Victor Spiegel

About Victor Spiegel

Victor Spiegel

Victor Spiegel builds innovative harmonies and rhythms with lyricism grown from both familiar and exotic worlds. Victor started his piano concert career at the age of six performing classical repertoire up to the age of fifteen. He then decided to focus on composing and performing his own material. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California in Performance Integration of World Myths and Music. There he wrote, directed and performed his Magic Door musical, and composed and conducted his ensembles and symphonic works. His Master of Arts in Music Composition from Mills College in Oakland, California solidified his academic and professional involvement in scoring for diverse media. It also provided him a basis for subsequent directing and involvement in teaching, film and video work. Currently, Victor is Lecturer in Music at JMC Academy, Sydney.

For more about his current projects see (expired link)

Recent Scores:
• Taripaypacha - short film with Cristian Saliadare
• Dreaming Abraham – short film (won a laurel at the International Film Festival) written and directed by Victor Spiegel
• Angels in America – (stage play) Directed by Annette Rowlinson
• To Kill A Mockingbird – (stage play) Directed by Annette Rowlinson
• The Tempest: Steampunked – (stage play) Directed by John Galea
• Cubed – Animation
• Valentimes Day – short film
• Fractured – short film
• Naked Picnic – Short film
• My Name is Faten – Short film
• Fractured – Short film
• Number 46 – Feature film
• Stories fromTohoku – Documentary
• The Secrets of a Strange Cloud – Documentary
Works in progress (as writer, director, composer):
• Future Present – documentary/feature regarding genetic ethics
• LoveDotCom – TV comedy series about a successful but dysfunctional dating service
• Darkside High – TV comedy series for tee
• Full Moon Over Faulconbridge – radio play, feature film, TV series, stage ply, musical, novel
• Silver Light – feature
• The Magic Horse – Musical
Recordings Available
• Alchemical Chronicles – piano and electro-ambient contusions
• Offerings – Solo piano
• Remembrance – Solo piano
• The Tempest: Steampunked! – Score for an adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest
• In Site – Solo piano
• Healing Series (3) – Guided Meditations for Muscles, Skeletal and Organ healing,
• Evocation – Solo piano
• Darvish – Piano, cello, and percussion original compositions
• Totem: Horses of Life – Original ancient contemporary songs
• Little Ditties – Social satire songs
• The View – Relaxation audio
• Beneath the Waves– Relaxation audio
• Zikr of the Qadiri-Rifai – Live recording of a Sufi ceremony
Film Scores and Soundtracks
• Dolls,
• Piecing Memories,
• I Exist,
• Chaos,
• Homecoming,
• Déjà Vu,
• The Return,
• Alice Rose,
• Apple Computer,
• Glaxo/Kline,
• University of California
Screenplays
• LoveDotCom – TV comedy series
• Full Moon Over Faulconbridge – Audio, theatre and film screenplay
• New Dawn – Horror
• The Magic Horse – Story adaptation
• Silver Light – Australian adventure/mystery
Operas/Musicals
• The Magic Door – produced and performed in University of California, Santa Cruz (1978) The Magician – recorded in Berkeley, California (1982)
• I Love Animals – a musical for children, produced and performed in San Francisco, California (1986)
• Fyon K’ Poornt (The Bone of Contention) a Mangoid Opera; Oakland, California (1986)
Books
• Getting Out Of the Way: Living Sufism – Ansari Publications
• Full Moon Over Faulconbridge – in progress
Directing
• Benn Gunn – music video 2012
• LoveDotCom – Sydney, NSW 2011
• The Magic Door – musical 1978
• The Mangoid Opera – opera, California 1986
• Pro-Creation – performed in Sydney at Jack Thompson’s Gearin Hotel 2010
Acting
• Perfect World – Allan Stone music video (the guy with the cape)
• The Magic Horse – story-telling, pianist and composer
• Murder Mysteries in the Blue Mountains (The Don)
• One-man shows (Mills College, University of California, Santa Cruz)
• Bliss n Eso music video trailer (the bad teacher)
Other Projects
• Morrison Planetarium, San Francisco – various presentations
• Imperialism 2 (computer game)
• How We First Met – San Francisco Night Club Improvisational Theater
• Gundam (computer game) – Bandai Inc.
