Luke Flynn (born 1988, in Dubuque, Iowa) is an American composer of film, television, and concert music. He is most widely known for his choral, orchestral, and concert band works.
In the film industry, he has composed the scores for several movies, including Holmes and Watson (2018); his film music credits include numerous other titles, such as Frozen II, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, La La Land, and many others.
Education
Flynn graduated summa cum laude from Butler University with a masters of music composition, where he studied with Michael Schelle, and was a graduate assistant in music composition, and a teaching assistant in music technologies.Butler University Graduate Thesis Collection. 268. Flynn, Luke, "Rift" (2015). https://digitalcommons.butler.edu/grtheses/268 He graduated summa cum laude from Clarke University, with a Bachelor of Arts in music composition, where he studied with Amy Dunker, and was the recipient of the Francis J. O’ Connor Memorial Award, Clarke University's most prestigious award given to a single graduating senior.Clarke University: Francis J. O'Connor Winners”, 2023, accessed March 28, https://clarke.edu/intranet-current-students/commencement/francis-j-oconnor-memorial-award/. Flynn also studied music composition at 鹿児島国際大学, the International University of Kagoshima in Japan, with Japanese composer Tadashi Kubo.MusicSpoke, “Meet the Composer” Kurt Knecht (President), 2015, accessed August 30, http://hear.musicspoke.com/blog/meet-the-composer-luke-flynn.MusicSpoke, “Luke Flynn Biography” Kurt Knecht (President), 2015, accessed August 30, http://musicspoke.com/composer/lukeflynn/.Society of Composers, Inc., “Luke Flynn Biography” Mike McFerron (webmaster), 1994-2015, accessed August 30, http://www.societyofcomposers.org/members/LukeFlynn/ .Alliance Publications, Inc., “Our Published Composers” Anita Smisek (President), 2015, accessed August 30, http://www.apimusic.org/composers.html#F.Imagine Music Publishing, “Our Composers: Luke Flynn” Ric Jones (President), 2013, accessed August 30, http://stores.imaginemusicpublishing.com/luke-flynn/.Clarke University: Student Award Profiles”, 2012, accessed September 12, http://www.clarke.edu/page.aspx?id=7462.
Composition awards and accolades (Winner, runner-up, or finalist) Winds Composition Contest Saxony (2023)Winds Composition Contest Saxony Hall of Fame, 2023, accessed Jan 18, https://my.website-editor.net/site/c0ca845fa307498aaaf9514819588b0c/wccs/en#HallofFame American Prize in Composition (2023)The American Prize Finalists, Student Division, 2023, accessed March 29, http://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2023/01/national-semi-finalists-composers_01982086531.html Sandra Fivecoat Memorial Emerging Composer Contest (2020)Austin Monthly, “Inversion Ensemble presents In Memoriam: A Modern Requiem”, 2021, accessed March 29, 2023, https://www.austinmonthly.com/events/inversion-ensemble-presents-in-memoriam-a-modern-requiem/. Illinois State University Red Note New Music Festival Composition Competition – Orchestra (2019)Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts, “Red Note Pas Winners, 2019”, 2023, accessed March 29, https://finearts.illinoisstate.edu/events-activities/red-note/past-winners/#Red-Note-Past-winners4. Ithaca Choral Composition Contest (2018)Ithaca College, “IC Events Calendar, 2019”, 2023, accessed March 29, https://events.ithaca.edu/event/choral_composition_festival_4236#.ZCRGpuzMJ8Z. Reno Pops Orchestra Composition Contest (2018)Reno Pops Orchestra, “Composer's Showcase, Past Winners”, 2018, accessed March 29, 2023, https://www.renopops.org/composers/. MidCities Chamber Singers Choral Composition Competition (2018) Eastern Michigan University National Choral Composition Competition (2018)Eastern Michigan University, “Choral Resources, Composition Competition”, 2018, accessed March 29, 2023, https://www.emich.edu/music-dance/music/ensembles/choirs/choral-resources.php#d34e81-1. CSUN Orchestra Northridge Composition Prize (2018)California State University, Northridge, “Northridge Composition Prize, Past Winners”, 2023, accessed March 29, 2023, https://www.csun.edu/mike-curb-arts-media-communication/music/northridge-composition-prize. Chorus Austin Young Composers Competition (2017) Ball State University Festival of New Music Call for Works (2017) Sydney Australia Contemporary Orchestra Call for Scores (2015)Butler University Newsroom: "To Infinity and Beyond: A Graduate Thesis Composition Goes International”, 2015, accessed September 