Student Spotlight: Sebastien Hollich

What’s it like to study at Berklee? Our Student Spotlight series asks current students all about their Berklee experience—what they’re learning in class, what kinds of projects they’re involved in onstage or behind the scenes, how they recharge, and of course, what they’re listening to. In this installment, get to know trombonist Sebastien Hollich, a fifth-semester film and media scoring major from West Lafayette, Indiana. 

Sebastien was part of the 2025 Red Bull Scoring Challenge. You can follow him on Instagram, LinkedIn, and his website.

Tell us about your path to Berklee. What made you decide to come here?

I’ve been absolutely obsessed with becoming a professional film composer since around the end of 9th grade (the beginning of quarantine). So, when it came time to search for colleges, I was really interested in finding somewhere that would offer a great film scoring program. There were a couple different schools I had in mind, but ultimately Berklee’s program is one of the most substantial and successful in the country. And I’m so glad I made that decision because so far the experience has been incredibly fulfilling!  

What's been your favorite class so far, and what has it taught you?

I have a couple, but I would say the favorite would have to be my Intro to Composition and Orchestration for Media Composers class, taught by Akram Haddad. Even though I had taught myself a lot about film scoring before getting to Berklee, Akram was able to expand my knowledge even further from what I had been able to do on my own. In a way, he has served as a mentor for me, and we’ve had some amazing one-on-one conversations about the industry, composition and orchestration techniques, sample library production, and so many other topics. I’m so grateful to have met him! 

What's a project you've worked on since coming to Berklee that you've been especially excited about?

Hands down, the most exciting project has to be the 2025 Red Bull Scoring Challenge. I had the opportunity, along with nine other students from Berklee and the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts, to have my music recorded and performed by the Synchron Orchestra at the amazing Synchron Stage in Vienna, Austria. Each of us got to write a hybrid cinematic cue for Red Bull, which were then orchestrated by world-class Hollywood orchestrators and recorded at the Synchron Stage, which is the studio responsible for recording the soundtracks for projects like Captain America: Brave New World, Guardians of the Galaxy, Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Fortnite, Hawkeye, and so many other amazing projects. While writing this, I’m actually sitting in my hotel room in Vienna. I’m so grateful to all of the amazing people who helped with making this project a success, and I can’t even begin to express how heartwarming this project has been. I feel like all of us have gotten so close and have had so much fun doing what we all love, making music. It is an experience that I will be dreaming about for years to come. Stay tuned for the album coming soon!

How do you typically recharge or find new ideas outside of class?

I really enjoy going on walks around Boston. For me, it’s a great way to just relax and enjoy the amazing atmosphere in Back Bay, especially when the weather is nice. I like to call myself a “moody” composer, meaning that in order for me to write a specific kind of cue, I have to be in a similar headspace. So, if I am wanting to write an action cue, I like to listen to music that gets me into that mindset, most likely something loud and with a lot of percussion or brass. I listen to soundtracks a lot, but I also listen to a solid amount of EDM and pop. Within those three genres, I can normally find something that will help me get into the mood I’m looking for. 

When you think towards your own future, who inspires you most?

It’s a bit of a cheesy answer, but I’m inspired by all of the great film composers working in Hollywood today. I look up to all of them. I think each film composer has a unique voice that they use to tell stories, and I really hope to be able to tell similar stories using my own. Some of the most impactful composers for me have to be Lorne Balfe, Hans Zimmer, John Powell, Brian Tyler, Natalie Holt, and Ramin Djawadi, to name a few. Listening to the music that they all write on a regular basis is so inspiring, and when I watch the films or TV shows that correlate with that music, it's even more inspiring, because now the full story and vision comes into view. Filmmaking is such a creative process, and the music for those projects can make all the difference. I only hope to make as much of a difference as they all have in my own career.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to your high school self?

Always be grateful for the opportunities that come your way, and never be afraid to take them. You will never know unless you say yes and do it. Even if it’s super scary, you have to say yes to those opportunities or they may never come around again. And never give up. Road blocks are part of the journey, and if you allow yourself to be intimidated by them, you’ll end up regretting it in the end. 

Sebastien Hollich's Top Five Film and Game Scores

"Everything Is Connected," Lorne Balfe (from the series Genius)

On top of being a trombone player, I also play a lot of percussion! This track kind of tickles my brain because it’s so rhythmic and it really demonstrates the power of simplicity.

"Tick Tock," Hans Zimmer (from the film Interstellar)

I have to throw in something from Interstellar. It is just one of those soundtracks that will forever be iconic, and I think this track really carries the weight of the film on its shoulders.

"Deluxe Train Heist," John Powell and John Williams (from the film Solo)

The Johns write absolutely stunning music. Every. Single. Time. This is just a masterpiece in scoring and orchestration.

"His Dark Materials," Lorne Balfe (from the series His Dark Materials)

And this is the track that got me into film music! So modern and such a singable melody, something about this track just flipped the film scoring light switch for me. And as a full circle moment, the soundtrack was recorded at the Synchron Stage, the same place and same orchestra who just recorded my music for the Red Bull Scoring Challenge.

"Fast Five," Brian Tyler (from the film Fast Five)

Such a fun track! I think it really captures the vibe of The Fast and the Furious, and it’s so percussive and heavy!