I’m a Bolivian music composer specialized in creating original music for media, with a strong focus on emotional storytelling through sound. My work includes orchestral, acoustic, and hybrid compositions for animation, short films, and visual storytelling projects. With a background in academic music studies and years of hands-on experience, I offer compositions that blend technical skill with artistic sensitivity. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Music Composition and constantly refining my skills in harmony, orchestration, and production. If you need cinematic, expressive, or narrative-driven music, I’d love to help bring your project to life.

Ismael Calderon

5.0 (2 reviews)

I’m a Bolivian music composer specialized in creating original music for media, with a strong focus on emotional storytelling through sound. My work includes orchestral, acoustic, and hybrid compositions for animation, short films, and visual storytelling projects. With a background in academic music studies and years of hands-on experience, I offer compositions that blend technical skill with artistic sensitivity. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Music Composition and constantly refining my skills in harmony, orchestration, and production. If you need cinematic, expressive, or narrative-driven music, I’d love to help bring your project to life.

Available to hire

I’m a Bolivian music composer specialized in creating original music for media, with a strong focus on emotional storytelling through sound. My work includes orchestral, acoustic, and hybrid compositions for animation, short films, and visual storytelling projects.

With a background in academic music studies and years of hands-on experience, I offer compositions that blend technical skill with artistic sensitivity. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Music Composition and constantly refining my skills in harmony, orchestration, and production.

If you need cinematic, expressive, or narrative-driven music, I’d love to help bring your project to life.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate

Language

Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
English
Intermediate

Work Experience

Add your work experience history here.

Education

Bachelor of Music at Universidad Mayor de San Simon
February 16, 2015 - December 10, 2020

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment
    paper Experimental, Orchestral & Contemporary Works

    The first segment (0:00) is an experimental piece set in a post-apocalyptic world, with dark tension and introspective moments, suitable for suspenseful or dramatic action scenes.

    The second segment (3:48) presents an epic orchestration designed for intense and climactic narrative moments.

    The third segment (4:19) is a contemporary composition with electronic influences inspired by artists like Massive Attack, conveying a tense and contemplative atmosphere.

    paper Through the Earth

    An original orchestral composition that explores dynamic contrast and atmospheric storytelling through music. “Through the Earth” begins with soft, delicate instrumentation and gradually builds in intensity, evolving into a powerful orchestral landscape. The piece serves as a showcase of cinematic-style orchestration, blending emotion and grandeur to evoke a journey beneath the surface, both literal and metaphorical.

    paper The Desert of Voids - original music

    Original composition created for an animated short film as part of a graduation project. This one-minute piece delves into a dark, mysterious soundscape through the use of contemporary vocal harmonies, subtle synthesizers, and acoustic textures. “The Desert of Voids” invites the listener to wander through a dreamlike, desolate inner landscape where silence carries weight and every sound echoes the unknown. The experimental approach aims to blend the human and the abstract in a wordless emotional dialogue.

    paper Foley & Sound Design for short Animated Serie

    I was responsible for the sound design and Foley of all six episodes of Trascender Season 3 — a Bolivian animated mini-series addressing cultural and social themes through stylized, youth-focused storytelling. Each episode ranges from 5 to 8 minutes. I created detailed environmental, character, and action-based sounds to bring the animated world to life. The demo video features selected fragments from diferent episodes.

    paper Original music compositions for film and media

    This project features a selection of original compositions created for a wide range of media, including film, video, games, and digital content. The music blends orchestral, acoustic, and ambient textures, balancing melodic expression with cinematic structure. Each piece is designed to enhance the narrative, evoke emotion, and support the visual experience without overwhelming it.

    This reel reflects my approach as a composer: crafting music that communicates clearly, adapts to different formats, and helps shape powerful, immersive storytelling.

    paper Original soundtrack for an indie horror film

    The Cursed Doll is a low-budget horror film based on an urban legend about a cult that performed human sacrifices. A doll became cursed in the process and now sits in a museum as a paranormal object. I composed the main theme, the intro scene music, and ambient score elements to enhance suspense and ritualistic tension, where i handled:

    Main theme composition: crafting a memorable motif that embodies the doll’s eerie presence.

    Intro sequence music: establishing suspense from frame one with a subtle, tension-building ostinato.

    Ambient horror textures: designing unsettling sound layers (e.g., manipulated strings, low drones, whispering pads) to heighten moments of dread.

    Music synchronized to picture: aligning musical hits and textural shifts precisely to on-screen events, ensuring pacing and tension match the editing.

    paper Original Score for Animated Folk Short Film “Amandiya” (UN-FAO)

    “Amandiya” is an animated short film supported by the FAO and GEF, highlighting Bolivia’s agro-biodiversity and the risks of industrial food systems. I composed an original score rooted in the folk traditions of the Chaco-Chiquitano region, using research-based instrumentation and rhythms. The music helped enhance the emotional narrative, celebrating native culture and the protagonist’s environmental awakening.
    The music piece corresponds to the final sequence and closing credits of the animation.

    paper Heroic Orchestral & Electronic Score – Animated Workshop Short

    This original composition was created for an animated short developed during an animation workshop. The music begins with an electronic sound palette to reflect one of the main characters and gradually transitions into a heroic orchestral style as the story unfolds. The plot centers around two opposing elements in conflict that ultimately merge into one, revealing that they were always meant to be united. The video features the final sequence of the animation.

    paper Playful Music Composition for Animated Short Film "El Charco"

    “El Charco” is a short animated film created during an animation workshop. It tells the story of a curious young frog who ventures away from his family’s pond and faces a light-hearted adventure. I composed the original score for the entire short, creating a playful, child-friendly atmosphere that enhances the narrative and emotional flow. The credits sequence showcases one of the most memorable themes of the film.

    paper Emotional Score for Animated Short on Child Abuse Awareness

    This original music was composed for a short animated documentary aimed at raising awareness about domestic child abuse. The score was designed to support the emotional arc of the narrative, highlighting the importance of seeking help and conveying a sense of hope. The music gently accompanies the visual storytelling with empathy and sensitivity.
    The music piece corresponds to the final sequence and closing credits of the animation.

    paper Fantasy-Themed Score for Storybook Animation Demo

    This piece was composed for a collaborative short project with an illustrator. The music was designed to evoke the whimsical and magical feeling of stories coming to life from the pages of a book. With a sweet, gentle tone, the composition supports the visuals in creating a sense of wonder and childlike fantasy.