2, http://news.butler.edu/blog/2015/04/flynn/.Telegraph Herald: "Composer Luke Flynn continues to win contests”, 2015, accessed September 2, http://www.thonline.com/news/feature_stories/article_6e947c54-4fec-51a6-b85f-854a232ec389.html .Clarke University News: "Two Wins In One Week for Clarke Grad”, 2015, accessed September 2, http://www.clarke.edu/page.aspx?id=32053.Sydney Australia Contemporary Orchestra, “Composers”, 2014, accessed August 30, http://www.sydneycontemporaryorchestra.org.au/index.php/composers/129-luke-flynn-usa. Oklahoma Composers' Orchestra Inaugural Composition Contest (2015)Oklahoma Composers’ Orchestra, “Facebook: News and Events”, 2016, accessed January 30, https://www.facebook.com/OklahomaComposersOrchestra/.MusicSpoke, “Composers in the News”, 2016, accessed January 30, http://musicspoke.com/blog/musicspoke-composers-in-the-news-3/. South Korean Busan Maru International Composition Contest (orchestra ) 부산마루국제음악제 (2015)Busan Maru Music Festival, “Composition Contest Winners”, 2015, accessed August 30, http://bmimf.co.kr/default/community/ntc.php?com_board_basic=read_form&com_board_idx=5&type=ntc&&com_board_search_code=&com_board_search_value1=&com_board_search_value2=&com_board_page=&&com_board_idx=60. Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute (2015) Ablaze Records Orchestral Masters composition contest (2015)Butler University Newsroom: "To Infinity and Beyond: A Graduate Thesis Composition Goes International”, 2015, accessed September 2, http://news.butler.edu/blog/2015/04/flynn/.Telegraph Herald: "Composer Luke Flynn continues to win contests”, 2015, accessed September 2, http://www.thonline.com/news/feature_stories/article_6e947c54-4fec-51a6-b85f-854a232ec389.html .Clarke University News: "Two Wins In One Week for Clarke Grad”, 2015, accessed September 2, http://www.clarke.edu/page.aspx?id=32053. Lexington Philharmonic New Music Experiment (2015)Lexington Philharmonic, “New Music Experiment Winners”, 2015, accessed August 30, http://www.under-main.com/arts/young-composers-chosen-for-lexphils-new-music-experiment/.Butler University Newsroom: "To Infinity and Beyond: A Graduate Thesis Composition Goes International”, 2015, accessed September 2, http://news.butler.edu/blog/2015/04/flynn/.Telegraph Herald: "Composer Luke Flynn continues to win contests”, 2015, accessed September 2, http://www.thonline.com/news/feature_stories/article_6e947c54-4fec-51a6-b85f-854a232ec389.html . Young New Yorkers' Chorus Composition Competition (2014)Butler University Newsroom: "To Infinity and Beyond: A Graduate Thesis Composition Goes International”, 2015, accessed September 2, http://news.butler.edu/blog/2015/04/flynn/. 12 Minutes of Fame Across the Universe Call for Scores (2014) The Indie Gathering “Best Original Film Score” Award (2014)The Indie Gathering 2014 Award Winners, Runners-Up, 2014, accessed January 30, . SCI/ASCAP Student Composition Competition (2013) Imagine Music Pathways Composition Contest (2012)Imagine Music Pathways: Composition Contest Winners, 2013, accessed September 12, http://stores.imaginemusicpublishing.com/contest-winners/. American Prize in Composition (2013)The American Prize Finalists, Student Division, 2013, accessed September 12, http://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2013/06/finalist-composers-choral-professional.html San Jose Choral Project Composition Competition (2012)San Jose Choral Project: Composition Contest Winners, 2012, accessed September 12, https://www.choralproject.org/students. The Foundation for Sacred Music Composers International Composition Contest (2012) New York International Composition Contest for Sacred Music (2011) American College Theater Festival Best Original Score (2010)
List of compositions Orchestral and large ensemble Unease, Concert Band (2020) Rift, Symphony Orchestra (2015) It Was Then I Awoke, SSAA + String Orchestra + Perc. Ensemble (2014) Pervenire, String Orchestra (2015) Cloud Memories, Symphonic Band (2014) Messier 82, Symphony Orchestra (2013) Quiet Snow, Symphony Orchestra (2009) Pioneer, Symphony Orchestra (2013) – Theme music commission for the Julien International Film Festival Sancta Caecilia, Symphonic Band + SATB (2010) Night Flight of the Specter, String Orchestra (2010) The Crusader Roar (University Fight Song), Wind Band + SATB (2011) Eyes Like Aster, Wind Band (2009)Sheet Music Plus, “List of Works: Luke Flynn” Sheet Music Plus, 2015, accessed August 30, http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/luke-flynn-publishing-sheet-music/3002667.
