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Chicago-based composer and community arts educator with 20+ years of experience designing and facilitating participatory music programs across juvenile detention facilities, hospitals, and refugee camps. Trained in ethnomusicology, fluent in English and Spanish, and deeply committed to building music-based community spaces where people co-create. Co-founder of Found Sound Nation and OneBeat, supporting cross-cultural collaboration and social impact through creative residencies and original music production. Also composes and integrates audio for narrative and interactive media, including Unreal Engine projects and award-nominated podcasts.…Chicago-based composer and community arts educator with 20+ years of experience designing and facilitating participatory music programs across juvenile detention facilities, hospitals, and refugee camps. Trained in ethnomusicology, fluent in English and Spanish, and deeply committed to building music-based community spaces where people co-create. Co-founder of Found Sound Nation and OneBeat, supporting cross-cultural collaboration and social impact through creative residencies and original music production. Also composes and integrates audio for narrative and interactive media, including Unreal Engine projects and award-nominated podcasts.

Jeremy Thal

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Chicago-based composer and community arts educator with 20+ years of experience designing and facilitating participatory music programs across juvenile detention facilities, hospitals, and refugee camps. Trained in ethnomusicology, fluent in English and Spanish, and deeply committed to building music-based community spaces where people co-create. Co-founder of Found Sound Nation and OneBeat, supporting cross-cultural collaboration and social impact through creative residencies and original music production. Also composes and integrates audio for narrative and interactive media, including Unreal Engine projects and award-nominated podcasts.…Chicago-based composer and community arts educator with 20+ years of experience designing and facilitating participatory music programs across juvenile detention facilities, hospitals, and refugee camps. Trained in ethnomusicology, fluent in English and Spanish, and deeply committed to building music-based community spaces where people co-create. Co-founder of Found Sound Nation and OneBeat, supporting cross-cultural collaboration and social impact through creative residencies and original music production. Also composes and integrates audio for narrative and interactive media, including Unreal Engine projects and award-nominated podcasts.

Available to hire

Chicago-based composer and community arts educator with 20+ years of experience designing and facilitating participatory music programs across juvenile detention facilities, hospitals, and refugee camps. Trained in ethnomusicology, fluent in English and Spanish, and deeply committed to building music-based community spaces where people co-create.

Co-founder of Found Sound Nation and OneBeat, supporting cross-cultural collaboration and social impact through creative residencies and original music production. Also composes and integrates audio for narrative and interactive media, including Unreal Engine projects and award-nominated podcasts.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Language

Spanish; Castilian

Fluent

Chinese

Advanced

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Co-Founder & Producer at Lost Cousins Music – Independent Music Production House

January 1, 2023 - Present

Independent music production house; lead composer for Spirit Crossing (Spry Fox), a large-scale cozy life-sim MMO; manage cross-disciplinary collaboration across artists, developers, and audio directors.

Co-Founder & Producer at Lost Cousins Music

January 1, 2023 - Present

Co-founded Lost Cousins Music, an independent music production house; co-lead composer for Spirit Crossing (Spry Fox), a cozy open-world MMO, with music composition and technical integration in Unreal Engine 5.

Sound Designer & Producer (Narrative Podcasts) at Narrative Podcasts

January 1, 2020 - Present

Post-production audio for award-winning and nominated podcasts, including Can You Dig It? (Signal Silver), Black Cowboys (Ambie nominee), Trust Fall (Ambie winner), and The Coldest Case (Signal/Audie nominee).

Sound Designer & Producer at Narrative Podcasts

January 1, 2020 - Present

Post-production audio for award-winning and nominated podcasts: Can You Dig It? (Signal Silver), Black Cowboys (Ambie nominee), Trust Fall (Ambie winner), The Coldest Case (Signal/Audie nominee).

Co-Director at Dosti Music Project

January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2016

Co-directed an exchange for musicians from Pakistan, India, and the United States; organized collaborative composition and community workshops while navigating complex geopolitical dynamics.

Band Member / Touring Musician at Neutral Milk Hotel

January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2015

Toured as a musician.

Co-Founder & Director at OneBeat – U.S. Department Partnership

January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2022

Coordinated global productions with the U.S. Department of State, embassies, and international NGOs across six continents. Directed programming for 100+ international musicians annually, including booking, travel advances, and performance scheduling. Oversaw budgets, ensuring federal grant compliance, financial reporting, and vendor payments. Developed recruitment and alumni-tracking systems, impact reports, and evaluation frameworks for funders. Authored successful grant proposals and spearheaded strategic program evolution.

Co-Founder & Director at OneBeat

January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2022

Co-founded and directed a music exchange under a U.S. Department of State partnership; designed multi-week residencies focused on cross-cultural collaboration, social impact, and artistic experimentation; recorded and produced OneBeat mixapes; managed annual budgets over $2M; coordinated logistics across government agencies, NGOs, and grassroots partners; built recruitment systems and wrote grant applications; developed evaluation frameworks and narrative reporting for funders.

Band Member / Touring Musician at The National

January 1, 2010 - Present

Toured as a musician and appeared on/with connection to High Violet era.

Teaching Artist at Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute

January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2012

Led Musical Connections workshops in NYC juvenile detention centers and hospitals; designed participatory music sessions for youth in institutional settings.

Co-Founder & Facilitator at Found Sound Nation

January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2022

Designed and led hundreds of participatory music workshops and community programs in more than 20 countries; facilitated cross-cultural collaboration with participants of varied backgrounds and skill levels.

Professional Musician (toured & recording)

January 1, 1998 - Present

Touring and recording musician. Toured with Neutral Milk Hotel (2012–2015) and The National (2010), featured on The National’s High Violet. Co-bandleader of Briars of North America and Ishtirak, with collaborative projects across Beirut, New Orleans, Mexico City, and elsewhere.

Professional Musician at Independent / Self-employed

January 1, 1998 - Present

Multi-Instrumentalist, Producer, French Horn player; International touring musician with Neutral Milk Hotel (2012–2015); featured on The National's High Violet; co-bandleader of Brairs of North America; collaborative projects in Beirut, New Orleans, and Mexico City.

Professional Musician at Independent / Freelance

January 1, 1998 - Present

Touring and recording musician; toured with Neutral Milk Hotel (2012–2015) and The National (2010); featured on The National’s High Violet; co-bandleader of Briars of North America and Ishtirak; collaborative projects in Beirut, New Orleans, Mexico City, and elsewhere.