Daniel Semsen

Who would have guessed that the movie Batman Returns would ever change someone’s life? But walking out of a dark movie theater after experiencing the film score from the Caped Crusader’s latest adventure in Gotham City, Daniel Semsen knew he was destined to write music for film.

Daniel got his start taking piano lessons as a young boy and playing alto sax in his school band in a small town in Northern California. His desire to study film music led him to Azusa Pacific University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Music Theory and Composition. During college Daniel’s orchestrations were recorded several times by the University’s premiere choir and orchestra. It was also during this time that he worked for world-renowned jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour, and did copy work on his first film, “Beethoven’s 3rd”. “Getting that call sure was a rush,” Daniel remembers. “It was my first job for film…I bought a keyboard after that job”.

Daniel has been very active in Southern California working as a freelance composer and orchestrator for film. He has worked closely with clients like Frankie Blue Sposato, Joseph Alfuso, Chris Guardino, California Baptist University, and as a composer for the TV show “Travelscope”. He is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Commercial Music from Cal State L.A. Daniel’s most recent work can be heard on “Travelscope” (PBS), on the Disney DVD “101 Dalmatians (2-Disc Platinum Edition)”, in the Sci-Fi Movie “Fire and Ice”, and in an upcoming Curious George show premiering in LA…all thanks to Batman.