Michael Abels
Michael Abels | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 8, 1962 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
| Occupation | Composer |
| Known for | Film scores for Get Out, Us, Nope; opera Omar |
Michael Abels (born October 8, 1962) is a distinguished American composer recognized for his collaborative opera Omar alongside Rhiannon Giddens, as well as for composing the soundtracks of Jordan Peele’s films Get Out, Us, and Nope. His hip-hop-infused composition for Us earned a place on the Oscars short list and was acclaimed as the "Score of the Decade" by TheWrap. Additional works include scores for Bad Education, Nightbooks, Fake Famous, and the documentary series Allen v. Farrow. Recent projects feature Beauty (which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and is now streaming on Netflix), Breaking (debuted at Sundance), and his third score collaboration with Peele, Nope.
Abels’ contributions to concert music encompass pieces such as At War With Ourselves composed for the Kronos Quartet, Isolation Variation created for Hilary Hahn, and the opera Omar. His works, including Delights & Dances and Winged Creatures, are available through Cedille Records. Recent commissions have included a composition for the National Symphony Orchestra and a guitar concerto crafted for guitarist Mak Grgić.
As a co-founder of the Composers Diversity Collective, Abels actively promotes greater recognition of composers of color within film, gaming, and streaming platforms.
In 2023, the opera Omar, co-created with Giddens, was honored with the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Music.
Early life
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Abels spent his childhood on a modest farm in South Dakota, raised by his grandparents. His initial exposure to music came through the family piano, sparking his interest at just four years old. Despite his young age, his grandparents secured piano lessons for him. By age eight, he was already composing music, and at thirteen, his first orchestral piece was performed publicly.
Following high school graduation, Abels pursued studies at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles. Of mixed racial heritage, he further explored his African-American background by studying West African drumming at the California Institute of the Arts and singing in a predominantly Black church choir.
Filmography
Composer
- Get Out (2017)
- Us (2019)
- See You Yesterday (2019)
- All Day and a Night (2020)
- Bad Education (2020)
- Fake Famous (2021)
- Nightbooks (2021)
- Allen v. Farrow (2021)
- Nope (2022)
- Breaking (2022)
- Landscape with Invisible Hand (2023)
- The Burial (2023)
- The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024)
- The Acolyte (2024)
- Sirens (2025)
Additional music
- Detroit (2017)
Other works
- Global Warming (1990), commissioned by Phoenix Youth Symphony
- I'm Determined (1991) for orchestra
- How Majestic (1992) for orchestra
- American Variations on Swing Low Sweet Chariot (1993), premiered by Doc Severinsen with Phoenix Symphony
- Frederick's Fables (1994, 1996), four orchestral pieces inspired by works of Leo Lionni
- Dance for Martin's Dream (1998), commissioned by symphonies in Houston and Nashville
- You're a Grand Old Flag (1995) for orchestra
- More Seasons (1999)
- Limitless (2000), composed for choir or soloist accompanied by choir and piano
- Homies & Popz (2001), an opera
- Tribute (2001) for orchestra
- Affectionate Objects (2004) composed for orchestra
- Outburst (2005) orchestral work
- Delights & Dances (2007) written for string quartet and orchestra
- Urban Legends (2008), commissioned by the Sphinx Organization
- Aquadia (2009), jointly commissioned by Chicago Sinfonietta and Shedd Aquarium
- Be the Change (2015), designed for choir or soloist with choral accompaniment and piano
- Orchestral or piano pieces including "Victory Road," "Iconoclasm," and "Liquify" (2017)
- Winged Creatures (2018), commissioned by Cedille Records, composed for Anthony and Demarre McGill
- Various piano compositions such as "Pensivity" and "Twilight Drive," alongside orchestral works like "Life in a Day"
- Concert band piece and ballet adaptation titled "Falling Sky" spanning 2019–2020
- Solo violin composition "Isolation Variation" created in 2020 specifically for Hillary Hahn
- Oratorio titled "At War with Ourselves," with libretto by Nikky Finney, commissioned by the Kronos Quartet
- Opera titled Omar, co-composed with Rhiannon Giddens, portraying the life story of Omar ibn Said
- Concert version adaptation of the score from "Get Out" released in 2020
- Orchestral piece "Emerge" premiered in 2021 via co-commission from Detroit Symphony Orchestra
- Guitar Concerto entitled "Borders" composed in 2022, commissioned by ROCO & Quad City Symphony, written expressly for guitarist Mak Grgić
Awards and nominations
- - - - - - - - - - - - - 2021 || 73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards || Outstanding Original Score for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) || Allen v. Farrow || 2023 || 2023 Pulitzer Prize || Pulitzer Prize for Music || Omar || 2025 || 56th NAACP Image Awards || Outstanding Original Score for Television/Motion Picture || The Acolyte || }External links
| Year | Award | Category | Work nominated | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Fright Meter Awards | Best Score | Get Out | |
| World Soundtrack Awards | Discovery of the Year | |||
| International Online Cinema Awards | Best Original Score | |||
| 2018 | International Film Music Critics Awards | Best Original Score in Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror | ||
| Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Score | |||
| 2019 | Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award | Best Original Score | Us | |
| World Soundtrack Awards | Discovery of the Year | |||
| Indiana Film Journalists Association | Best Musical Score | |||
| Greater Western New York Film Critics Association Awards | Best Score | |||
| Chicago Film Critics Association Award | Best Original Score | |||
| Phoenix Critics Circle | Best Score | |||
| Seattle Film Critics Society Awards | Best Original Score | |||
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Best Original Score – Horror Film | |||
| Fright Meter Awards | Best Score | |||
| 2020 | 51st NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album | ||
| Critics Choice Awards | Best Score | |||
| Black Reel Award | Outstanding Score | |||
| Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Film Award | Best Music | |||
| Music City Film Critics' Association Award | Best Score | |||
| North Carolina Film Critics Association | Best Music | |||
| Online Film & Television Association, OFTA Film Award | Best Music, Original Score | |||
| Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards | Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film | |||
| Austin Film Critics Association Awards | Best Score | |||
| International Film Music Critics Award | Best Original Score in Fantasy/Science Fiction/Horror | |||
| Central Ohio Film Critics Association | Best Score | |||
| Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle Award | Best Original Score | |||
| Georgia Film Critics Association | Original Score | |||
| Gold Derby Awards | Original Score | |||
| Hawaii Film Critics Society | Best Original Score | |||
| Hollywood Critics Association | Best Score | |||
| Houston Film Critics Society Awards | Best Original Score | |||
| 73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music | Allen v. Farrow | ||
| 56th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Original Score for Television/Motion Picture | The American Society of Magical Negroes |
- 1962 births
- 20th-century African-American musicians
- 20th-century American male musicians
- 20th-century American classical composers
- 21st-century African-American musicians
- 21st-century American male musicians
- 21st-century American classical composers
- African-American classical composers
- African-American film score composers
- African-American male classical composers
- American film score composers
- American gay musicians
- American LGBTQ composers
- American male classical composers
- American male film score composers
- Classical musicians from Arizona
- Classical musicians from South Dakota
- Gay composers
- LGBTQ classical composers
- LGBTQ film score composers
- Living people
- Musicians from Phoenix, Arizona
- Pulitzer Prize for Music recipients
- USC Thornton School of Music alumni