 2010 |
| 2010
|Howlin’ Wolf Records |
== Film scores ==
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Title !Director !Starring |
|---|
| 2016
|Primrose Lane |Kathleen Davison |K. Davison, Alysia Reiner |
| 2008
|Jack Messitt |
| 2007
|Kevin Lewis |
| 2004
|Dave Rosenbaum |
== Video games – Composer and Co-composer (selected) ==
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Title !Studio !Main Composer |
|---|
| 2015
|Penka Kouneva |
| 2010 |
| 2009 |
== Television – Composer (selected) ==
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Title !Distributor !Network |
|---|
| 2007 |
| 2005 |
| 2005 |
== Television – Team Composer and Production Music (selected) ==
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Title !Network |
|---|
| 2009–present |
| 2005–present |
| 2005–present |
| 2005–present |
= Orchestrator =
== Lead Orchestrator – Film (selected) ==
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Film !Studio !For Composer |
|---|
| 2016 |
| 2015 |
| 2014
|Ryan Amon |
| 2014 |
| 2014 |
| 2013 |
| 2007 |
| 2006 |
| 2005 |
== Team Orchestrator – Film (selected) ==
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Film !Studio !For Composer |
|---|
| 2011 |
| 2010 |
| 2009 |
| 2009 |
| 2007 |
| 2007 |
| 2003 |
== Orchestrator – Video games ==
References
{{Reflist|30em|refs=}}
External links
{{External links|date=November 2016}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- http://goseetalk.com/interview-composer-penka-kouneva-on-the-woman-astronaut/
- http://www.bmi.com/affiliate/C8117
- http://www.crossovermedia.net/artists/penka-kouneva/projects/the-woman-astronaut/
- http://blogs.indiewire.com/womenandhollywood/a-woman-astronaut-life-as-a-woman-composer-in-hollywood
- http://output.com/gears-of-war-main-theme-analysis/
- http://www.aintitcool.com/node/59794
- http://www.soundtracksandtrailermusic.com/2015/07/composer-penka-kouneva-changing-perceptions/
- https://higherplainmusic.com/2015/07/21/penka-kouneva-releases-the-woman-astronaut-behind-the-scenes/
- http://www.gamesauce.biz/2013/04/22/penka-kouneva-on-game-audio-enhancing-the-narrative-experience-the-interactive-design-of-music-and-cinematic-experiences-in-games/
- http://www.gamingangels.com/2011/02/interview-penka-kouneva/
- http://bnr.bg/en/post/100651890/the-woman-astronaut-and-penka-kouneva-a-bulgarian-composer-in-hollywood
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Category:20th-century American composers
Category:20th-century American women composers
Category:21st-century American composers
Category:21st-century American women composers
Category:American film score composers
Category:American television composers
Category:American video game composers
Category:American women film score composers
Category:American women in electronic music
Category:Bulgarian film score composers