Creative Conversations

Explore music composition techniques and sound design for film, television, commercials, and video games, with industry professionals who share their expertise in crafting compelling scores and building successful careers. Gain insights into working with orchestras, hybrid compositions, and digital scoring.

Michael Rubino
Composer

Michael Rubino has recently scored two successful seasons of Nickelodeon’s hit series It’s Pony and has collaborated with Walt Disney Imagineering to create music for Disneyland’s re-imagined Mickey’s ToonTown. With over 20 years of experience, Michael has composed for major Hollywood studios such as Disney, DreamWorks, DC, and Marvel. His passion for orchestral music allows him to create strong emotions through memorable melodies, whether using a full orchestra or hybrid soundscapes. mikerubinomusic.com

Gabrielle Grubbs
Composer/ Songwriter

Gabrielle Grubbs is a composer and songwriter from Indianapolis, Indiana, currently based in Los Angeles, California. She started writing songs at a young age, and learned piano and guitar to accompany herself. After graduating with her Bachelor’s degree, Gabrielle spent several formative years working as a public school educator. In 2022, following her desire to write and create music professionally, Gabrielle began her foray into film scoring by participating in the NYU Screen Workshops. She has studied music composition at Berklee College, Anderson University, and European American Musical Alliance Institute. In 2024, she completed her grad work in Music Scoring for Visual Media at Indiana University. She was chosen for Film Independent’s Project Involve program, where she worked on a new short film score, which will be released in 2025. Gabrielle loves story-telling through music and song, and the capacity for imagination that scoring for media provides. She is passionate about the role of music and the arts in community building.

Click here to see the complete schedule of conversations.

Click here to download the Creative Conversations Flyer.

This is a free event. Priority for in-person training programs and financial stipends, including opportunities for paid internship placements, is given to active participants, ages 18- 24, in Creative Conversations, as well as young people who are low income, foster youth, homeless, and/or justice involved.

Presented by Venice Art’s Center for Creative Workforce Equity.

Supported, in part, by: