Biography

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Los Angeles-based film composer and violinist Abby Abdel-Khalek brings a deeply melodic and performance-driven approach to storytelling, shaped by a lifelong background in classical music and years of experience performing for film and television.

Her work as a composer has received recognition on the international film festival circuit, with projects screening at the Cairo International Film Festival, Marrakech International Film Festival, Palm Springs International ShortFest, the Arab Film Festival, and AFI, among others. In 2026, Abby was nominated for Best Score at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema.

Before moving into film scoring, Abby built an extensive career as a professional violinist. She began playing at age five and studied at the Colburn School with Henry Gronnier before attending the Cleveland Institute of Music on merit scholarship. After returning to Los Angeles, she interned at Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions, where she also began recording solo violin for composers. Her performance credits include projects such as BBC’s Planet Earth II and The Strain.

Abby later co-founded the string contracting company String Mob alongside Ann Marie Calhoun and Michael Einziger, performing and collaborating on projects with artists including Pharrell Williams, Justin Bieber, Pentatonix, Steve Martin, and Skrillex.

Drawing on both her classical training and years spent inside recording studios, Abby approaches each score from the perspective of both composer and performer. Her work centers on memorable themes, emotional storytelling, and finding a distinct musical identity for each film.

In addition to her work in film, Abby has collaborated with Human Rights Watch and remains passionate about using music to support stories with meaningful social and human impact.