Drawing passion and fire from the rich traditions and hauntingly beautiful music of his native Scotland, Craig McConnell’s sonic embrace is both deep and wide. Craig is an accomplished international rock guitarist and something of a “chameleon” within the world of music, working in an impressive variety of styles and genres. Rock, Jazz/Fusion, New Age and Classical are but some of his many musical colours. His artistry reaches beyond the realm of the technically and musically accomplished guitarist, for he has enjoyed international success as a composer and arranger for both film and live performance having produced music for productions in both the East and West coasts of the United States, and also in the UK, New Zealand and Japan.
Website: http://www.craigmcconnell.com
As main composer, he recently completed the film score for the movie”Dessine-Moi Une Ligne”, a film on the work of Swiss world leading extreme snowboarder and base jumper Géraldine Fasnacht which is scheduled to be broadcast on Swiss National TV in February 2008 (www.lineprod.ch).
Having spent five years in the United States, Craig relocated to Geneva in the fall of 2005 where he works as a professional musician and film composer. He is a member of ASCAP (The American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers).
Craig’s latest project is composing the score for Géraldine Fasnacht’s new movie entitled “La Femme Choucas” which was released in Autumn 2007. He is also a founder member of the progressive rock band Cynosura where his role is that of composer, lead guitartist/lead vocalist.
FILM CREDITS
Une Femme Choucas
3D film of the work of world leading extreme sportswoman and base jumper Geraldine Fasnacth
Mountain Line Foundation, Switzerland. October 2007
In The Wake of the Assassins
Documentary film on the life of Alabama politician John Patterson.
Alabama Public Television.
Waterfront Pictures, NY, U.S.A. December 2006
Dessine-Moi Une Ligne – Draw Me a Line
Art film featuring world leading Swiss extreme snowboarder and Base Jumper Géraldine Fasnacht.
Mountain Line Foundation, Switzerland. November 2006
Shark Park
Documentary film on the extreme sport of tow surfing in the Pacific Ocean.
Greg Huglin Films, CA, U.S.A. August 2006
Loco Down
Crime thriller set in New York, currently in pre-production.
Waterfront Pictures, NY, U.S.A.
Bottom Feeders
Film on crime and punishment, currently in pre-production
Waterfront Pictures, NY, U.S.A.
Rubicon
Film on the life of Emily Dickinson, currently in pre-production
Waterfront Pictures, NY, U.S.A.
The Ultimate Surfer
Feature film on the natural world of dolphins.
Greg Huglin Films, CA, U.S.A., in production.
Legend of Chicken Comer
Documentary on the life of Chicken Comer.
M9 Studios, CO, U.S.A., October 2005
Memories of Tomorrow
Psychological thriller.
Unkreative Artists, New Zealand, April 2005
Chicks 101
American romantic comedy.
The Gillder Frontier, NC, U.S.A., April 2005
Lafayette Escadrille
Pilot for the documentary film on the first American aviators to enter WW1 in the defense of France.
Waterfront Pictures, NY, U.S.A., May 2004
Go Natural
Television series on growing, cooking and preparing natural foods.
Film House, NC, U.S.A., April 2004
William March Company K
Documentary film on the life of William March, author of the book Company K.
Waterfront Pictures, NY, U.S.A., March 2004
Dream Street of the Americas
Pilot for the documentary film on the construction of the Pan American Highway.
Waterfront Pictures, NY, U.S.A., March 2004
Company K
(www.companykthefilm.com)
Motion picture set during WW1, based on the novel by Alabama author William March.
Waterfront Pictures, NY, U.S.A., August 2003
The Rise of the Creative Class
Documentary film on the work of professor Richard Florida.
Film House, NC, U.S.A., September 2003
TESTIMONIALS FROM THE FILM INDUSTRY
“Into the world of technology we travel, embracing the newest gadgets assuming this software, hardware, sample CD, etc., will improve our ability to create. If one pays attention, one will notice a profusion of accurately played sounds, clever, fascinating, but cold. Along the way, the human spirit has been lost to computer creativity. As we travel down the path of synthesized sound, the artist that remains in touch with his humanity spins a web of feeling and depth that is immediately arresting and provocative. Their work speaks to levels forgotten, but still alive. It awakens passions and opens the heart.
Craig McConnell is such an artist. To say he has command of technology is only to point out his being in step with the changing world. What he brings, no, what he is, is a bridge to the forgotten land of feeling, soul, sensitivity, joy, and beauty.
He is a profoundly moving composer and guitarist, able to weave the most beautiful soundscapes, at once as visually stimulating as aurally beautiful.
Craig is a first-rate composer, musician, and engineer. He is up-to-the-minute in being able to respond to the needs of a film’s dramatic intentions, and support it without using the film as a platform for his ego. He supports subtly, and with constant good taste. When energy is needed, he has a thorough grasp of rhythm, as well as being able to shade his work with stylistic nuances of musical expressions of other cultures, blending his knowledge with the traditions of world music.
In short, Craig expresses the best contemporary musical thinking: he honors the past, embraces the present, and points to the future, not afraid of infusing his work with that which makes us what we are, animals who think and feel.
I would entrust Craig to work on any project that requires the highest commitment and invention.â€
David McHugh
Hollywood Composer
Head of Masters Program in Film Composition, North Carolina School of the Arts, NC, U.S.A.
“Craig McConnell’s music for Company K has won high praise from all who have seen the film. As a director I found Craig totally attuned to the process of coming up with the right mood and orchestration we needed to make the film soar. He literally added an unexpected new dimension to the film.
On very short notice he also provided a totally different sound for my documentary pilot Dream Street of the Americas. Craig is very much a professional and I couldn’t want anything more in a collaborator in this very collaborative medium.”
Robert Clem
Film Director/Producer
Waterfront Pictures Corporation, NY, U.S.A.
(www.waterfrontpix.com)
“I found working with him a pleasure and joy. Making this movie with strict adherence to time schedules did not waiver Craig’s commitment to the project and his tunes and melodies were always in synch with the project. He understood the mood and rhythm of the movie and composed most of the pieces without even seeing the rough cut of the movie – which in my mind was absolutely stunning because it helped speed up our editing process.
The best part of working with Craig was his accessibility even though we were thousands of miles apart physically. The prompt responses to our requirements combined with delivering some innovative score in an incredible fast turnaround time were always reassuring for me as a film maker. Craig has this natural ability to understand your needs and modifies his score to suit the movie, which makes the process much more fun and creative.
I enjoyed working with Craig immensely and would highly recommend him for any composing work for features and would definitely like to work with him on my future projects.â€
Amit Tripuraneni
Producer/Writer/Director “Memories of Tomorrowâ€
Memorable Productions, Auckland, New Zealand.
http://www.themovie.unkreative.com
“His abilities and range due to his enormous natural talent have been a gift on each project he has worked on with me. The other producers and directors I have recommended him to have always thanked me for the introduction and had nothing but complimentary words to say.â€
Giuli Dummit Schacht
President, Film House, NC, U.S.A.