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Oscar Pan is a 2× HMMA-nominated composer and GRAMMY® Voting Member, as well as a filmmaker, teacher, and traveling documentarian. Born in Guangzhou, China and currently residing in North Hollywood, CA, he loves nature, cultures, and interesting sounds that speak to our living world and shared humanity.
His scores can be heard in films selected at multiple Academy-qualifying festivals, including Cindy Tran: From Here to Here (2025), a PBS documentary following a Vietnamese American poet and social activist that premiered at DOC NYC; Please Return Your Cart (2025), a romantic comedy that premiered at the American Black Film Festival; Motherland (2023), a Chinese LGBTQ+ short that premiered at the Cleveland International Film Festival; I Am Illegal (2023), a Moroccan queer documentary that premiered at Outfest Los Angeles; and The Acolyte (Disney+), for which he contributed additional music.
He’s a composer fellow with Issa Rae’s Find Your People Program and the SCL Mentorship Program, and a screen scoring alum of NYU (BM), Columbia College Chicago (MFA), and L’École Normale de Musique and IRCAM in Paris.
Experience Level
Work Experience
Composer Fellow at Issa Rae’s Find Your People Program
July 1, 2026 - July 31, 2026Mentor at Learning Tree Group
March 1, 2025 - PresentMentors aspiring composers and musicians preparing competitive portfolios for university and conservatory admissions, guiding composition, notation, and DAW-based screen scoring projects. Teaches AP Music Theory, composition, and film/multimedia scoring techniques. Provides individualized guidance for artistic development, program selection, and refinement of original works.
Mentor / AP Music teacher (composition, notation, DAW-based screen scoring) at Learning Tree Group
March 1, 2025 - PresentMentor aspiring composers and musicians for competitive university/conservatory admissions portfolios through composition, notation, and DAW-based screen scoring projects. Teach AP Music Theory, composition, and film/media scoring techniques, providing individual artistic guidance, program selection, and refinement of original works.
Composition & Piano Instructor at 88 Keys Academy
February 1, 2025 - PresentInstructs composition, music theory, and piano across varying skill levels by designing individualized lesson plans aligned with each student’s development and goals. Prepares students for exams, recitals, and performances while giving regular progress updates to parents. Develops students’ technical proficiency, musical interpretation, and foundational composition skills.
Film Composer at ColorCreative
May 1, 2024 - June 1, 2025Selected as one of four composers for a ColorCreative film project executive produced by Issa Rae. Composed the original score and led recording and mix sessions, collaborating across post-production departments including directing, editing, cinematography, production design, and costume design teams. Participated in industry workshops and mentorship programs (Canva, United Talent Agency, Sundance Institute) with screenings at Academy-award qualifying festivals including Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and American Black Film Festival.
Film Composer (Selected Composer) at ColorCreative
May 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025Selected as 1 of 4 composers for a ColorCreative film project executive produced by Issa Rae. Composed original score and led recording and mix sessions; collaborated cross-departmentally with directing, editing, cinematography, production design, and costume design throughout post-production. Participated in industry workshops and mentorship programs (Canva, United Talent Agency, Sundance Institute).
Administrative Assistant at Composers Diversity Collective
February 1, 2024 - October 31, 2025Designed social media content and weekly newsletters highlighting events, member achievements, and career opportunities for a community of 250+ composers from diverse backgrounds. Monitored board meetings and documented monthly announcements and financial updates, supporting community outreach initiatives. Completed administrative duties including organizing shared drives, researching concert venue logistics, securing office space, and assisting with event budgeting.
Composer’s Assistant at Forte Muzika, Inc.
December 1, 2023 - March 31, 2024Created Kontak t instruments and delivered stems for Norrlandia (commissioned by Norrlands Opera) for composer Elia Cmirial. Transcribed and engraved performance-ready sheet music for vocal and piano works. Led string ensemble outreach and drafted promotional materials for the album 2 Suites for Pan Flute & Orchestra.
Composer Fellow at SCL Mentorship Program
October 1, 2023 - May 31, 2024Composer’s Assistant at LighterDark, Inc.
May 1, 2023 - May 31, 2024Orchestrated and created music mock-ups as an additional writer for Michael Abels’ Star Wars TV series The Acolyte (Disney+). Prepared scores/parts for chamber adaptation of Michael Abels’ Pulitzer Prize-winning work Omar’s Journey. Managed schedules, organized music archives, coordinated meetings, and facilitated studio setup and recording sessions.
Genomic Operations Supervising Analyst at Katch Media, Genomic Operations
September 1, 2020 - May 1, 2024Analyzed 1000+ film and TV shows for Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, and AMC Networks using 3000+ visual and sonic genres from the Katch Media Genome database. Founded the Music Department by recruiting music analysts and creating music genome training videos for junior analysts. Composed original music for sponsorship proposal videos and intern documentaries; participated in focus groups, KatchUp presentations, and studio meetings with executives.
Genomic Operations Supervising Analyst at Katch Media
September 1, 2020 - May 31, 2024Analyzed 1000+ films and TV shows for Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros. Discovery, and AMC Networks using 3000+ visual and sonic genres from the Katch Media Genome database. Founded the Music Department by recruiting music analysts and creating music genome training videos for junior analysts. Composed original music for sponsorship proposal videos and intern documentaries; participated in focus groups, Katch Up presentations, and studio meetings with executives.
