Composer for Film & Television
Story-first scores by an ASCAP & SOCAN award-winning composer behind Sullivan’s Crossing, Ripple, and Ride.
Portfolio Overview
A quick look at my music.
Featured Projects
SULLIVAN'S CROSSING
A neurosurgeon returns to her rural childhood home to escape a professional scandal, where she must reconcile with her estranged father and navigate a complicated new romance. An indie-folk score shaped to track character arcs and sustain emotional throughlines across the series. Co-composed with Ari Posner. Roma Roth, creator/showrunner. Broadcast on CTV, CW, Netflix and others.
RIPPLE
Original score for a beloved Netflix series co-composed with Kristjan Bergey. The series explores how a single moment can ripple outward to shape lives defined by fate, grief, and connection. The score weaves evolving themes across intersecting characters and storylines, using intimate textures to reflect how their lives gradually become intertwined. Michele Giannusa and Joni Lefkowitz showrunners.
PARIS PARIS
A magical tunnel connects Paris, Ontario with Paris, Texas and Paris, France. This stylized score supports comedic timing and tonal shifts within a dual-world narrative. Bilingual English-French audience. Co-composed with Antoine Gratton. Dominic Desjardins and Rayne Zukerman creators. Broadcast on UnisTV and CBC Gem.
THE ART OF ADVENTURE
A reflective, journey-driven score shaped by the spirit of exploration, telling the story of renowned wildlife artist Robert Bateman and biologist Bristol Foster. Drawing on themes of discovery, connection to the natural world, and the lasting emotional impact of formative experience. Score developed with Tom Third and Kristjan Bergey. Alison Reid, director/writer.
RIDE
Neo-Western family drama. Supporting themes of legacy and loss within a multigenerational rodeo dynasty. Broadcast on Hallmark and The CW. With composers Amin Bhatia and Ari Posner.
NORTHERN RESCUE
Character-driven family drama score, supporting themes of grief, resilience, and rebuilding through a raw, textural palette combining emotional piano and distorted guitar to reflect emotional instability and loss within a small-town setting. Score developed with Ari Posner.
2024 ASCAP Award Winner
2024 SOCAN Award Winner
2024 CASMA Award Nominee
2023 CASMA Award Nominee
Bio
Joel Schwartz is an ASCAP and SOCAN award-winning composer for film and television.
His credits include Sullivan’s Crossing, Ripple, Ride, and Paris Paris, with work featured across major networks (CTV, CW, CBC) and streaming platforms. He collaborates closely with showrunners, directors, and post-production teams to shape and support the musical identity of each project he’s part of.
His approach to scoring is informed by a background as a touring musician and music production, bringing a strong sense of tone, arrangement, and emotional detail to his work. His scores blend live instrumentation with modern techniques, creating an intimate and expressive sound that supports character and narrative.
