Mikolai Stroinski

Polish composer (born 1979)

Mikolai Stroinski

Birth name| Mikołaj Stroiński
Born|  (1979-06-03) 3 June 1979 (age 46)
Nairobi, Kenya
Origin| Los Angeles, California, US
Genres|

* Film music
* television music
* video game music
* soundtrack

Occupation(s)| Composer, music producer
Years active| 2004–present
Website| mikolaistroinski.com

Musical artist

Mikolai Stroinski (or Mikołaj Stroiński, Polish pronunciation: [miˈkɔwaj strɔˈiɲskʲi]; born 3 June 1979)[1] is a Polish film, television, and video game composer.[2][3]

## Life and career

[edit]

He comes from a musical family.[4] His father, Wojciech Stroiński, was a trumpeter and pianist in the Royal Rag Jazz Band in Poland (1969–1981).[5][6] Mikolai was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and grew up in Warsaw and Zalesie Górne near the Polish capital.[5][7] He graduated from the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice and the Berklee College of Music in Boston (2004), where he studied film scoring and jazz piano under Ray Santisi.[1][8] He writes original music for films and video games.[9] He is known for scoring the video games The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (2014), The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015), Metamorphosis (2020)[10][11] and other games, including Age of Empires IV (2021, French civilization) and Diablo Immortal (2022).[12][13]

He lives and works in Los Angeles, where he moved after graduation.[4][14] He began his career in 2004, scoring and composing music for TV programs and films, and then expanded to the gaming industry, scoring the trailer for Dark Souls II in 2014.[5][15] He is also a music producer, working from his own studio, founded in Los Angeles in 2006.[1][16] In 2017, he composed the soundtrack for the opening ceremony of the Hannover Messe world trade fair in Germany.[17] His video game music has won him awards and critical acclaim.[15][18] In 2024, Matt Leone wrote on the gaming website Polygon that he established himself as one of the strongest musical talents in the industry.[19]

## Selected works

[edit]

### Video games

[edit]

Year  | Game  | Developer

|
|

2014  | MouseCraft | Crunching Koalas
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter | The Astronauts
The Witcher Adventure Game | CD Projekt Red, Can Explode Games
2015  | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | CD Projekt Red
2017  | Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 | CI Games
Gwent: The Witcher Card Game | CD Projekt Red
2018  | Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales | CD Projekt Red
Kursk  [uk] | Jujubee
Attack of the Earthlings | Team Junkfish
Detached: Non-VR Edition | Anshar Studios
2019  | Bee Simulator  [pl] | Varsav Game Studios
2019  | Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts | CI Games
2020  | Metamorphosis | Ovid Works
2021  | Chernobylite | The Farm 51
Age of Empires IV | Relic Entertainment, World's Edge
2022  | Diablo Immortal | Blizzard Entertainment, NetEase
2024  | Nobody Wants to Die | Critical Hit Games
2025  | Assassin's Creed Jade | Ubisoft

### Television

[edit]

* Breakthrough with Tony Robbins (2010)
* Baby Boomer Bunnies (2011)
* Paradoks (2012)
* Without Secrets (2012–2013)
* Zbrodnia (2014–2015)
* Kaprys losu (2016)
* The Liberator (2020)
* Capelli Code (2021)
* Queen (2022)

### Film

[edit]

* Hired Gun (2009)
* Modjeska – Woman Triumphant (2009)
* Wonderful Summer (2010)
* Marchewkowe pole (2016)
* Over the Limit (2017)
* Dangerous Words from the Fearless (2017)
* Diplodocus (2024)
* The Boy at the Edge of the World (2025)

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Result  | Award  | Category  | Work  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

