Edward Knoeckel (b. 1979) is a multi stylistic pianist and composer who has performed on three continents and whose compositions have been featured on numerous national and international stages. He has written for a wide range of ensembles and styles to include choral, wind ensemble, chamber, big band, musical theater, and over a dozen independent films in the states and Lebanon. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by the Hartford Symphony, New Haven Symphony, University of Connecticut Symphony, and the George Mason University Wind Ensemble. As a film composer his scores have won awards at the Middletown Independent Film Festival and the Bentonville International Film Festival. He was the composer for the U.S. Air Force’s Holiday in Blue PBS special.
As a composer for the concert stage he has written for a wide range of ensembles and styles with performances by the Grammy winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird, baritone Richard Novak, soprano Jolie Rock-Brown, and the Dimensions in Blue Air Force big band.
As a pianist, he was the house pianist at the Grand Floridian Hotel at Disney World, keyboardist with the Downtown Disney Band. He has performed with the Puerto Rico Symphony, the Coast Guard Band, the President’s Own Marine Band, and recorded with Latin music artist Dan Salazar and the Ray González Latin Big Band Guakía. He served in the U.S. Air Force as an active-duty pianist in the U.S. Air Force Band of the West performing at international jazz festivals and with jazz artists such as Wyclif Gordon and Bob Reynolds. He serves in the 29th Div. Virginia Army National Guard Band.
He has taught community college and university courses on theory, composition, jazz performance, film music theory and appreciation. His research areas of interest are in the intersection of music theory and narrative analysis with particular attention on teleological expressions in film scores. His research on film music theory has been presented at national conferences for the Society of Music Theory, the Society of Composers, Inc. and at the National Archives in Washington, DC. As an author he has had peer reviewed articles published on film music analysis, sound design, and online music course design. His book, Music in Motion Pictures: A Guide to the Art and Craft of Film Music is published by Kendall-Hunt Publishing.
He is an instructor at Virginia Tech in music theory and at George Mason University on film music. He lives with his wife, three children and German Shorthair Pointer in Blacksburg where a “good day checklist” includes making music, going on adventures in the woods, reading a good book, and cooking.
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