Kelly Hawkins is a composer and instrumentalist for film, television, and 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 classical 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.

Kelly was always inspired by music and movies. She went to one––sometimes two––movies every weekend as a child and was deeply inspired by film & tv scores. 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. Kelly expanded her musical palette, playing flute and piccolo for her schools’ 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 and graduated with honors as a Distinguished Music Scholar. Dedicating her college years to social sciences, Kelly earned degrees in Political Science and Psychology from Pepperdine University. Despite these other endeavors, she kept her musical chops active––accompanying student vocalists on piano, performing at campus coffeehouse events, playing bass and keys for a faith-led rock group, and composing her own indie songs.

For over 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. In 2022, Kelly took a big leap and decided to refocus her career on the things that she has always loved most: music, film/tv, and storytelling.

Kelly and her family are currently based in Las Vegas where they have grown to love the desert and coyotes. Outside of composing, she loves being outdoors with her husband and son, reading books, writing novels, and of course… watching any new show or movie.

She is currently working as the composer and musical director for an upcoming adult animated sci-fi series. She is open to inquiries for new projects.