Composers Panel
Composers Panel
May 8, 6:30p
Emerson LA
Meet talented top composers at our Composers Panel on Thurs May 8, 6:30p at Emerson LA in Hollywood. Speakers will discuss their work on top TV shows and other projects, including their musical inspirations, working with directors, and their career paths in the industry. Organized by Digital LA with partners Impact24 PR and Emerson LA.
REGISTER to attend https://forms.gle/zSwnkEfTtPy2RCWs5
SPEAKERS:
David Stal, Hacks S4, Co-Composer
Leo Birenberg & Zack Robinson, Cobra Kai, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, co-composers
Joy Ngiaw, Wondla, Composer
Michael Paraskevas, Agatha All Along, Composer
Nikhil Koparkar, Wheel of Time - “The Hills of Tanchico", Composer/ Songwriter/ Featured Performer
Sherri Chung, Gremlins: The Wild Batch, Based on a True Story, Composer
Moderator: Kevin Winston, Digital LA
AGENDA
6:30-7p Checkin and Networking
7-8p Panel w Q&A
8-8:30p After Networking
BIOS
David Stal
Hacks co-composer David Stal has been proud of the subtle flair to his musical contributions to the Emmy-winning comedy series on Max across its first several seasons, but S4 just might include his most personal cues yet. The feud between Ava and Deborah has taken on a whole new flavor in the show's new Los Angeles late night setting, and David, alongside co-composer Carlos Rafael Riviera, was tasked with envisioning the entire sonic palette for the in-universe late night band, not to mention the score layered on top of it all. Episode 9 culminates in the most expressive cue of the series so far, and Dave would love to discuss it with you! Carlos is also available upon request.
Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson
Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson have been the driving creative force behind Cobra Kai’s distinctive score, seamlessly blending pulse-pounding action with heartfelt melodies and ’80s-inspired soundscapes. Their work has been pivotal in shaping the emotional arc of the series, and the music for this final installment is no exception—it’s their most ambitious and dynamic score to date, capturing the culmination of years of storytelling. They have also lended their composing skills to Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+), Twisted Metal (Peacock), Obliterated (Netflix), and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which won them an Emmy and gained them a Grammy nomination.
Michael Paraskevas
Michael Paraskevas is a rising talent and composer whose work blends storytelling with a love for eclectic sound. He recently co-scored Marvel’s Agatha All Along for Disney+, where he composed all main themes (aside from the main title and a character theme) and oversaw nearly every cue. The score, laced with songs by the Lopezes, leans into horror tropes from across decades, deliberately steering clear of the traditional superhero sound. Recorded remotely with a striking palette—47 strings, low brass, women’s vocals, dulcimer, processed woodwinds, and more—the music mixes the eerie and emotional. Michael's other credits span from WandaVision to Frozen II.
Joy Ngiaw
Joy Ngiaw is a Malaysian film and TV composer known for her emotionally rich and inventive scores. She first gained recognition for Blush (Apple TV+), which earned her a Best Music Award from Hollywood Music in Media and an Annie nomination in 2021. Her second Annie
nomination followed for WondLa (Apple TV+), where she collaborated with industry icons like John Lasseter. Her other credits include Barbie Mysteries (Mattel/Netflix), Glamorous (Netflix/CBS), Short Circuit (Walt Disney Animation Studios). She is a BAFTA Breakthrough USA honoree, NBCUniversal Composers Initiative
participant, and executive board member of the Composers Diversity Collective.
Nikhil Koparkar
Composer Nikhil Koparkar brings a deep personal passion to The Wheel of Time, having served as music team lead and additional composer for Season 2—a dream project for the longtime fan who read all 15 books in just a few months. For the recently released Season 3, he composed the standout original song “The Hills of Tanchico”, featured in Episode 6. Inspired by the cultural richness of the books, the piece blends sea shanty energy with instrumentation from Malaysia, East Africa, and Eastern Europe, and was performed by cast members Ceara Coveney, Donal Finn, and Alexandre Willaume. Nikhil is a 2024 SCL Award nominee for Dead Whisper and his others credits span Life On Our Planet, His Dark Materials, and Victoria’s Secret: Angels & Demons through his work with Lorne Balfe’s 14th Street Music.