2014  | Won  | Annual Game Music Awards  | Best Score Orchestral / Cinematic;
Outstanding Contribution – Newcomer of the Year  | The Vanishing of Ethan Carter | [20]
2015  | Nominated  | 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition  | [21]
Nominated  | Game Developers Choice Awards | Best Audio  | [22]
Nominated  | Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Best Original Score – Video Game  | [23]
Nominated  | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Won  | NAVGTR Awards | Original Dramatic Score, Franchise  | [24]
Won  | Best of IGN | Best Original Music  | [25]
Nominated  | The Game Awards | Best Score / Soundtrack  | [26]
Won  | PlayStation.Blog Game of the Year Awards  | Best Soundtrack  | [27]
Won  | Global Game Awards  | Best Audio  | [28]
2019  | Won  | Digital Dragons Awards  | Best Game Soundtrack  | Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales | [29]
2020  | Won  | Music+Sound Awards  | Best Original Composition in Gaming  | Bee Simulator  [pl] | [30]
Nominated  | Game Audio Network Guild Awards | Best Original Instrumental;
Best Music in a Casual Game;
Best Original Soundtrack Album  | [31]
Won  | Best Music for an Indie Game  | [32]
2021  | Nominated  | Metamorphosis | [33]
Nominated  | Music of the Year
Won  | Society of Composers & Lyricists | Outstanding Original Score for Interactive Media  | [34]
2022  | Won  | Canadian Game Awards  | Best Score / Soundtrack  | Age of Empires IV | [35]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "'Cudowne lato': twórcy. Mikołaj Stroiński". interia.pl (in Polish). 20 January 2011. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
2. ^ Lech, Filip (7 October 2022). "How I Composed Music for 'The Witcher': An Interview with Mikołaj Stroiński". culture.pl. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
3. ^ Penney, Andrew (16 October 2020). "How Mikolai Stroinski And Garry Schyman Created An Enchanting Score For Metamorphosis". thegamer.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
4. ^ a b Idaczek, Małgorzata (2 July 2008). "Mikołaj Stroiński kompozytor muzyki filmowej w Piasecznie". powiat-piaseczynski.info (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
5. ^ a b c Tylec, Grzegorz (25 July 2008). "Z Zalesia do Los Angeles". kurierpoludniowy.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
6. ^ "Royal Rag Jazz Band". bibliotekapiosenki.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
7. ^ "Nominees for original score for interactive media". copcomm.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
8. ^ "Mikołaj Stroiński, kompozytor". wyborcza.pl (in Polish). 19 October 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
9. ^ Lech, Filip. "Mikołaj Stroiński". culture.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
10. ^ Remington, Kate (29 November 2019). "Mikolai Stroinski's Light-As-Air Soundtrack For 'Bee Simulator'". wshu.org. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
11. ^ Banas, Graham (22 October 2020). "Interview: Transforming with Metamorphosis Composers Mikolai Stroinski and Garry Schyman". pushsquare.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
12. ^ Gardiner, Lin (30 March 2023). "The Music of Age of Empires IV". audiokinetic.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
13. ^ Kaufmann, Andy (18 September 2024). "Video Game Composers Discussion 2024". musicconnection.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
14. ^ "Award-Winning Composer Mikolai Stroinski Joins CI Games' Sniper Ghost Warrior Development Team". cogconnected.com. 23 November 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
15. ^ a b Hughes, Sam (1 July 2015). "Interview with Composer Mikolai Stroinski". thesoundarchitect.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
16. ^ "Mikołaj Stroiński". sfp.org.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
17. ^ "Unique spectacle of Polish young artists". baletcolor.pl. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
18. ^ Savery, Richard (26 January 2016). "Mikolai Stroinski discusses The Witcher 3". audiogang.org. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
19. ^ Leone, Matt (7 August 2024). "Witcher 3 composer Mikolai Stroinski begins work on each game by 'going on a date'". polygon.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
20. ^ "Game Music Accolades For Stroinski". usc.edu. 1 February 2015. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
21. ^ "2015 Awards Category Details. Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition". interactive.org. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
22. ^ Haas, Pete (9 January 2015). "GDC Awards 2015 Nominees Announced". cinemablend.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
23. ^ Feinberg, Scott (20 October 2015). "Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Sam Smith, Lady Gaga, Brian Wilson Among Nominees". hollywoodreporter.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
24. ^ "2015 Winners". navgtr.org. 21 March 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
25. ^ "IGN Best of 2015. Best Original Music Winner". ign.com. 8 January 2016. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
26. ^ Sarkar, Samit (13 November 2015). "Here are the nominees for The Game Awards 2015". polygon.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
27. ^ Masongill, Justin (12 January 2016). "Winners: PlayStation.Blog 2015 Game of the Year Awards". playstation.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
28. ^ "Global Games Awards. The Witcher III". game-debate.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
29. ^ "2019 Digital Dragons Awards". digitaldragons.pl. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
30. ^ "The Music+Sound Awards Best Original Composition 2020 Winners". masawards.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
31. ^ Cristi, A.A. (13 February 2020). "Game Audio Network Guild Announces 18th Annual G.A.N.G. Award Nominees". broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
32. ^ "2020 G.A.N.G Awards". audiogang.org. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
33. ^ Ferme, Antonio (28 April 2021). "G.A.N.G. Awards Winners: 'The Last of Us Part II' Leads With Eight Wins". variety.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
34. ^ "SCL Awards". thescl.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
35. ^ "Canadian Game Awards 2022 Winners". cgameawards.ca. 4 July 2022. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (in English)
* Mikolai Stroinski on SoundCloud
* Mikolai Stroinski at IMDb
* Mikolai Stroinski in Polish Internet Movie Database  (in Polish)

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Poland

Artists|

* MusicBrainz