Michael Abels facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Abels
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Abels In November 2019
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| Born | October 8, 1962 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
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| Education | USC Los Angeles Thornton School Of Music |
| Occupation | Composer |
Michael Abels (born October 8, 1962) is a talented American composer. He is famous for creating music for movies, especially the thrilling films by Jordan Peele like Get Out, Us, and Nope. He also co-wrote an amazing opera called Omar with singer Rhiannon Giddens, which won a big award! His music for Us was even called "Score of the Decade" by a magazine called TheWrap. Michael Abels also writes music for concerts and other projects.
He has worked on other films like Bad Education, Nightbooks, and Breaking. He also composed music for the TV series Allen v. Farrow.
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Early Life and Music Journey
Michael Abels was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He spent his early years on a small farm in South Dakota with his grandparents. They loved music and introduced him to the piano. Michael showed a natural interest in music from a very young age, around 4 years old.
His grandparents convinced a local piano teacher to teach him, even though he was so young. By age 8, Michael started writing his own music. When he was just 13, his first big orchestral piece was performed!
After high school, Michael went to the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles. He also explored his African-American heritage by studying West African drumming and singing in a church choir.
Music for Movies and TV
Michael Abels is well-known for his exciting movie scores. He often works with director Jordan Peele.
Film Scores by Michael Abels
- Get Out (2017)
- Us (2019)
- See You Yesterday (2019)
- All Day and a Night (2020)
- Bad Education (2020)
- Fake Famous (2021)
- Nightbooks (2021)
- Nope (2022)
- Breaking (2022)
- Landscape with Invisible Hand (2023)
- The Burial (2023)
- The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024)
- The Acolyte (2024)
- Sirens (2025)
Additional Music Contributions
- Detroit (2017)
Other Musical Creations
Besides movies, Michael Abels writes many pieces for concerts and other projects.
- Global Warming (1990)
- Homies & Popz (2001) (an opera)
- Delights & Dances (2007) for string quartet and orchestra
- Urban Legends (2008) for string quartet and orchestra
- Aquadia (2009) for orchestra
- Winged Creatures (2018) for flute, clarinet, and orchestra
- Isolation Variation (2020) for unaccompanied violin
- At War with Ourselves (an oratorio) for the Kronos Quartet
- Omar (an opera) co-composed with Rhiannon Giddens
- Emerge (2021) for orchestra
- Guitar Concerto "Borders" (2022)
Awards and Recognitions
Michael Abels has received many awards for his amazing music.
In 2023, the opera Omar, which he co-wrote with Rhiannon Giddens, won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Music. This is a very high honor in the world of music!
He has also won several awards for his film scores, especially for Get Out and Us.
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | International Online Cinema Awards | Best Original Score | Get Out | Won |
| 2018 | Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Score | Get Out | Won |
| 2019 | Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award | Best Original Score | Us | Won |
| World Soundtrack Awards | Discovery of the Year | Us | Won | |
| Indiana Film Journalists Association | Best Musical Score | Us | Won | |
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Best Original Score- Horror Film | Us | Won | |
| 2020 | Black Reel Award | Outstanding Score | Us | Won |
| Central Ohio Film Critics Association | Best Score | Us | Won | |
| Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle Award | Best Original Score | Us | Won | |
| 2023 | Pulitzer Prize | Music | Omar | Won |
| 2025 | 56th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Original Score for Television/Motion Picture | The Acolyte | Won |
Supporting Other Composers
Michael Abels is also a co-founder of the Composers Diversity Collective. This group works to help composers of color get more recognition in film, gaming, and streaming media.