Choral and Vocal Moonlit Apples, SATB + Piano (2025) Natsu Kusa (Summer Grass), SATB + Cello + Piano (2024) Winter Lullaby (Little Dear-My-Soul), SATB + Piano (2023) Amidst the Storm, SATB, Strings, Percussion (2023) Agnus Dei, SATB (2020) Beneath the Wave, SATB (2011) White Moon, SATB (2017) – Commissioned by Choral Arts Initiative The Hushed House, SATB (2014) – Commissioned by Young New Yorkers' Chorus Ave Maria, SATB (2013) Windowsill Rain, Soprano + Piano (2011) Commission, 2011 by the Korea & Japan Annual International Exchange Art Songs Festival Until Autumn..., SS+ Piano (2015) Commission, 2015 by the International Haiku Association, JapanSheet Music Plus, “List of Works: Luke Flynn” Sheet Music Plus, 2015, accessed August 30, http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/luke-flynn-publishing-sheet-music/3002667.Santa Barbara Music Publishing, “Winter Lullaby", 2023, accessed November 25, https://sbmp.com/SR2.php?CatalogNumber=1737
Chamber and small ensemble Destiny March, Fl., Vln., Org. (2013) Snakebite, Bb Cl., Vln., Pno. (2013) Cleveland Park, Bb Tpt., Pno. (2011) Refè, Vln., Vla. I, Vla. II., Vc., Bsn. (2013) Frostbite, Bb Cl., Pno. (2013) Free Flight, Fl., Pno. (2012) Blue Bird, Fly Away, Vln., Vc. (2012) Dance in the Summer Field, Brass Quintet (2010) As the River, Vc., Perc. (2011) Starlight Fanfare, Chamber Brass (2010) The Gamecock, Woodwind Quintet (2011) Credo, Bb Tpt., Pno. (2009)Sheet Music Plus, “List of Works: Luke Flynn” Sheet Music Plus, 2015, accessed August 30, http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/luke-flynn-publishing-sheet-music/3002667.
Solo Tabi 旅, Japanese Koto (2011) Year of the Dragon, Piano (2012) I. Hatch II. Flight III. Flame Adding Flowers, Piano (2010) Lost, Percussion Solo (2011) I. Mesozoic Merengue (Marimba Solo) II. The Breaking of the Conch: The Savage Hunt (Timpani Solo) III. Fireworks Show (Snare Drum Solo) Marie, Piano (2009)Sheet Music Plus, “List of Works: Luke Flynn” Sheet Music Plus, 2015, accessed August 30, http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/publishers/luke-flynn-publishing-sheet-music/3002667.
Filmography
Movies Avatar: Fire and Ash, 2025 (music preparation) The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, 2025 (music preparation) A Minecraft Movie, 2025 (music preparation) Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, 2024 (music preparation) Harold and the Purple Crayon (film), 2024 (music preparation) Unfrosted, 2024 (music preparation) Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, 2023 (music preparation) Killers of the Flower Moon (film), 2023 (music preparation) White Men Can't Jump (2023 film), 2023 (music preparation) Maestro (2023 film), 2023 (music preparation) Peter Pan & Wendy, 2023 (music preparation) Under the Boardwalk (2023 film), 2023 (music preparation) Renfield (film), 2023 (music preparation) Candy Cane Lane (film), 2023 (music preparation) Shazam! Fury of the Gods, 2023 (music preparation) 65 (film), 2023 (music preparation) The Fabelmans, 2022 (music preparation)