About
W. Aaron Rice is a Los Angeles–based film composer whose work blends classical training with a cinematic imagination. With a background rooted in storytelling through sound, he brings a deep sense of drama, color, and emotional clarity to every project. His chamber orchestral score for Ricardo Revera and The Mines of Montezuma (directed by Jackson Huffman) and the synthesized score to Out of the Box (directed by Rene Marcelle) premiered at I Dream in Widescreen at the famed Fox Theatre in Tucson, Arizona. His brass-led opening title sequence for the CineAmigos podcast can be found where you get your podcasts.
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In addition to his work for film and television, Rice is an accomplished classical composer whose works have been performed in concert settings across the country. His music explores both traditional and contemporary idioms, often weaving together influences from choral traditions, orchestral repertoire, and the harmonic language of jazz. Rice's Train Stopping will have its East Coast Premiere in Carnegie Hall this June, his setting of Psalm 103 will have its West Coast Premiere at CSUN this Fall, and his sacred choral works can be heard most Sunday mornings at First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills.
Rice is also an experienced conductor, equally at home on the podium in educational, concert, and recording studio settings. Holding a DMA in Choral and Orchestral Conducting, he has led ensembles ranging from community choruses to professional orchestras and studio musicians, guiding performers with clarity, precision, and collaborative energy. His expertise as both a conductor and composer makes him a trusted presence on the podium, where he bridges the worlds of live performance and cinematic storytelling.
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Beyond composition and conducting, Rice is an active performer in both live and studio settings. From his annual appearance singing at the Jazz in July festival in Northridge, to this Fall's Bach duets recital at California State University, Northridge, to Sunday morning song-leading at First Presbyterian Church of Granada Hills, CA, he brings a dedication to the craft that typifies his art. In all aspects of his career, W. Aaron Rice’s work reflects a commitment to artistry, collaboration, and storytelling that resonates across the concert hall, the recording studio, and the screen.​
W. Aaron Rice holds a DMA in Choral and Orchestral Conducting from The University of Arizona, a MM in Composition from The University of Arizona, and a BA in Music and Physics from Hendrix College.