Staff and Faculty

Two-time Emmy-award winning composer/arranger Hummie Mann has collaborated with some of Hollywood's most celebrated directors in both theatrical and television films.  His motion pictures projects have ranged from Mel Brooks' “Robin Hood: Men in Tights” and “Dracula, Dead and Loving It” to Peter Yates' “Year of the Comet”, the children’s film “Thomas and the Magic Railroad” to “Wooly Boys” starring Peter Fonda and Kris Kristofferson.  For television, he has scored projects for Simon Wincer (the miniseries “P.T. Barnum”), Jonathan Kaplan (the miniseries re-make of “In Cold Blood”), Norman Jewison (“Picture Windows – Soir Bleu”), Peter Bogdanovich (“The Rescuers: Tales of Courage - Two Women”), Joe Dante (“The Second Civil War” & “Masters of Horror: Homecoming”), Jim Abrahams (“First Do No Harm”) and Richard Friedenberg (“Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas”). Mann is the creator and lead instructor of the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program which in 2011 became the music department of the Seattle Film Institute. He has taught film scoring seminars in Edinburgh, Copenhagen & Shanghai and ran a film composition workshop at the Dakhla Film Festival in Morocco (2010).  Variety Magazine listed him as a “Leader in Learning” in its 2010 Education Impact Report.  Currently he serves on the board of the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC) in Los Angeles.  He was awarded a full scholarship to pursue his DMA (Doctor of Music Arts) degree at the University of Salford in Manchester, England, which he completed in 2015.  His thesis “The Temporal and Rhythmic Effect of Musical Composition and Form when Scoring Dramatic Moving Picture” is being edited for inclusion in an educational textbook he is writing of film scoring techniques.

Sammy Applegate is an award winning filmmaker and accomplished composer originally from Lawrence, Kansas. She earned a BA degree in English with a minor in film from the University of Kansas in 2007. In 2012 she became the first woman to earn a Masters of Music in Film Composition degree from the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program at the Seattle Film Institute. In 2014 she joined the program as Assistant Director before becoming Director in 2023 and continues to help train and guide new generations of aspiring composers into the film, television, and video game industries. ​ In addition to working with the program, Sammy also works with the copying team of the late Robert Puff of RPM Seattle Music Preparation.

Todd Kovell is a composer, arranger, and teacher. His music has been performed in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Todd was the composer-in-residence for the 2023 Alabama All-State Orchestra. His “Suite for Tar and Chamber Orchestra” appeared on the 2013 album “Celebrate World Music”. His music has appeared on the Vox Novus 15-minutes of Fame series. As an arranger he has created hundreds of arrangements of pieces in all styles, for all levels of players, and for all sizes of ensemble. In addition to composing he teaches cello and is currently writing a music theory workbook for the PNWFS program. Todd received a BMus in composition and electronic music from the Oberlin Conservatory, an MMus in film composition from the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program, has studied composition at the Schoenberg House in Vienna, and has studied songwriting with Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter Hugh Prestwood.

Jake is the Music Director of the acclaimed Northwest Boychoir, and the former Artistic Director of the Seattle Girls Choir. With both groups, he has prepared and conducted concerts, recording sessions, and competitions all over the world, and collaborated with other local arts organizations including the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and Pacific Northwest Ballet. As a vocalist, Jake has appeared on countless film and video game soundtracks, including for major franchises such as Halo, Destiny, World of Warcraft, and Assassin’s Creed. Jake also works with the copying team of RPM Seattle Music Preparation, doing copying and proofing for major video game titles. He helped develop and maintain the JetStream Finale Controller, a popular productivity enhancer for MakeMusic’s Finale notation program. Jake holds a Master of Music in conducting from the University of Washington, where he studied with the late maestro Peter Erös.

Owen Andruchow is a Seattle based composer who has provided his musical narratives in the realms of film, TV, and video games throughout the past decade. After having earned his masters degree from the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program under the direction of 2 time Emmy award winner Hummie Mann, he is now an active composer for multiple creative institutions including Sugarmilk Games, Channel A TV, and TransPerfect Gaming, as well as many indie film makers and video game developers in the Seattle area and abroad. Above all, Owen is fascinated with the process of storytelling which he believes is the through line that ties all artistic endeavors together. He loves meeting fellow creatives and is ready to bring their stories to life!

Ryan Ike is a two-time BAFTA nominated composer and sound designer, with work spanning games like West of Loathing, Gunpoint, and Where the Water Tastes Like Wine, as well as short film and advertising. When not working on audio, he is passionate about public speaking with a focus on helping audio professionals, and freelancers in general, further their careers in the game industry in a healthy and balanced manner.

Chris Julian is a freelance video editor, visual effects artist, cinematographer and director in Seattle, Washington. Originally from NY State, he works in a wide range of client projects, including documentaries, public service videos, and commercials. He also writes and directs his own narrative films, both short and long, always exploring controversial subjects. As a musician and songwriter too, his combined love of film and music has made him an avid and lifelong follower of film music, and this history of the last century of film scores and soundtracks is his favorite thing to teach. He has also loved the connections and friendships he has established with composers when collaborating with them on client works and his own films. Outside of film and music, people can usually find him swimming indoors or outdoors, for miles and miles...

