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Michael Whalen
Biography
Michael Whalen was born in 1965 and grew up in Washington, D.C., where he played in a variety of orchestras, bands, and experimental performance groups. He studied music at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, and the University of Maryland. In 1987, he moved to New York City, where he composed television soundtracks and commercials; Whalen has composed music for over 1, 100 commercials, including award-winning campaigns for clients such as Coca-Cola, BMW, Pepsi, Nike, IBM, and GE.

In 1995, Whalen traveled to the Czech Republic to record a collection of symphonic and chamber works entitled Afraid of Thunder. The recording was performed by the Janacek Philharmonic under the baton of Dennis Burkhr and Music Amici, a chamber orchestra. Whalen's other chamber compositions (most are published and available for performance) include works for string quartet, a mixed octet, several pieces for string orchestra and soloists, and a commission for choir.

Whalen's strength is as a "visual" composer who can recreate action, vista, culture, and personality in music. He has scored a number of award-winning scores for television documentaries and themes for many major television networks; many of these soundtracks are available on the Narada Cinema label.
Selected Discography
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