Sherri Chung
American film composers
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Sherri Chung is an American film and television composer, pianist, vocalist, and songwriter. She has composed scores for television series including Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Based on a True Story, and Found, as well as films like Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase , Divorce In The Black and The Lost Husband which was nominated for Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film at the Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards.[1] In 2022, she became the first female elected as governor of the Music Branch Peer Group of the Television Academy.[2]
Sherri Chung | |
|---|---|
Sherri Chung during the celebration of Málaga Film Festival | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | Film score, video game music |
| Occupations | Composer, conductor |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Website | sherrichung |
Chung's composition for the documentary The Other Side of Home was shortlisted for Best Short Documentary at the 2017 Oscars. In 2024, she was nominated for the International Film Music Critics Association Award (IFMCA) Breakthrough Composer of the Year.[3]
Early life and education
Sherri Chung developed an interest in music during childhood and trained as a classical pianist. While in middle school, she became interested in composition after hearing Michael Kamen's score for the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. She graduated from Jacksonville University in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in music composition and theory.[4] After graduating from Jacksonville University, Chung completed graduate studies in the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program at the University of Southern California. While at USC, she met composer Blake Neely, with whom she later collaborated on several television projects.[5]
Career
Chung began her career in television, contributing music to animated series such as Family Guy and American Dad before moving into composing original scores. She later collaborated with composer Blake Neely on several series, including Supergirl, Arrow, and The Flash.[6][7]
Her other television work includes composing for Riverdale,[8] Batwoman, and Kung Fu. On Riverdale, she co-developed a distinctive musical style referred to as "swamp goth" for the character Gargoyle King, reflecting her approach to character-specific themes.[9]
In 2023, Chung composed the original score for the Peacock series Based on a True Story, a dark comedy thriller created by Craig Rosenberg. She noted that the scoring approach focused on balancing the show's narrative shifts and character moments without overshadowing the dialogue.[10] In 2024, her work included contributions to Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, and the NBC series Found.[11][12]
Chung's film work includes scores for Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019), The Lost Husband (2020), and Divorce in the Black (2024). Her work on The Lost Husband earned her a nomination from the Society of Composers and Lyricists for Best Score for an Independent Studio Film. and the Netflix documentary series The Keepers. She has also released two original music albums and performs with her band in Los Angeles.[7]
Film scores
| Year | Title | Director | Studio(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Riverdale | Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa |
|
TV series
Composed with Blake Neely; soundtrack released by WaterTower Music |
| 2019 | Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase | Katt Shea |
|
Teen mystery comedy film
soundtrack released by Warner Bros |
| Batwoman | Caroline Dries | TV series
Composed with Blake Neely; soundtrack released by DC Entertainment | ||
| 2020 | The Lost Husband | Vicky Wight |
|
TV series;
soundtrack released by Quiver Distribution |
| 2021 | Kung Fu | Christina M. Kim |
|
TV series;
soundtrack released by The CW |
| 2023 | Based on a True Story | Craig Rosenberg |
|
Posthumous release |
| Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai | Tze Chun |
|
Posthumous release;
her second score for an animated series | |
| Found | Forest Whitaker |
|
Posthumous release | |
| 2024 | Divorce in the Black | Tyler Perry |
|
Soundtrack released by Amazon MGM Studios |
Selected Discography
Singles
- Not a Killer
- Like Romeo and Juliet
- I Was in Love once
Awards and recognition
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Oscars Academy Awards | Best Short Documentary | The Other Side of Home | Nominated | [3] |
| 2021 | Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards | Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film | The Lost Husband | Nominated | |
| 2024 | International Film Music Critics Association Award (IFMCA) | Breakthrough Composer of the Year | The American Society of Magical Negroes | Nominated | |
| 2025 | Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Best Music Direction And Composition for An Animated Program | Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai | Nominated | [13] |