““Innate boldness”, “immediacy of expression”, and, “personal warmth”, are few of the phrases used to describe the music of American composer, John Frantzen. His distinctive style, which combines exciting electro-acoustic soundscapes with a diverse orchestral palette, has earned high praise from filmmakers and concert audiences throughout the United States. Equally conversant in acoustic and electronic music, John has worked with film directors in New York City and Los Angeles. Recent credits include Auction Day (documentary, 2008) Portrait of Maquoketa (documentary, 2008), Dumgrot (short, 2007) premiered at Columbia University, Suavecita (short, 2007), premiered at the 2007 New York Latino Film Festival, and Subtone (2006), premiered at New York’s Symphony Space. On the concert stage Frantzen has fulfilled commissions from a variety of professional and educational ensembles. Notable commissions have included the orchestral work "Big City", for the Manhattan School of Music, "Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra", for the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, and "In the Half Light" for a consortium of ten university wind ensembles from across the United States. John’s latest commissions have included collaborations with artists in theater, multi-media, and visual arts. Premieres have taken place in an array of venues including New York’s Symphony Space, John C. Borden Hall’s Helix series, New York University, Chicago's Loyola University Theater, and the Dubuque Art Museum. A native of Iowa, John completed graduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music working with composer Richard Danielpour along with conductors David Gilbert and Giampaolo Bracali. Published by Falls House Press and Frantzen MusicPress, he currently resides in Los Angeles.