• Scores for Choreographers Ellen Bromberg, Karl Schaeffer, Sharon Zozoya Nova (WGBH, Boston)
• (expired link)
• Improvisational comedy: San Francisco, Sydney, Melbourne
Teaching Experience
• Music Lecturer – JMC Academy, Sydney (2006 – present)
• Music for 9th Graders – City Arts and Technology, San Francisco (2004)
• AEMDD – (Grant from US Dept. of Education through Walnut Creek) (2003-2006 4th & 5th grades)
• Making Music – Summer 3rd and 4th grade (2003 -5))
• Music for Theater – Summer 5th – 8th grade (2003 & 4)
• Music for K-8 (Artist–in–Residence) Morello Park (Martinez) K, 2004
Sun Terrace School (Concord) K-4, 2003
• The Academy (Berkeley) 1998 – 2000
• Frank McCoppin Elementary (San Francisco) 1997
• Argonne Elementary, 4 kindergarten classes (San Francisco) 1996
• Private Lessons (1968-present)
• Piano, Composition, Electronic Music, MIDI, Recording, Music Appreciation, Music Theory, Jazz, Improvisation, World Music
• Music for Dancers Workshop (1995) Luna, Oakland;
• Cabrillo College Visiting Assistant Professor in Music (1982)
• Florida State University, Tallahassee Piano Instructor (1978-79)
• Cabrillo College Music Appreciation (1978) UCSC Music workshops ( 1978, ‘79, ‘82) Cabrillo College Drama Instructor (1991,’92)
• Tehiya Day School
Education
• Mills College: Music Composition 1979 – 81 Master of Arts
• University of California, Santa Cruz- Music 1975 – 77
• Bachelor of Arts California Institute of the Arts 1969 – 70 Music
• Santa Monica College 1967 – 68 Music
• California State University, Northridge 1966 – 67 Music/English
• Bruce Sutherland & Amparo Iturbi 1953 – 68 Piano
Related Experience
• Owner/Engineer/Producer: Victor Spiegel Music 1982 – present
• Composer/Accompanist: Dance Departments of: UCLA, UCSC, UCB, UCR, California Institute of the Arts; Loyola/Marymount; Cabrillo College; Mills College, and other Bay Area and Los Angeles dance studios and companies (1967-present)
• Composer: Commissions for dance, theater, film, video, radio, television, commercials, and industrials (1968 – present) (See client list)
• Music Director: Berkeley Shakespeare Festival (1989);
• Deer Rose- Theater on the Square, San Francisco (1988);
• I Love Animals; (1995) and other musicals
Awards, Credentials, Affiliations
• Australian Film Institute Australian
• Australian Guild of Screen Composers
• California Community College Instructor Credential in Music, valid for life
• American Composer’s Forum
National Television Arts Award (1990)
• Paul Merritt Henry Prize for Masters Thesis, Mills College (1981)
• Sweepstakes Award Hollywood Bowl Battle of the Bands- Jazz Combo (1967)
• BMI publisher
• APRA
Selected Projects and Clients
• Academy of Sciences Addison-Wesley, Inc.
• Apple Computers, Inc.
• Bantam Books, Inc.
• Chicago Art Museum
• Digital Equipment Corporation
• Empire Pictures
• Glaxo/Kline, Inc.
• KQED-TV, San Francisco
• KTVU-TV, Oakland
• Lockheed Missiles & Space
• Nova (WGBH – Boston)
• Port of Oakland
• Sprint, Inc.
• Bandai, Inc.
• Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Performances
• The Magic Horse: Sydney (2007) Melbourne (2007, 2009)
• Darvish: Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre (2008)
Industrial, Video and Multimedia
• Introduction to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories
• Bridge Media (2003) Piecing Memories: Recollections of Internment
• Civil Liberties Education program (2000)
• The New Millennium – hour-long review of 1900-2000, no narration. KRON-TV (2001) Science in Action – University of California TV show, Lorisa Brannon (2000)
• Anatomy of an Electric Shock - Video, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (1999) Imperialism 2 - CD Rom game Frog City/Broderbund (1998)
• ESnet video series - Lawrence Berkeley Livermore National Laboratories (DOE) (1997) Jobs for Youth – EDD (Employment Development Department) video (1997)
• Women in Science – CD Rom, McLean Media (1996)
• Gundam - CD Rom game for Bandai Interactive software game (1996)
• Oompala - Electronic Sports Trading Cards (1996)
• Berkeley Learning Technologies - CD Rom Hoboken (1995)
• Accolade - SCES Show, video (1994)
• Glaxo/Kline, Inc. – New Product Presentation Video (1994)
• NSF Industry/University Research Centers - Catalysts for Change (1994)
• Port of Oakland - Marketing video (1993, 1997)
• General Parametrics - Multimedia demo (1993)
• California Parks Union - Informational Video (1992)
• Sprint - Interactive Computer Presentation (1992)
• Biotime - Promotional video (1992)
• Symantec - TimeLine Informational Video and in-house videos (1991)
• Apple Computer, Inc. - Consider the Possibilities Marketing Video (1990)
• Peerless Lighting Corporation - Health, Work & Light (1990)
• California State Auto Association - In-House sales training Video (1990, 91)
• Lockheed Missiles & Space - Promotional video (1990)
• WATG - International architectural slide presentation
• Oakland Museum – Laserdisk informational station, History Exhibit (1990)
• Claris Interactive Demo – Computer software demonstration (1990)
Theater
• Angels in America (2015) Sydney, Australia
• To Kill A Mockingbird (2014) Sydney, Australia
• The Tempest – (Shakespeare) Directed by John Galea. Sidetrack Theatre, Marrickville (2012)
• Man and Superman – (Shaw) Directed by Irene Lewis. Berkeley Repertory Theater (1990) The Misanthrope – (Moliere) Directed by Irene Lewis. Berkeley Repertory Theater (1989) Julius Caesar – (Shakespeare) Directed by Oskar Eustis. Berkeley Shakespeare Festival (1988)
The Normal Heart – Berkeley Repertory Theater (1985)
Film & Documentaries
• Laura of My Dreams – short Terry Lamb (2004)
• Widow Maker – short 2004
• Making David – Independent Film short, Echuta Productions (2002)
• Dig That Rex! - Video about discovery and reconstruction T Rex fossil for McDonald’s (1998)
• Beyond Awareness - Documentary. Produced by Avalon Media & Marin Abused Women’s Services (1995)
• Sacred Art of Tibet - Documentary. Produced by Access Video (1991)
• Incentive Scholarships - University of California, Berkeley (1992, 93, 94, 95
• Distinguished Teaching Awards - University of California, Berkeley (1992, 93, 94, 95, 96) English Language Program - University of California, Berkeley (1991)
• People of the Klamath - Documentary. Produced by Jim Culp (1989)
• Preparing for the 21st Century - Documentary. Directed by Ian Thiermann. Educational Film & Video Project (1988)
• View from the Shuttle - Addison-Wesley , produced by McLean Media (1994)
• Dolls - Feature film. Directed by Stuart Gordon. Empire Pictures (1987)
Television & Radio
• Time Capsule – KTVU 1 hour documentary of the last century
• Digital Equipment Corporation – Radio commercial (1992)
• University of California Art Museum – PSA for TV-
• Anxious Art Exhibit (1990) PSA for TV -
