Howard Kilik is a Juilliard-trained composer creating cinematic music for film, television, media, theater, dance, branded content, and sync licensing. His work spans hybrid orchestral action, emotional drama, romantic underscore, suspense and thriller scoring, comedy, and character-driven cues. He offers custom composition, existing-track licensing, stems, cutdowns, alternate mixes, and project-specific revisions through a rights-controlled, one-stop catalog. Kilik is also an ASCAP writer/publisher and brings a performance and theatrical background to every collaborative score.…

Howard Kilik

Howard Kilik is a Juilliard-trained composer creating cinematic music for film, television, media, theater, dance, branded content, and sync licensing. His work spans hybrid orchestral action, emotional drama, romantic underscore, suspense and thriller scoring, comedy, and character-driven cues. He offers custom composition, existing-track licensing, stems, cutdowns, alternate mixes, and project-specific revisions through a rights-controlled, one-stop catalog. Kilik is also an ASCAP writer/publisher and brings a performance and theatrical background to every collaborative score.…

Available to hire

Howard Kilik is a Juilliard-trained composer creating cinematic music for film, television, media, theater, dance, branded content, and sync licensing. His work spans hybrid orchestral action, emotional drama, romantic underscore, suspense and thriller scoring, comedy, and character-driven cues.

He offers custom composition, existing-track licensing, stems, cutdowns, alternate mixes, and project-specific revisions through a rights-controlled, one-stop catalog. Kilik is also an ASCAP writer/publisher and brings a performance and theatrical background to every collaborative score.

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Skills

Experience Level

Cakewalk Sonar
Expert
Composition
Expert
Finale
Expert
Freelance Gig
Expert
Instrumental
Expert
Izotope Ozone
Expert
Mix
Expert
Music Theory
Expert
Soundtrack
Expert
Stem
Expert
Theme Tune
Expert
Jingle
Intermediate
Hook
Intermediate
Master
Intermediate
Voiceover
Intermediate
Vocal
Intermediate
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Work Experience

Composer / Owner at KilikMusic.com
October 1, 2025 - Present
Compose and produce original music for film, television, media, theater, dance, and sync licensing. Maintain a one-stop, rights-controlled catalog covering cinematic orchestral, hybrid action, emotional drama, romantic underscore, jazz/lifestyle, suspense, comedy, and character-driven music. Provide custom scoring, existing-track licensing, stems, edits, alternate mixes, and project-specific revisions.
Music Director / Pianist / Theatrical Baritone at Freelance
September 1, 1985 - Present
Work as a music director, pianist, and theatrical baritone, with experience supporting singers, dramatic pacing, rehearsal process, character interpretation, and live performance. This background informs scoring choices around breath, phrasing, timing, emotional arc, and narrative structure.

Education

Masters of Music, Composition and Bachelor of Music, Composition at The Juilliard School
September 1, 1981 - June 30, 1985
Completed two composition degrees at The Juilliard School, with advanced training in composition, orchestration, counterpoint, harmony, form, dramatic structure, and concert/theatrical writing.
M.M. Composition at Juilliard
January 11, 2030 - July 8, 2026
B.M. Composition at Juilliard
January 11, 2030 - July 8, 2026

Qualifications

Working Composer
September 1, 1985 - July 7, 2026
Juilliard-trained composer, ASCAP writer/publisher, and owner of a one-stop, rights-controlled catalog through KilikMusic.com. Experienced in orchestration, arranging, music direction, and piano-based composition, with the ability to provide stems, cutdowns, alternate mixes, and revisions for film, television, media, theater, dance, and branded projects.
ASCAP writer and publisher
January 11, 2030 - July 8, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Retail
    TENDER HORIZON — Smooth Jazz / Lifestyle Cue
    Warm romantic smooth jazz cue with relaxed melodic piano and electric guitar. Tender, calm, reflective, and intimate, it is suited for lifestyle content, romantic drama, late-night scenes, emotional underscore, soft-focus montage, and elegant brand storytelling. FilmComposer SmoothJazz LifestyleMusic RomanticMusic EmotionalUnderscore PianoMusic JazzGuitar CinematicMusic MediaComposer SyncMusic…
    QUIET WATERS — Romantic Orchestral Drama Cue
    Romantic melancholic orchestral cue in 3/4 with French horn, oboe, bassoon, strings, piano, electric piano, and mallets. Elegant, reflective, and bittersweet, it evokes longing, memory, farewell, and restrained emotional drama. FilmComposer OrchestralMusic RomanticUnderscore EmotionalDrama MelancholicMusic CinematicScore MemoryScene DramaScore MediaComposer SyncMusic…
    VICTORY CHARGE — Sports / Promo Rock Anthem
    Upbeat high-energy rock anthem with driving guitars, bass, drums, and bold brass. Delivers momentum, confidence, and triumphant intensity. Ideal for sports promos, competition highlights, action montage, motivational content, and energetic brand storytelling. FilmComposer SportsPromo RockAnthem MotivationalMusic CinematicMusic PromoMusic VictoryMusic ActionMontage MediaComposer SyncMusic…
    MISCHIEF MACHINE — Quirky Electronic Comedy Cue
    Contemporary quirky electronic cue with percussion, electronic drums, synths, bass, and playful rhythmic energy, mostly in 5/4. Fun, offbeat, and character-driven, with a darker break-apart ending. Suited for comedy, animation, clever montage, eccentric characters, and playful visual storytelling. FilmComposer ComedyMusic AnimationMusic QuirkyMusic ElectronicMusic CharacterCue PlayfulScore CinematicMusic MediaComposer SyncMusic…
    DEARLY HELD — Jazz / Classical Romantic Cue
    Affectionate jazz/classical hybrid cue featuring expressive violin, lyrical piano, and drums. Tender, romantic, and gently reflective, it blends chamber-music intimacy with a smooth rhythmic pulse. Ideal for heartfelt romance, memory scenes, intimate drama, relationship montage, and warm emotional storytelling. FilmComposer RomanticMusic JazzClassical EmotionalUnderscore ViolinMusic PianoMusic DramaScore CinematicMusic MediaComposer SyncMusic…
    HAUNTED ASCENT — Horror / Thriller Suspense Cue
    Dark orchestral suspense cue with a running harp rhythm, shifting melodic fragments, eerie harmonic movement, and a brass-driven peak. Designed for horror, thriller, supernatural suspense, mystery, danger, and scenes that need escalating tension. FilmComposer HorrorMusic ThrillerScore SuspenseMusic DarkOrchestral CinematicScore Supernatural TensionCue MediaComposer SyncMusic…
    IRON RESOLVE — Hybrid Orchestral Action Cue
    Powerful hybrid orchestral action cue with syncopated strings, brass stabs, cinematic synth textures, and driving momentum. Built for high-stakes drama, action trailers, heroic conflict, sports drama, cinematic promos, and moments requiring force, tension, and resolve. FilmComposer HybridOrchestral ActionMusic TrailerMusic CinematicMusic SportsPromo OrchestralAction DramaScore MediaComposer SyncMusic…
    AT THE EDGE OF SLEEP — Tender Orchestral Drama Cue
    Tender romantic orchestral cue featuring harmonica, woodwinds, strings, acoustic guitar, and French horn, shaped around a gentle repeating pulse. Soft, dreamy, and emotionally reflective, it is suited for bedtime scenes, intimate drama, tender romance, emotional storytelling, and peaceful montage. FilmComposer EmotionalScore RomanticUnderscore OrchestralMusic TenderDrama CinematicMusic ReflectiveMusic DramaScore MediaComposer SyncMusic music…