Green is an ISFMF nominated composer and multi-award-winning double bassist. She has created original soundtracks for international award-winning films, working with directors, producers, and game developers from the USA, UK, Canada and South Korea. After studying in Tchaikovsky Academic Music College at Moscow Conservatory, she earned her Masters degree in Film Composition in 2016 from the PNWFSP at Seattle Film Institute. In 2021, she started teaching at SFI, beginning with the Logic Pro X course. She has been Apple certified for Logic Pro X since 2014.

Devore's experiences include radio DJ, musician, recording engineer, and sound designer. He settled in Seattle in 1993 and began working in post-production as a dialog and sound effects editor. He has since worked on feature films and documentaries, radio and television commercials and a record or two, here and there. He has worked at several studios in the Seattle area, specializing in sound design and mixing for film, television, and various visual media.

Based in Los Angeles, Jarryd Elias is an award-winning composer, orchestrator, and conductor whose melody-driven, orchestral style combines timeless symphonic traditions with modern scoring techniques to create music that feels classic yet sounds contemporary. His work spans film, television, and video games, with credits that have reached audiences worldwide, which can be heard on a myriad of projects big and small, including major studios Fox, Marvel, Sony, Disney, A24, Netflix, Universal, Illumination, and Lifetime. Jarryd's compositions have gained recognition on a global scale, spanning across various media and concert performances. Additionally, his expertise in orchestration and conducting is sought after both in the studio and on the stage. Collaborating with renowned composers such as Tyler Bates, Tim Phillips, Dara Taylor, Robert Duncan, Timothy Williams, Joanne Higginbottom, Maclaine Deimer, Greg Tripi, and Hummie Mann, Jarryd's skills have been valued by the industry's finest. Jarryd holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program. When not in the studio, Jarryd enjoys life in Culver City with his partner Jan and their dog Boots, often taking long walks for ice cream downtown. In the fall, you can find him cheering on his beloved Michigan Wolverines and Detroit Lions. Go Blue, and Go Lions!

CC Waggoner is a Seattle-based musician and audio engineer. His music has been featured internationally, including at the European Independent Film Festival in Paris, the Saudi Film Festival, the Play Short International Film Awards, and on Lifetime TV. He also writes and arranges for ensembles in both Seattle and Los Angeles. Currently, he serves as assistant principal horn of the Cascade Symphony Orchestra in Edmonds, WA, and as a staff engineer at Studio X in Seattle. CC earned his Bachelor of Music in Audio Production at the University of Texas at Arlington before receiving his Master of Music in Film Composition from the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program at the Seattle Film Institute.

Jesse Colford is a Seattle-based composer for indie films and games, and a woodwind performer and teacher. Originally from Boston, MA, he got into music through both school ensembles and jam sessions with friends and family. After years of performing classical, jazz, indie pop and more, he moved out to Seattle to focus on composition through PNWFS. That experience renewed his passion for soundtracks and putting music to visual media, which is where he focuses his work now - along with swing jazz gigs and singer-songwriter collaborations.

Michelle Bruski-Dumpert is a film and TV composer known for emotionally rich scores that elevate independent dramas, thrillers, and genre films. Her score for Curious Adventures earned a Global Music Awards Bronze Medal, recognizing her expressive range and cinematic storytelling. Michelle has an arsenal of musical experience and training that includes world-class orchestral education, expert writing in folk, pop, adult contemporary and other song genres, a mastery of melody, and a nuanced ability to blend these musically diverse styles seamlessly with modern production techniques. Earning her Master’s Degree in Film Scoring at the prestigious Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program, Michelle was closely mentored by multi-Emmy award-winning composer Hummie Mann (Robin Hood: Men in Tights; Thomas & The Magic Railroad, Dracula: Dead and Loving It). She holds an additional Master Certificate in Songwriting & Producing from Berklee College of Music.

Sam Sigman is a budding media composer with a unique blend of modern and orchestral flair. He studied Audio and Music Production at Western Connecticut State University, learned the arts of Mixing and Mastering, and furthered his Compositional work under the direction of Daniel Gray and Dr. Kevin Isaacs. He then graduated from the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program in Seattle, WA with his Master of Music in Film Composition. There he studied the techniques of Orchestration and Composition with Dr. Hummie Mann, and made his debut into the film world with films: “Secret Ingredient,” “Ronnie and Donnie’s Fantastic Food Blog,” and “Corporate Training.” Since, he has been freelancing in the New England/New York area, composing hybrid digital/acoustic scores.

