Austin Ali
Biography
Austin Ali (b. 1997, Plano, Tx) is an American composer, trumpet player, and conductor.
Mr. Austin holds his B.A. and B.M. from the University of Texas at Austin and his M.A. and Ph.D. (ABD) from University of California, Los Angeles. Austin’s primary composition mentors include GRAMMY-winning composer Richard Danielpour, Ian Krouse, Donald Grantham, Yevgeniy Sharlat, Russell Podgorsek, John Mills, and Derrick Skye.
Austin has premiered his works with many distinguished soloists including GRAMMY-winning soprano Hilá Plitmann, pianist Stefano Greco, trombonist Christopher Bill, and a growing number of orchestras around the world including the Austin Symphony, New Conductor’s Orchestra, Tampa Bay Symphony, Columbus Symphony, and Orchestra Senzaspine. His chamber compositions have been premiered by Spanish Brass, Carpe Diem String Quartet, New Thread Quartet, Aperture Duo, Sonos Quartet, Reedplay Reed Quintet, and musicians of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
His original film scores premiered at Regal Cinemas @ LA Live in 2022, 2023, and 2024, receiving a nomination for Best Score at the 48 Hour Film Festival in Los Angeles. As a cross-genre collaborator, Austin’s classical, pop, and jazz arrangements for Big Wy’s Brass Band, Trombone Timo, and Christopher Bill have amassed millions of views on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. His jazz works have been performed by the Flight 584 Big Band, University of Texas Jazz Orchestra, AIME Ensemble, Municipalidad de Guatemala Big Band, and Big Wy’s Brass Band, and Rowdy Jazz Collective.
An accomplished trumpeter, Austin has written several works for winds and brass, including ensembles such as the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, University of Texas Wind Symphony, Fivemind Reeds, University of Texas Trombone Choir, DC Trombone Workshop Trombone Choir, and Los Angeles Brass Alliance. Recent collaborators include virtuoso-harpist Alexander Boldachev, Classical Sax Project, the New England Philharmonic, Salastina, Diotima Quartet, Bridge to Everywhere, and Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini.
Austin has performed as a professional recording artist in Los Angeles, an active chamber musician with Good Time Brass appearing monthly at Ronald Reagan Medical Center, a bandmember, soloist, and conductor. Austin recently conducted his composition for large brass ensemble, Ode to Friendship, a commission by the Los Angeles Brass Alliance in February 2024. Austin’s performances and compositions have been showcased at multiple festivals across the globe including TEDx (2018) in Texas, Primavera Chigiana (2022, 2023, and 2024) in Italy, Atlantic Music Festival (2018) in Maine, IGA International Jazz Festival (2017 and 2024) in Guatemala, and CCCN International Jazz Festival (2017) in Costa Rica. Highlights include performing for the president of Costa Rica and opening for Stevie Wonder at Circuit of the Americas.
An avid arts advocate, Austin serves as vice president and composer-in-residence of the Los Angeles Inception Orchestra, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing accessible mentoring to young student composers. Additionally, Austin serves as a mentor at YOLA: Harmony Project, LA’s largest music education organization dedicated exclusively to youth from low-income facilities and under-resourced communities.
He is a member of the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC), Broadcast Music International (BMI), and the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL).
Works for Winds
- Blissful Nightmares for Wind Ensemble (2016)
- Euphoric (2017)
- Full Volume (2017)
- The Moons (2019)
- Ostinato (2016)
- Spiral of the Galaxy (2017)
- Titan, the Bold (2018/2023)
Resources
- Austin Ali, personal correspondence, March 2019
- Austin Ali website. Accessed 6 June 2025