Jonathan Kirkscey
Jonathan Kirkscey is a composer, arranger, cellist, and guitarist who regularly performs with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, rock bands Glorie and Mouserocket, and String Theory, a classical/rock/soul fusion group. A strong background in both classical and popular music has given him a reputation as a very versatile musician.
As a film composer, Jonathan recently scored the documentary Best of Enemies, directed by Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom) and Robert Gordon, which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and will be in theaters July 31st. His other feature scores include Mike McCarthy's Cigarette Girl, the documentary 2 Million Minutes: The 21st Century Solution, Craig Brewer’s debut feature The Poor and Hungry, and the upcoming Only Child from director Brian Pera. He has composed music for both narrative and documentary shorts including "A Tangible Birthplace" and "The Fatted Calf" from The Soundtrack Project (winner of Addy awards and regional Emmy awards and nominations in several categories including best original music), and "Bookin," an award winning short documenting a collaboration combining Jookin, a street dance, and classical ballet. He has also scored advertisements for clients such as Sunbrella, Boys & Girls Club, and Weill Cornell Medical College.
Jonathan has provided arrangements for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and has had several original pieces for orchestra performed by the MSO. As an arranger and performer he has worked with Cat Power, Al Green, Ra Ra Riot, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis, Steve Jordan, Daniel Johnston, Jay Reatard, North Mississippi Allstars, Lucero, Amy Lavere, Kallen Esperian, and many others. He can be heard on film soundtracks for The Poor and Hungry, Black Snake Moan, and My Blueberry Nights.
As a film composer, Jonathan recently scored the documentary Best of Enemies, directed by Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom) and Robert Gordon, which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and will be in theaters July 31st. His other feature scores include Mike McCarthy's Cigarette Girl, the documentary 2 Million Minutes: The 21st Century Solution, Craig Brewer’s debut feature The Poor and Hungry, and the upcoming Only Child from director Brian Pera. He has composed music for both narrative and documentary shorts including "A Tangible Birthplace" and "The Fatted Calf" from The Soundtrack Project (winner of Addy awards and regional Emmy awards and nominations in several categories including best original music), and "Bookin," an award winning short documenting a collaboration combining Jookin, a street dance, and classical ballet. He has also scored advertisements for clients such as Sunbrella, Boys & Girls Club, and Weill Cornell Medical College.
Jonathan has provided arrangements for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and has had several original pieces for orchestra performed by the MSO. As an arranger and performer he has worked with Cat Power, Al Green, Ra Ra Riot, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis, Steve Jordan, Daniel Johnston, Jay Reatard, North Mississippi Allstars, Lucero, Amy Lavere, Kallen Esperian, and many others. He can be heard on film soundtracks for The Poor and Hungry, Black Snake Moan, and My Blueberry Nights.
