For nearly a decade, Brian has contributed to everything from AAA games, Marvel television shows, Grammy-nominated soundtracks like Stray Gods, BAFTA and Hugo award-winning indie games like Hades and films both large and small. He also manages a busy arranging and engraving schedule with ensembles like the London Symphony, the Colorado Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Brussels Philharmonic, the BBC Proms, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria and the Game Music Festival Orchestra in Warsaw, Poland. Most recently, Brian has shipped his first two video game titles as composer. One of those is Shujinkou, a 100+ hour epic JRPG boasting nearly seven hours of music six years in the making. As Lead Composer for this title, Brian was responsable for mantaining thematic cohesion, writing and producing over two of those hours and handling the majority of the audio implementation via FMOD. In spite of its very recent release and its status as a brand-new IP, Shujinkou and its score is already receiving critical acclaim. Metacritic-affiliated reviewer Andres Aquino from GFinity even proclaims it is: “… one of the most memorable soundtracks of the year, a massive compliment considering it’s up there with the likes of Hades 2 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.”

Brian LaGuardia

For nearly a decade, Brian has contributed to everything from AAA games, Marvel television shows, Grammy-nominated soundtracks like Stray Gods, BAFTA and Hugo award-winning indie games like Hades and films both large and small. He also manages a busy arranging and engraving schedule with ensembles like the London Symphony, the Colorado Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Brussels Philharmonic, the BBC Proms, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria and the Game Music Festival Orchestra in Warsaw, Poland. Most recently, Brian has shipped his first two video game titles as composer. One of those is Shujinkou, a 100+ hour epic JRPG boasting nearly seven hours of music six years in the making. As Lead Composer for this title, Brian was responsable for mantaining thematic cohesion, writing and producing over two of those hours and handling the majority of the audio implementation via FMOD. In spite of its very recent release and its status as a brand-new IP, Shujinkou and its score is already receiving critical acclaim. Metacritic-affiliated reviewer Andres Aquino from GFinity even proclaims it is: “… one of the most memorable soundtracks of the year, a massive compliment considering it’s up there with the likes of Hades 2 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.”

Available to hire

For nearly a decade, Brian has contributed to everything from AAA games, Marvel television shows, Grammy-nominated soundtracks like Stray Gods, BAFTA and Hugo award-winning indie games like Hades and films both large and small. He also manages a busy arranging and engraving schedule with ensembles like the London Symphony, the Colorado Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Brussels Philharmonic, the BBC Proms, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria and the Game Music Festival Orchestra in Warsaw, Poland.

Most recently, Brian has shipped his first two video game titles as composer. One of those is Shujinkou, a 100+ hour epic JRPG boasting nearly seven hours of music six years in the making. As Lead Composer for this title, Brian was responsable for mantaining thematic cohesion, writing and producing over two of those hours and handling the majority of the audio implementation via FMOD. In spite of its very recent release and its status as a brand-new IP, Shujinkou and its score is already receiving critical acclaim. Metacritic-affiliated reviewer Andres Aquino from GFinity even proclaims it is:

“… one of the most memorable soundtracks of the year, a massive compliment considering it’s up there with the likes of Hades 2 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.”

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Lead Composer at Rice Games
January 1, 2019 - Present
Lead composer creating thematic, interactive music and sound effects. Implement sound assets via FMOD and mentor team members on its use.
Freelance Composer and Arranger at Self-Employed
June 1, 2016 - Present
Clients include Austin Wintory; credited on Grammy-nominated 'Stray Gods' (Summerfall Studios); arranger for the annual GDC Developer's Concerts; worked with Supergiant Games; credited on award-winning projects such as 'Hadès'; collaborations with The London Symphony Orchestra, London Voices, Wizards of the Coast, Parhelion Studio; composer for shipped title 'Claws and Chaos'; engagements with The Colorado Symphony, The West Australia Symphony Orchestra, The Brussels Philharmonic, Orchestra Victoria; performed as engraver and composer’s assistant and maintained composer’s rig, troubleshooting technical issues.
Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator at Self-Employed
May 26, 2016 - Present
Clients/ensembles served include Marvel, ABC, Sony Pictures, Wizards of the Coast, Austin Wintory, Supergiant Games, The London Symphony and London Voices, the BBC Proms, The Colorado Symphony, Parhelion Studios, RICE Games
Engraver at AAA Video Game / Film & TV Projects
May 1, 2015 - May 1, 2016
Engraver for shipped AAA video game, film and TV projects; May 2015 – May 2016 (Los Angeles)
Engraver
May 1, 2015 - May 1, 2016
Engraver; worked on AAA video games, films and TV projects (May 2015 – May 2016, Los Angeles); collaborated with clients including Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (Ubisoft) and other major productions.
Professional Engraver and Composer's Assistant at Steve Julian Music / Jeff Tyne Music
May 1, 2015 - May 1, 2016
Maintained composer’s rig, troubleshooted technical issues, and served as engraver for high-profile projects.

Education

Masters in Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television at University of Southern California
August 1, 2014 - May 1, 2015
Bachelor's in Game and Simulation Programming at DeVry University
August 20, 2008 - May 20, 2011
Bachelor's in Game and Simulation Programming at DeVry University
August 1, 2008 - May 1, 2011
Masters in Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television at University of Southern California
January 11, 2030 - May 8, 2026
Master's degree in Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television at University of Southern California
January 11, 2030 - July 2, 2026
Bachelor's degree in Game and Simulation Programming at DeVry University
August 1, 2008 - May 1, 2011

Qualifications

FMF Young Talent Award Finalist
May 11, 2023 - August 1, 2023
Stan LePard GDC Scholarship Winner
January 12, 2023 - March 24, 2023
Stan LePard GDC Scholarship
January 1, 2023 - May 8, 2026
Stan LePard GDC Scholarship
January 1, 2023 - July 2, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Gaming, Software & Internet, Professional Services, Education
    Secrets of Strixhaven Trailer

    As the official mockup artist for Magic: The Gathering’s newest trailer, I took Vincent Oppido’s magnificent score and made it sound as though a live orchestra recorded it. That’s what’s below. It was indeed later recorded by live musicians (some of the best in the world!), however mockups are still needed for alignment and approval purposes. The expectation is that the mockup sounds pretty realistic, and I think I got pretty close!

    Stray Gods

    I had the honor of contributing additional string arrangements to the behemoth interactive musical Stray Gods, which then went on to earn a Grammy nomination! Some of my work is featured in the final section of this trailer:

    Shujinkou

    Nearly 7 hours of music boasting an enormous range of influences and styles, I was honored to be chosen as lead composer for Shujinkou, a JRPG that teaches you Japanese (or not, if you choose) as you play. I have below some of my favorite selections.

    Innocence

    Recorded with the London Symphony and London Voices, this was a re-imagining of Austin Wintory’s first ever score as composer.