Ella Markwald

“The Woods” was an original composition, commissioned for the Zodiac Music Festival in Valdeblore, France, July of 2025.

“The Woods” is a three-movement piece that guides listeners through a day in an enchanted forest, where mystical creatures shape the natural world around them. The first movement, “Fairies”, captures the magic of dawn as woodland fairies awaken with the sunrise. Light and fluttering textures evoke their flight through the treetops as they open flowers, stir the animals, and gently coax the forest to life. In the second movement, “Gnomes”, the scene shifts to the forest floor. With earthy rhythms and grounded motifs, this section reflects the industrious gnomes hard at work—building rivers, planting trees, and hammering away at their daily tasks with focus and determination. The final movement, “Dragons”, marks the arrival of night. As the sky darkens, sweeping phrases and powerful harmonies announce the dragons’ ascent. These majestic, nocturnal beings soar overhead, guiding the sun to rest and ushering in the moonlight, bringing a mystical close to the forest’s day.

A bilingual nurse haunted by her sister’s death spirals into a night shift psychosis as she uncovers the neglect and experimental overmedication of patients, racing to save a child before the system silences them.

I worked with various composers to create an original soundtrack for this short film. The film required a soundtrack that matches the eerie and daunting nature of the characters, highlighted through the soundscape.

The story follows Freya Hart, a midwife nurse who faces an unexpected pregnancy and job loss, highlighting women’s struggles in the workplace, maternal leave policies, and mental health challenges.
As the one of the main composers on the film, I created an original soundtrack that follows the dramatic, emotional story of Freya Hart. I composed and mixed the score on Logic Pro while working hand in hand with the sound engineer and director.