Vivek Maddala

Vivek Maddala is an award-winning composer, multi-instrumental performer, music producer, and engineer. He is a Sundance Institute Fellow, and has had work premiere at the Cannes, Toronto, Berlin, Venice, and Sundance film festivals. His music defies categorization and has been described paradoxically as “the bleeding edge of hip” (Roger Ebert) and "timeless and universal" (NPR).


In addition to scoring films, Vivek has produced music for a number of rock, jazz, and world music album releases -- and his live performances collaborating with celebrated artists have enchanted audiences from around the globe. As a performer, Vivek journeys fluidly through diverse musical styles, and effortlessly between many instruments -- including drums, piano, guitar, and bass. He has also served as a guest conductor with renowned orchestras and chamber groups, performing work he has written for ballets and films.


Vivek has always sought to write music in the service of achieving social progress. His score for the Peabody Award-winning film “American Revolutionary” blends melodic chamber strings with expressive piano passages to frame the film's exploration of critical social movements seen through the lens of a revolutionary activist and philosopher. Vivek's brooding, passionate score for “Children of Memory” carefully fuses indigenous musical textures with his focused, yet sweeping compositional style to explore questions of how post-war societies can right the wrongs of the past. Accordingly, Vivek continues to seek out projects that lift the human spirit -- to challenge power structures and elucidate the human condition. His works, extraordinarily diverse in style, stand out among contemporary compositions for their depth of expression, brilliance of sound, and profoundly compassionate nature.