• The Art of Terezin (1992) Medallion Rug Gallery – Commercial, TV & Radio (1990)
• Muscle Building With Karen Andes -
• Commercial Videos (1989, 92)
• Hawaiian Eye Care Center – Robert Talent & Partners Agency. TV Commercial (1992, 95) University of California Extension – TV Commercial (1989),
• Video Logo (1994)
• The Microwave Master – Produced by KQED-TV, Theme Music (1988)
• Four Dances – Produced by KQED-TV (1985)
• Antarctica: The Last Frontier – Nova Science Series, PBS, WGBH-TV (1982)
• Speaking of Music – Radio Series Theme, KPFA-FM, Berkeley (1985)
• Difference Tones – Radio Series Theme KPFA-FM, Berkeley (1992)
Other
• Three by Three, & The Red Snow Suit - Choreography by Randee Paufvre (1997-98) Singing Myself a Lullaby - John Henry solo dance, Arizona, San Francisco, video (1995) Music for over 100 Audio Tour Tapes (1988 – present)
• Water Workout - Produced by Excel Sports (1993), with Karen Andes
• The Healing - Choreographer Ellen Bromberg(1993)
• Music Director – Berkeley Shakespeare Festival (1988);
• Deer Rose (1986)
• Giants of the Sun - Morrison Planetarium, Academy of Sciences (1987)
Audio Tour Tapes
Each tour tape is musically interpreted for each object (painting, photography, sculpture, building), timed with narration, and composed in the appropriate ensemble, period and style.
• A Gift to America: Masterpieces of European Painting from the Samuel H. Kress Collection – North Carolina Museum of Art (1994)
• Abstraction in Question – Fine Arts Museum of Miami (1989)
• Alexander the Great – Narrated by Patrick Stewart Florida International Museum (1996) American Discovery of Egypt – Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1995) and Houston Museum of Art (1996)
• American Impressionism – Denver Art Museum (1994)
• Anatomical Drawings of Leonardo Da Vinci – (1992) Ancient Americas:
• The Art of Sacred Landscapes – Narrated by Raul Julia, Chicago Museum of Art (1992) Andrew Wyeth: Southeastern Collections – Jacksonville Art Museum (1992)
• Angel Island Tour – The Angel Island Company (1994)
• Art & Empire: Treasures from Assyria in the British Museum (1995)
• Art Walk: A Moving Experience – St. Louis Art Museum (1991)
• Aztec: The World of Moctezuma – Narrated by Edward James Olmos, Denver Museum of Natural History (1992) Bay Model – Sausalito, California (1989)
• Bayou Bend – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (1994)
• Beyond the Java Sea: Art of Indonesia’s Outer Islands – San Francisco Art Museum (1991) Caillebotte – Chicago Art Institute (1995)
• Carlsbad Caverns – New Mexico (1996)
• Catherine the Great – Narrated by Lauren Bacall, Memphis International Cultural Center (1991)
• Chagall – Los Angeles County Art Museum (1996)
• Chicago Botanical Garden – (1991)
• Chicago’s Dream: A World’s Treasure – Chicago Art Institute (1993)
• Colombia – Museum of Mexico City (1994)
• Corot To Monet: The Rise of Landscape Painting in France – Dallas Museum of Art (1991) Degas – Art Institute of Chicago (1996)
• Degas Landscapes – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (1994)
• Degas to Matisse: The Wertheimer Collection – Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1993) Etruscans: Legacy of a Lost Civilization – Memphis Museum of Art (1992)
• Fauve Landscape – Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1990)
• Frank Lloyd Wright: In the Realm of Ideas – Marin Center Exhibit Hall & Scottsdale Arizona (1990-91)
• Gates of Mystery – Brooks Museum, Memphis (1993)
• Gauiguin and the School of Pont-Aven – Indianapolis Museum of Art (1994)
• Geometric Abstraction- Fine Arts Museum of Miami (1989)
• Georgia O Keeffe, 1887-1986- Los Angeles County Art Museum (1989)
• Golden Age: Art and Society in Hungary 1896-1914 -
