ABOUT
Kelly Hawkins is a Korean-American composer and instrumentalist for film, television, corporate branding, games, and other mixed media. With nearly 30 years experience as a musician, Kelly is establishing a growing reputation in the composing industry for delivering emotional and impactful scores that enhance the viewing experience across a multitude of mediums.
Fascinated by the future of sound and technology, Kelly has developed a voice that blends yesterday’s instrumental and melodic motifs with today’s modern textures into a fusion that provides a moving soundscape for a variety of genres. Whether it’s enhancing the emotions of a beautiful drama, driving the pulse of an action-packed sequence, creating a catchy jingle, or exploring the multi-dimensional emotions of animation–she utilizes music’s universal language to serve the story.
Currently, she is based in Las Vegas where she is working as the composer and musical director for an upcoming adult animated sci-fi series.
the (longer) origin story
From a young age, Kelly was always inspired by movie soundtracks and theme songs, leading her to chase her musical dreams. At the age of 4, she began studying classical piano and music composition. She honed her skills over the years and became a disciplined, award-winning pianist. As a young teen, she found outlets to unleash her inner grunge rock spirit through learning guitar and bass.
In school, Kelly excelled in her studies and expanded her musical palette, playing flute and piccolo for her schools’ prestigious symphonic and marching bands. Also joining the philharmonic orchestra, Nevada State Honor Band, jazz labs, chamber groups, she went on to perform at the Midwest Clinic, Disney’s parade and back lot studio, and Carnegie Hall. She graduated with honors as a Distinguished Music Scholar.
Unlike other composers, Kelly dedicated her college years to social sciences, earning degrees in both Political Science and Psychology from Pepperdine University. Despite these endeavors, she always kept her musical chops growing–accompanying student vocalists on piano, performing at campus coffeehouse events, playing bass/keys for a faith-led rock group, and composing her own indie songs.
For nearly a decade, Kelly worked as a brand strategy manager in the marketing and e-commerce industry. One of her team’s first ads required a concept, script, video, and song to be delivered in a few short days. Composing the script and music for the project, the ad went on to debut in Times Square during the NYE ball drop and the Rose Bowl parade and game. Her team went on to produce award-winning campaigns, ads, books, and short documentaries that made heavy impressions with both AdWeek and Sundance Film Festival. Recently, Kelly took a big leap and decided to refocus her career on the things that she has always loved most: music, film/tv, storytelling.
Kelly is currently based in Las Vegas where her and her family have grown to love the desert and coyotes. She is also a driving range enthusiast, novelist, typewriter collector, board game junky, and a bookworm.