Artist Coordinator at Guangdong, Guangzhou
January 1, 2019 - January 1, 2019Assisted the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra by documenting materials and equipment, managing schedules for masterclasses and concerts, and tracking the art department budget. Coordinated logistics for Yo-Yo Ma and Silk Road Ensemble members including meals, accommodations, music scores, and instrument management.
Artist / Orchestral Documentation Assistant (Artist Coordinator) at Guangdong (as listed)
January 1, 2019 - PresentAssisted Guangdong Symphony Orchestra with documenting materials and managing equipment; managed schedules for masterclasses and concerts; tracked the art department budget. Coordinated logistics for Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble members including meals, accommodations, music scores, and instrument management.
Composer’s Assistant at Shanghai Chiring Communication
June 1, 2018 - August 1, 2018Provided technical support to Junhui Zhou including session preparation, orchestral coordination, music editing, network-based MIDI programming, and modular synth operations. Operated large-scale Pro Tools sessions for the Chinese 3D animated feature Adventure in Journey to the West. Built a music reference library for AAA video game projects including The Great Wall Guardians and Crossfire Youth Music Culture.
Composer’s Assistant at Shanghai Qirying Communication (as listed)
June 1, 2018 - August 31, 2018Provided technical support to Junhui Zhou, including session preparation, orchestral coordination, music editing, network-based MIDI programming, and modular-synthesis operations. Operated large-scale Pro Tools sessions for the Chinese 3D animated feature Journey to the West. Built a music reference library for AAA video game projects.
Collaborative Piano Teacher / Music Mentor at Musical Mentors Collaborative
March 1, 2018 - May 1, 2018Provided weekly private piano and music theory lessons to 7-year-old students at Manhattan’s Public School 002. Designed tailored lesson plans to strengthen technique, sight-reading, and musicality. Tracked student progress and communicated with parents to ensure consistent skill development and readiness for lessons.
Piano Teacher / Music Mentor (Collaborative: Piano Teacher) at Musical Mentors Collaborative
March 1, 2018 - May 31, 2018Provided weekly private piano and music theory lessons to 7-year-old students at Manhattan’s Public School 002, designing tailored lesson plans to improve technique, sight-reading, and musicianship. Tracked student progress and communicated with parents to support consistent skill development and readiness for lessons.
Assistant Music Director at NYU A Class Act
October 1, 2017 - December 1, 2017Co-directed the pit orchestra for music theatre productions, providing music guidance, conducting rehearsals, and coaching vocalists on interpretation and performance. Played piano accompaniment for the song cycle Party Worth Crashing by Kerrigan-Lowdermilk. Transposed scores and arranged instrumentation for smaller ensembles to optimize performance.
Assistant Musical Director / Music Theatre Pit Orchestra Co-director at NYU A Class Act
October 1, 2017 - December 31, 2017Co-directed the pit orchestra for music theatre productions by providing musical guidance, conducting rehearsals, and coaching vocalists on interpretation and performance. Performed piano accompaniment for the song cycle “Party Worth Crashing” by Kerrigan-Lowdermilk. Transposed scores and arranged instrumentation for smaller ensembles to optimize performance.
Music/Media Composer, Music Educator, Filmmaker at Oscar Pan Music
September 1, 2017 - PresentComposes original scores and music for 50+ film and multimedia projects, including work showcased at Academy-award qualifying and major festivals (e.g., DOC NYC, Chicago International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Outfest). Provides one-on-one instruction in film scoring and composition, covering harmony, orchestration, DAW production, spotting sessions, scoring projects, and portfolio development. Writes, directs, and produces documentary work (For Ms. Cheng) and continues developing multiple feature-length screenplays.
Music Composition / Media Composer, Music Educator, Filmmaker at Oscar Pan Music (self-employed)
September 1, 2017 - PresentCompose original music for 50+ film and multimedia projects showcased at Academy-qualifying festivals (e.g., DOC NYC, Chicago International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Outfest). Provide one-on-one film scoring and composition coaching for students from teens to emerging professionals, guiding harmony, orchestration, DAW production, spotting sessions, and portfolio development.
Education
MFA in Music Composition for the Screen at Columbia College Chicago / New York University, Steinhardt School (as listed)
September 1, 2021 - June 30, 2023BM in Music Theory and Composition, Screen Scoring at New York University, Steinhardt School
September 1, 2017 - May 31, 2021Study Away in Music Composition, Sound Spatialization & Computer-Aided Composition at École Normale de Musique de Paris & IR CAM
January 1, 2019 - May 31, 2019MFA in Music Composition for the Screen at Columbia College Chicago
September 1, 2021 - June 1, 2023BM in Music Theory and Composition, Screen Scoring at New York University, Steinhardt School
September 1, 2017 - May 1, 2021Study Away in Music Composition, Sound Spatialization & Computer-Aided Composition at École Normale de Musique de Paris & IR CAM
January 1, 2019 - May 1, 2019 at The Recording Academy
July 1, 2026 - August 23, 2026Qualifications
Industry Experience
Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services
Experience Level
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