• Fine Arts Museum of Miami (1990) Golden Gate Discovery Tour – Narrated by Scott Beach,
• Golden Gate National Park (1991)
• Great Smoky Mountains Newfound Gap Driving Tour – Virginia. (1992)
• Highlights of the Permanent Collection – St. Louis Art Museum (1993)
• Holograms: Images In Time And Space- San Jose & Fisherman’s Wharf (1988, 89) Howard Brothers Circus Tour – Knoxville Museum of Art (1992)
• Hunt-Phelan House – Memphis (1996)
• Imperial Austria: Treasures of Art, Arms and Armor from the State of Styria – Fine Arts Museum of Houston (1993)
• Impressions of France: Monet, Renoir, & their Rivals – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (1995)
• John James Audubon: The Watercolors for the Birds of America – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (1994)
• J. Paul Getty Museum of Art – Los Angeles (1998)
• Latin America: Art of the Fantastic – Fine Arts Museum of Miami (1988)
• Life Through Time – California Academy of Sciences (1992)
• Matisse – High Museum of Art, Atlanta (1996)
• Meet Me At the Old Courthouse – Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, St. Louis (1994)
• Mexican Modernism – San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (1996)
• Mexico: Splendors of Thirty Centuries – Narrated by Edward James Olmos, Los Angles County Museum of Art (1992)
• Mongolia: The Legacy of Chinggis Khan – Denver Art Museum (1995)
• Moscow: Treasures and Traditions – Narrated by Meryl Streep.
• Seattle Museum of Art (1990)
• Motorola Museum of Electronics Audio Tour – (1992)
• My Point of View: Moneta Sleet, Jr. – St. Louis Art Museum (1993)
• Napoleon – Memphis Cook Convention Center (1993)
• Newseum – Washington, (expired link). narrated by Susan Stamberg (1996)
• New York American Museum of Natural History Permanent Exhibit (1994)
• Odilon Redon: Prince of Dreams – Chicago Art Institute (1994)
• Operation Rescue: Varian Fry – Holocaust Museum, Washington, (expired link). (1993)
• Painters of the Great Ming Imperial Court and the Zhe School – Dallas Museum of Art (1993)
• Path to Enlightenment: Travels of the Buddha – Kimball Art Museum (1996)
• Phantom Canyon Driving Tour – (1996)
• Picasso and the Weeping Women – Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1994)
• Royal Tombs of Sipan – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Narrated by Leonard Nimoy (1994) San Diego Gaslight Tour – (1993)
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Permanent Exhibit (1994)
• Sculpture of Indonesia – San Francisco Asian Art Museum (1992)
• Seattle Museum: Near East Section – CD Rom (1994)
• Smithsonian – National Air & Space Museum (1996)
• Splendors of the Ottoman Sultans – Narrated by James Earl Jones, Memphis Cultural Museum (1992)
• Tomb of Tutankhamun – Temple of Luxor, Las Vegas (1994)
• Treasures of the Czars – Narrated by Cliff Robertson, Florida International Museum (1995) Treasures of St. Petersburg – Narrated by Charlton Heston, Rio Hotel, Las Vegas (1998) Treasures of the First Emperor of China – Narrated by Morgan Freeman Birmingham Museum of Art (1996)
• Two Voices: Georgia O’Keeffe & Alfred Stieglitz – Houston Museum of Fine Arts (1993) Underwater World – Pier 39, San Francisco and Mall of the Americas, Minnesota (1996) Van Gogh to Matisse: Impressionist & Modern Masters from the Cone Collection – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (1993)
• Vatican Treasures: 2000 Years of Art and Culture in the Vatican and Italy – Colorado History Museum (1993)
• Vitality of Vision: Hospitality House – Narrated by Danny Glover, Yerba Buena Museum of Art (1994)
• William Paley Collection – Seattle Museum of Art (1992)
• Wisdom and Compassion: The Sacred Art of Tibet – Narrated by Richard Gere, Asian Art Museum, San Francisco (1991)
• Yama Mamo- 16th Century Japan – Memphis Museum of Art