Sherri Chung
Having recently been nominated for a Children and Family Emmy for Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, composer Sherri Chung is now aiming to be a contender for recently scoring Season 2 of Peacock’s Based on a True Story. Sherri infused the dark comedy thriller with a stylish, genre-blurring sound that heightens both its suspense and sharp humor. Sherri’s other recent projects also include Gremlins: The Wild Batch, NBC’s Found, and Netflix’s Happiness for Beginners. A Governor of the Music Branch of the Television Academy, Sherri continues to push boundaries in film and television scoring
REGISTER to attend https://forms.gle/zSwnkEfTtPy2RCWs5
SPEAKERS:
David Stal, Hacks S4, Co-Composer
Leo Birenberg & Zack Robinson, Cobra Kai, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, co-composers
Joy Ngiaw, Wondla, Composer
Michael Paraskevas, Agatha All Along, Composer
Nikhil Koparkar, Wheel of Time - “The Hills of Tanchico", Composer/ Songwriter/ Featured Performer
Sherri Chung, Gremlins: The Wild Batch, Based on a True Story, Composer
Moderator: Kevin Winston, Digital LA
AGENDA
6:30-7p Checkin and Networking
7-8p Panel w Q&A
8-8:30p After Networking
BIOS
David Stal
Hacks co-composer David Stal has been proud of the subtle flair to his musical contributions to the Emmy-winning comedy series on Max across its first several seasons, but S4 just might include his most personal cues yet. The feud between Ava and Deborah has taken on a whole new flavor in the show's new Los Angeles late night setting, and David, alongside co-composer Carlos Rafael Riviera, was tasked with envisioning the entire sonic palette for the in-universe late night band, not to mention the score layered on top of it all. Episode 9 culminates in the most expressive cue of the series so far, and Dave would love to discuss it with you! Carlos is also available upon request.
Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson
Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson have been the driving creative force behind Cobra Kai’s distinctive score, seamlessly blending pulse-pounding action with heartfelt melodies and ’80s-inspired soundscapes. Their work has been pivotal in shaping the emotional arc of the series, and the music for this final installment is no exception—it’s their most ambitious and dynamic score to date, capturing the culmination of years of storytelling. They have also lended their composing skills to Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Disney+), Twisted Metal (Peacock), Obliterated (Netflix), and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which won them an Emmy and gained them a Grammy nomination.
Michael Paraskevas
Michael Paraskevas is a rising talent and composer whose work blends storytelling with a love for eclectic sound. He recently co-scored Marvel’s Agatha All Along for Disney+, where he composed all main themes (aside from the main title and a character theme) and oversaw nearly every cue. The score, laced with songs by the Lopezes, leans into horror tropes from across decades, deliberately steering clear of the traditional superhero sound. Recorded remotely with a striking palette—47 strings, low brass, women’s vocals, dulcimer, processed woodwinds, and more—the music mixes the eerie and emotional. Michael's other credits span from WandaVision to Frozen II.
Joy Ngiaw
Joy Ngiaw is a Malaysian film and TV composer known for her emotionally rich and inventive scores. She first gained recognition for Blush (Apple TV+), which earned her a Best Music Award from Hollywood Music in Media and an Annie nomination in 2021. Her second Annie
nomination followed for WondLa (Apple TV+), where she collaborated with industry icons like John Lasseter. Her other credits include Barbie Mysteries (Mattel/Netflix), Glamorous (Netflix/CBS), Short Circuit (Walt Disney Animation Studios). She is a BAFTA Breakthrough USA honoree, NBCUniversal Composers Initiative
participant, and executive board member of the Composers Diversity Collective.
Nikhil Koparkar
Composer Nikhil Koparkar brings a deep personal passion to The Wheel of Time, having served as music team lead and additional composer for Season 2—a dream project for the longtime fan who read all 15 books in just a few months. For the recently released Season 3, he composed the standout original song “The Hills of Tanchico”, featured in Episode 6. Inspired by the cultural richness of the books, the piece blends sea shanty energy with instrumentation from Malaysia, East Africa, and Eastern Europe, and was performed by cast members Ceara Coveney, Donal Finn, and Alexandre Willaume. Nikhil is a 2024 SCL Award nominee for Dead Whisper and his others credits span Life On Our Planet, His Dark Materials, and Victoria’s Secret: Angels & Demons through his work with Lorne Balfe’s 14th Street Music.
Sherri Chung
Having recently been nominated for a Children and Family Emmy for Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, composer Sherri Chung is now aiming to be a contender for recently scoring Season 2 of Peacock’s Based on a True Story. Sherri infused the dark comedy thriller with a stylish, genre-blurring sound that heightens both its suspense and sharp humor. Sherri’s other recent projects also include Gremlins: The Wild Batch, NBC’s Found, and Netflix’s Happiness for Beginners. A Governor of the Music Branch of the Television Academy, Sherri continues to push boundaries in film and television scoring
Composers Panel
Date and Time
Thursday May 8, 2025
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM PDT
5/8/2025 6:30pm
Location
EMERSON COLLEGE LOS ANGELES 5960 West Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90028
Fees/Admission
$25
