Director at Inner Voices Productions Sdn Bhd
Greater Los Angeles Area
- Current
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- Director at Inner Voices Productions Sdn Bhd
- Part-Time Lecturer at International College of Music
- Composer, Orchestrator, Arranger (Self-employed)
- Past
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- Music Instructor at Freelance (Self-employed)
- Principal cum Instructor at Encore Music Sdn Bhd
- Ringtone Composer at Mobileavenue, Findland
- Education
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- University of California, Los Angeles
- Universiti Putra Malaysia
- Taylor's College
- Recommended
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8 people have recommended Ken - Connections
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247
connections
- Industry
- Music
- Websites
Ken Hor’s Summary
Ken Hor was raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Originally a classically trained pianist and trombonist, Ken began conducting wind orchestras, composing and arranging for school bands while still in high school.
In college, Ken began seriously studying classical composition, while at the same time working his way up from a studio guy in control room and playing jazz on the side to becoming an engineer, and finally an arranger before he decided to work as a freelancer. From this experience, Ken gained the knowledge and capability to become a versatile hand in both the technical and musical aspects of studio processes. After pursuing a degree in music technology and composition from Universiti Putra Malaysia, he later took up the position of school principal and music director of Encore Music - a school dedicated to the education and music appreciation of young musicians, as well as in professional artist training and music production.
Ken is a versatile musician and composer, working in music production for the past five years, writing jingles, commercial albums, documentaries, and TV shows, etc. Besides wide variety of commercial genres, he frequently composes world music and ethnic tunes. Ken has collaborated with sought-after percussionist Steve Thornton, aspiring violinist Fung Chern Hwei and his string duo Evil Twin, Singer Sheila Majid, Julian Chan, Joanne Yeoh, and a group of top musicians in Malaysia.
In 2004, Ken journeyed to Los Angeles, CA to study Film Scoring at UCLA Extension. After earning his Professional Certificate in December 2005, Ken's worked on scoring several short films and documentaries, two commercials, two demo albums, and a musical. Some of the shorts that Ken scored went on to gain success as an official selection of festivals in the States.
Ken is now available as a freelance composer and arranger, specializing in film, commercial and album productions, and concert hall music
Ken Hor’s Specialties:
Ken's work involves a wide range of different compositions. His music is not only limited to score music, like solo instrumental and orchestral music, but also touches upon other types of music like pop a cappella and jazz ensemble. He is also very familiar with world music and electronic sound. Ken's expertise in many genres of music means that he can create music customized to cater any purpose! Ken also conducted most of the film cues that can be heard at kenhor.com.
Ken Hor’s Experience
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Director
Inner Voices Productions Sdn Bhd
(Music industry)
2009 — Present (less than a year)
The music of this performance involves the composition and arrangements of Ken Hor, and he hopes to achieve the above objective through a fresh experimental approach through the synergy of the four main musical cultures in Malaysia – Western, Malay, Chinese and Indian. As such, the instrumentation involved in the execution of these musics will also involve instruments from those respective cultures.
- Main objective of the music – to find a new Malaysian sound
- Malaysian music is an constantly evolving musical form – being a plural society means the acknowledgement of various societies and cultures. Musical evolution comes from a handful of contemporary composers who consciously strive to achieve the blending of cultures
- The composition and arrangement of the music involves an experimental approach through the synergy of the main four musical cultures in Malaysia and genre.
- Instrumentation consists of the four main groups – Western, Malay, Chinese, and Indian.
- Experimental approach includes cross-bridging the various influence from the four cultures: Eg. In spoken language in Malaysia, there is an amalgamation of Malay, Chinese or Indian words in English, and vice versa.
- In musical terms, using a central rhythm, but the interpretation from different instruments, create a different sound
- Unlike spoken language, music is a universal language – barrier is very minimal if any - and can be understood and shared easily across any cultures.
- Introduce and elevate the status of traditional instruments, usually of us for more traditional purposes, to the mainstream consciousness.
- This is the main idea of the compositions - 1. We learn, 2. We imitate, 3. We interpret, 4. We develop, 5. We improvise.
