When film composer John Carey ‘11 returns to Capital University in March for the 14th annual Sound and Media Workshop, it’s more than a guest appearance, it’s a homecoming. A Columbus native and Capital alumnus, Carey’s journey from Central Ohio movie lover to working Hollywood composer is a story rooted in curiosity and a deep love of music in cinema.
Carey didn’t grow up expecting a career in music. In fact, he describes himself as a late bloomer. While composing music wasn’t central to his childhood, movies certainly were. Films like “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” “Jurassic Park,” and “Home Alone” were on constant repeat, and although he didn’t realize it at the time, the sweeping scores by John Williams were quietly leaving their mark.
“Unbeknownst to me as a kid, loving these movies, that music was rooting itself in me as something that I would notice. I would always hum the theme and the music,” said Carey. “When it came time to go to college and figure out what I wanted to do with my life, it became clear to me that this music thing that I was recently getting into as a guitar player, writing my own songs, it seemed like a great and obvious choice.”
It wasn’t until high school that music truly clicked, sparked initially by heavy metal and guitar. Capital became the place where those interests converged. Enrolling as a composition major, Carey immersed himself fully, studying theory, singing in choir, collaborating with peers, and learning the discipline required to create music day after day.
“Capital gave me both the technical skill set and the mindset,” he says. “It wasn’t just about learning how to write music. It was about learning how to work hard, manage time, collaborate, and commit fully to the process. It’s four years of immersing yourself in musical experiences.”
Those lessons, both in and out of the classroom, were shaped by dedicated faculty and ensemble experiences, and laid the groundwork for a career in one of the most competitive creative industries.
After graduating in 2011, Carey took his next leap, moving to Los Angeles to attend USC’s prestigious Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program. There, he learned directly from working composers and began building industry connections. Like many emerging artists, his early days involved balancing creative ambition with day jobs, but persistence paid off. In 2013, Carey landed a position at the studio of acclaimed composer Brian Tyler, known for major blockbusters including “Fast & Furious,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
What began as an entry level role quickly evolved. Within a year, Carey was contributing creatively as a composer and arranger, eventually working full time on large-scale orchestral scores.
Today, he continues that work while also composing independently for documentaries and feature films. Most recently, Carey has been deeply involved in scoring “Super Mario Galaxy: The Movie,” a project he describes as a “dream gig,” one that blends nostalgia, musical complexity, and the kind of orchestral storytelling he fell in love with as a student at Capital.
“I'd like to continue growing as a composer and a person, you know, just learning all the ins and outs of all the new technology that's coming our way, which is vast,” said Carey. “I feel really gratified and satisfied by my career, and so it's really just to have it keep going, just to continue doing what I'm doing.”
In his success, Carey remains closely tied to Central Ohio and to Capital. He returns to visit family and friends regularly and describes having “two homes,” Los Angeles and Ohio. Coming back to campus for the Sound and Media Workshop is especially meaningful.
For students questioning their path, Carey offers reassurance. Doubt, he says, is normal and not a sign of failure.
“It’s okay to try something fully and then change your mind. You learn by doing. College is about exploration, and there’s no single timeline for success.”
As he steps back onto campus, Carey hopes students will soak it all in.
“It goes by so fast,” he says. “Those four years shape you in ways you don’t realize until later. it's wild. You blink, and then it's your fourth year.”
At the Sound and Media Workshop, Carey’s story will resonate not just as a tale of professional achievement, but as proof that big-screen dreams can start at Capital, one class, one collaboration, and one inspired student at a time.
To learn more about Capital’s Sound and Media Workshop, visit https://www.capital.edu/student-life/arts-and-culture/annual-events/sound-and-media-workshop/.