biography
Charles-Henri Avelange is an award-winning composer of music for film and television residing in Los Angeles, CA.
"I never really think of myself as 'only a musician' per se, but also as a filmmaker in charge of the music department" he says.
His most recent work includes creating for the first time in history the official theme for the Make-A-Wish® Foundation titled ONE WISH. Scoring the original book soundtrack for the New York Times Best-Selling fantasy book series THE BLACK PRISM written by author Brent Weeks. The Hollywood Music in Media Awards-winning album THE OEUVRE OF LEON OURY, inspired by the paintings of his ancestor Leon Oury (1846-1929). The one-hour Sci-Fi TV series pilot RENEGADES: OMINARA, Directed by Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager; Star Trek: Picard…) and starring the late Sci-Fi legend Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek: The Original Series; Deadpool…)—in what was her last screen appearance. The Amazon Prime limited Sci-Fi series NOBILITY, starring Doug Jones (Star Trek: Discovery), Chris Judge (Stargate: SG-1), Star Trek's original Chekov Walter Koenig and many more Sci-Fi luminaries; the score for the contemporary Sci-Fi drama feature film SIMPLE CREATURE starring Russell Hodgkinson (Z-Nation) and the supernatural western SIX GUN SAVIOR starring Eric Roberts (Expendables), Martin Kove (The Karate Kid) and guest starring Tim Russ (Star Trek: Picard)
Charles-Henri grew up in the French Côte d'Azur, a stone's throw from the Cannes Film Festival. Son of a colonel in the French army and diplomat for the French government, his parents' activity led him to live in various places around the world, including four years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the last year of which was during the first Gulf War. He spent seven years in a 12th century Knight Templar castle in Southwest France, the dungeon of which harbored the last species of giant bats in Europe.
It's in this setting that Charles-Henri's passion for creating music started. At first using digital keyboards available at home, his dedication to the craft led him into discovering the world of analog synthesizers used by some of his heroes such as Vangelis and Jean-Michel Jarre. He often performed live at private events and parties, being the one-man-orchestra surrounded by a sea of keyboards and mixing consoles. His music was always inspired by his favorite TV shows, films and video games, which led him to go yet into another realm of composition: orchestral music. He felt in love with the power produced by large ensemble of musicians and became master for merging seamlessly his first love of MOOG type analog synthesis with the organic and acoustic sound of a symphonic orchestra.
He studied at the renowned private film school ESRA Nice Côte d'Azur, in Nice, France. He holds a Master's degree in sound engineering, sound design, music & film production and business from the Institut Supérieure des Techniques du Son (Higher Institute of Sound Techniques). Charles-Henri was also taught all the various aspects of filmmaking, getting to work with cameras, preparing cinematography, performing grip duties, film editing etc... He graduated in 2004 with honors and is recognized as a Notable Alumnus of the school. Charles-Henri's example led the school to create a special section for teaching film scoring.
After working as a sound engineer in Paris, a project with Microsoft and his passion for film music brought Charles-Henri across the Atlantic to America. He made his name in Seattle, WA by the uniqueness of being a full-time film and television composer based in Washington state.
Since 2009, he is the official composer of the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), and his music plays every year at their prestigious Opening Night. In 2012 Charles-Henri created The SIFF Orchestra, a 60-piece orchestra, to perform his Opening Night Overture, putting the festival on the map as the only award ceremony in film outside of Los Angeles to present with a live orchestra.
Charles-Henri's experiences in America inspired him to create his first album titled "The Age of Heroes," a passionate testament to everyday American heroes. It was performed in concert by The Everett Symphony Orchestra in 2010. He has since offered his compositions from Age of Heroes to use at charitable events. Many non-profit organizations have benefited from Charles-Henri's music including the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (W.S.C.F.F), the Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course, the Dorothy Jane Foundation and the Volunteers of America. General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters (I.A.F.F) Harold Schaitberger, and Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire have recognized Charles-Henri's music.
While in Seattle, Charles-Henri enjoyed composing music for Microsoft, the University of Washington, the cities of Seattle and Bellevue and Woodland Park Zoo. He offered workshops in film composition for The Film School created by Seattle filmmaker luminaries such as director Rick Stevenson (Flash Gordon, Magic in The Water), John Jacobsen (The Artist Toolbox, Around The Fire) and actor Tom Skerritt (MASH, Top Gun).
His successes led to his first Los Angeles projects with the Hallmark Channel. In 2011 and 2012, Charles-Henri scored the animated TV specials titled "Hallmark: Jingle All The Way" and "Jingle and Bell's Christmas Star." Both films are aired in primetime on NBC’s Peacock streaming platform during the holidays and are sold in every Hallmark Crown Stores in the U.S and Canada.
Since 2013, Charles-Henri and his wife Jennifer are now living and working in Santa Monica, California.