- A lot of development from one tune to another tune. -
Part-Time Lecturer
International College of Music
(Music industry)
July 2008 — Present (1 year 5 months)
- Currently teaching orchestration and western music history.
- Have been providing students to write for live musicians - from string quartet to a full ranged orchestra. -
Composer, Orchestrator, Arranger
Self-employed
(Self-Employed; Myself Only; Music industry)
2000 — Present (9 years )
Past Gigs:
Short films, musiclas, demo albums, jingles, albums, documentaries, multimedias, dramas, events, TV Shows, etc
Official Site: kenhor.com
Myspace: myspace.com/hfken -
Music Instructor
Freelance (Self-employed)
(Self-Employed; Myself Only; Music industry)
1994 — September 2004 (10 years )
Courses taught:
> Theory & Harmony, Classical & Pop Piano, Jazz Study, Trombone, Brass/Wind Ensemble
> Composition & Arrangement, MIDI & Computer Music, Home Studio
> Music Software Programs (Cakewalk Pro Audio to SONAR 3, Cool Edit, Cubase, Vienna Sound Font, Fruity Loops, Pro-Tools & Mbox for PC, Sound Forge, Finale, etc)
> School Band (Wind Orchestra, Marching Band) -
Principal cum Instructor
Encore Music Sdn Bhd
(Educational Institution; 11-50 employees; Music industry)
December 2001 — August 2004 (2 years 9 months)
> Course Syllabus
> School Management
> Courses taught: Theory & Harmony, Composition & Arrangement, MIDI & Computer Music, Classical & Pop Piano, Home Studio
> Composition & Arrangement, Music Production
> External Examination
> Event Organizer
> Recitals
> Artist Training -
Ringtone Composer
Mobileavenue, Findland
(Partnership; Music industry)
December 2000 — 2003 (3 years )
One of the 1st polyphonic ringtone products in the market
Ken Hor’s Education
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University of California, Los Angeles
Professional Certificate , Film Scoring , 2004 — 2005
APPLIED / PRIVATE STUDY / WORKSHOPS
Film Scoring Studies under Craig S. Garfinkle, Thom Sharp, and Robert Drasnin
Scott Smalley Orchestration Workshop
Composers’ Workstation by Craig S. Garfinkle Workshop
Scoring Big with Music for Video Games Seminar
Film Scoring Seminar by Charles Bernstein Seminar
Music for Game by Lennie Moore Seminar
Music Editing by Christine Luethje and Leslie Langs Lecture- Activities and Societies:
- SCL - the Society of Composers and Lyricists
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Universiti Putra Malaysia
Bachelor , Music Technology cum Composition , 1998 — 2001
> Composition & Arrangement, Music Technology
> Minor in Trombone Perforamnce, Jazz Piano
> Composition under supervision of Martha Lee
> Symphony Orchestra
> Trombone Principal during entire study
> Brass Ensemble, Choir
> Final-year project: Album Production
> Studied composition with Martha Lee and Chan Cheong Jan
> Studied Jazz Piano with Chan Cheong Jan
> Orchestral Repertoires include Bolero, Drovak’s 9th Symphony, Copland’s Fanfare, Rachmaninov’s Piano concerto No. 2, Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, Gershwin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Rhapsody in Blue, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1, Grieg’s Piano Concerto, etc.)
> Study conducting with Prof. Zakhid
> Conducting Master Class with Kevin Field, MPO Conductor
> Studied trombone with Kevin Thompson (MPO trombone principal), 00-02; Eric Lee (NSO trombone principal and conductor), 99-02; Dennis Francisco (KLSO), 98.
> Studied classical vocal with Lai Swee Heng- Activities and Societies:
- AES Malaysia - Audio Engineering Society
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Taylor's College
Additional Information
Ken Hor’s Websites:
Ken Hor’s Groups:
ASCAP - the American Society of Composer, Author and Publisher (Copyight Organization)
SCL - the Society of Composers and Lyricists
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UCLA Alumni -
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers -
UCLA Extension Alumni -
UCLA Extension Entertainment Studies
Ken Hor’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
