AYDA AKBAL
COMPOSER AND SONGWRITER FOR STAGE AND SCREEN
ABOUT AYDA AKBAL
Ayda Akbal is a composer, songwriter, and producer currently based in Melbourne, Australia. She is passionate about human emotion and culture in her work.
She is excited to learn as much as she can about her craft and is currently finishing a Bachelors of Music and Arts at Monash University, whilst broadening her skillset both at home and overseas. Recently she was accepted into New York University’s Film Scoring Summer Intensive, and also offered a fully-funded placed at APRA AMCOS Screen Music SongHubs event in August 2022.
Ayda is most proud of her 2021 debut album release, ‘Magic’, which she composed, performed, recorded, produced, and sound-engineered all on her own. She was delighted when it received a 4/5 star review on Divide and Conquer Music.
A year after her album release, Ayda was asked to write a feature song for the feature documentary 'My Sister Liv' (Unreleased) which was recently featured at DOC NYC.
Her first collaboration on a musical, ’The Brink Of Womanhood’, recently took to the stage in April at the Athenaeum Theatre in the heart of Chicago, Illinois - being performed to sold-out audiences.
Ayda is excited to be a part of the brilliant creative team behind ‘A Play About Ivy, That Is Really About June’ that premiered at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in October 2022, and is proud to share her emotive soundtrack and song-writing behind the play.
Ayda has also finished scoring her first short documentary, ‘Putty’s Pride’, which gained international recognition - premiering at the Coast Film Festival in California, and the Melbourne/Sydney Lift-Off Festival at the end of 2021.
She also composes commercially for Thermo Fisher Scientific US, with her music reaching thousands of viewers internationally on YouTube and Instagram.
Ayda loves writing and exploring music in all its forms and is excited to continue to grow her career, wherever that may take her.
Alongside working as a freelance composer, Ayda regularly performs as a pianist and vocalist around Melbourne.
(October, 2022)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Australian Guild Of Screen Composers
Alliance for Women Film Composers
The Society of Composers & Lyricists
Women In Film Victoria
APRA AMCOS
PRESS
EDUCATION
2020-2024
Bachelor of Music (Composition and Music Technology) & Psychology at Monash University
2022
August: APRA AMCOS SongHubs for Screen
July: SongArts Sync Session with the SCL
Mar-May: Composing for TV, Advertising and Film with Catherine Joy (Sponsored by WAM and ESPN).
2021
Estill Level 1&2 Voice Training
2019
Graduated from St Leonard’s College Music Program
2016
Graduated from Yamaha Music and Composition School
AWARDS
2021
Oct: Monash University Composition Prize Runner Up
2020
Jun-Sep: Artology Open Fanfare Finalist
2019
Nov: Vocal composition shortlisted for the ACMF Songwriting Competition
Oct: Music Honours Group at St Leonard's College
Sep: Theme chosen for Royal Children's Hospital's 'Essential Ethics' Podcast
Aug: Best Massed Choir Conductor at the St Leonard's College House Music Competition
2017
Nov: Instrumental and Vocal composition shortlisted in the ACMF Songwriting Competition
May: Artology Fanfare Finalist where her Fanfare was recorded by the AYO and played in concert halls across Australia
Ayda is not only an amazing composer, but also an outstanding artist. She has the ability to bring thoughts on a page to life. Her storytelling abilities through her compositions are completely magical. I would recommend her to anyone trying to make a dream come to life, because she is truly a wonderful musician and composer.
Anmarie D'Ortenzio (Writer & Performer)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
The Brink Of Womanhood: An Original Musical
Ayda is a joy to work with. She’s an expert at extracting the emotions and themes of your project and injecting them into a score. Her attitude is professional and her communication during a project is outstanding. The end results of her work speak for themselves, they’re emotional, distinct, and engaging. Would highly recommend her to those seeking scores for film and video.
Jackson Hayat (Filmmaker)
Melbourne, Australia
Putty's Pride Documentary
Ayda isn't only an imaginative and creative musician. She is adept at translating her clients vision into a musical experience. The work she has done for my book series has been unparalleled by anyone else that I have worked with. She is responsive, professional, and timely. Consulting her for your scoring needs is an obvious choice.
Bryce Walter (Author)
Florida, USA
Brayden's Tale Book One: Manes & Magi
Ayda Akbal has created a sonic landscape which is both independently compelling yet crucial in guiding the emotional arch of the play. It is a blessing to have her angelic, ingenious and carefully composed music underscoring the language.
Olive Weeks (Writer/Director)
Melbourne, Australia
A Play About Ivy, That Is Really About June
Ayda is a very talented composer who approached all my requests with consideration, professionalism and talent. She produced an excellent score under a tight deadline and responded quickly to messages.
Molly Powell (Filmmaker)
Melbourne, Australia
Fractured Short Film