Anton is a professional singer, songwriter, and composer. His credits include a number of Hallmark and Lifetime films, various short films, the TV series “Demonhuntr,” singing for AAA video games including Destiny, Diablo, and World of Warcraft, and he has released multiple singles and albums. He is a US Navy music veteran, an experienced studio singer, and he has been a featured soloist with the Seattle Symphony. He earned his Master of Music in Film Composition in 2018, studying with two-time Emmy Award winning composer, Hummie Mann, at the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program in Seattle, and is now a composition advisor for the program. He is also the lead transcriber for Disney Character Voices International, a Neurologic Doctor of Physical Therapy, and a registered therapy dog team. In his free time away from music and therapy endeavors, he enjoys hiking and exploring our beautiful natural world with his husband and two labradors.

ZW Buckley is a composer making colorful, catchy, and charismatic music for screens and stages. Musically adventurous, his recent commissions include a cinematic East-meets-West hybrid score for Keyword 2: Nightfall, a pop soundtrack for Barbie: You Can Be a Fashion Designer VR—the iconic brand’s first foray into virtual reality—and the chamber opera Let's Blow Up a Gas Station! for Seattle Opera. Deeply embedded in the game audio community, ZW has contributed to panels, workshops, and roundtables at major industry events like GDC and PAX West. In 2022, he was honored as a member of The Game Awards Future Class, which recognizes innovators shaping the industry's future. ZW lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife, Emma; their daughter, Sloane; and their three cats, Butternut Squash, Piper, and Ravioli (who's about the size of lasagna).

Caleb (they/them) is a Seattle-based composer, arranger, and music collaborator. Since 2022 they have acted as music supervisor, editor, and additional music writer for nearly a dozen feature films for Reel One Entertainment, a Lifetime films production company. Caleb’s arrangements have been performed nationally by a large variety of ensembles including the Colorado and Baltimore symphonies, Brass Animals of New Orleans, and the President’s Own Army Band Wind Quintet. As a music collaborator, they have worked as a transcriber, orchestrator, and copyist for several prestigious ensembles, such as the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, as well as internationally-renowned artists and composers such as Steve Hackman and Mark Kilian. Caleb is also a seasoned brass musician, currently performing with several ensembles throughout the Seattle area including the Seattle Kraken Red Alert, OL Reign’s Riot, and the Rainbow City Concert Band.

Steven Garcia is an award winning Composer and Sound Designer for Video Games and Music Educator based out of Seattle, WA. Originally from Kansas, he has worked in various mediums such as orchestral concert music, film, video games, metal and rock music. He graduated with a B.A. in Music from Friends University before achieving his Masters of Music in Film Composition degree from the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program at the Seattle Film Institute.

Thomas Kresge is a professional musician with experience in almost all facets of the music-making process, taking on an endless number of labels including composer, arranger, orchestrator, copyist, saxophonist, music producer, recording session contractor, band manager, conductor, mix engineer, and educator. His list of credits spans all corners of the music business, including films, television, video games, musical theater, pop music production, and live concerts, with experience in various orchestral and electronic genres. Well-versed in writing orchestral, jazz, pop, and electronic music, Thomas’s recent composing credits include the music for the officially licensed pinball tables of Toy Story 4 and The Godfather, produced by Jersey Jack Pinball, as well as composing additional music on the Lifetime films Christmas in Scotland and Living with My Mother's Killer. He also wrote the all-electronic score for Spygames, a live group gaming experience located in New York City. As an orchestrator and music copyist, his clients include Maclaine Diemer (Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure), Marco Beltrami (Silent Night [dir. by John Woo], The Royal Stunt, Waiting for the Barbarians, The Shadow in My Eye, Nine Perfect Strangers, Bach by Beltrami), Diana Ross (Diana Ross with the National Symphony, Diana Ross Live at the Hollywood Bowl: Opening Night 2018, NBC's Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting), Michael James Scott (concert tour), Disney (The Incredibles 2 trailer campaign), Jacob Yoffee (Kohl's trailer campaign), and Robby Duguay (Broken Spectre, Treetop Adventure), among others, as well as fully arranging and orchestrating the scores for a number of musicals. He is the go-to music engraver for many composers and bandleaders, and the primary editor for BYTHAX Publishing, as well as the manager and lead arranger for the band The Game Brass. Thomas earned his Bachelor of Music at George Mason University before receiving his Master’s in Film Scoring at the Seattle Film Institute (Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program) under the mentorship of Hummie Mann. Originally from Boise, Idaho, Thomas now resides in New York with his wife, singer-actress Helen Jane Planchet, with the two making frequent trips to their original professional home base of Los Angeles.

Francis Snyder is an accomplished freelance copyist, orchestrator, and composer of film and classical music. As a composer, his music has been attached to a wide variety of games and short films, including Loving Martin, which garnered him the Award for Musical Excellence from the Southern Shorts film festival. As an orchestrator and copyist, his work has been associated with major studio productions for Marvel, Disney, Warner Brothers, and many more. Recent credits include orchestrator and composer's assistant on the forthcoming indian film "Barroz" for composer Mark Killian, and as part of the music preparation team for Disney's live, annual "D23" presentation.