Matthew M. Nielson is an award-winning composer, sound designer, songwriter, and audio storyteller based in the Washington, DC area. His work spans film, television, theatre, games, podcasts, and immersive media—combining craft, technology, and storytelling to create deeply human sonic worlds.
His music and sound design for film have been heard at festivals across the U.S. and internationally. He has scored and designed more than two dozen short films, documentaries, and feature narratives, including A Sleepover Story, Fire’s Daughter, Death in Time, Londinium, Elbow Grease, Blue, and Netflix Behind the Scenes featurettes. His television and commercial work includes branding for Epix Drive-In and Spike TV, with clients such as Delivery.com, NBA, UFC on FOX, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, NBC Sports, and HomeTrust Bank.
In theatre, Nielson has designed, composed, orchestrated, and written songs for hundreds of productions nationwide, with credits including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Guthrie Theater, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Portland Center Stage, Baltimore Center Stage, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Dallas Theater Center, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Delaware Theatre Company, Barrington Stage, NC Stage, Triad Stage, Ford’s Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth, Signature Theatre, the Kennedy Center, Round House Theatre, Folger Theatre, and many others. Off-Broadway credits include Shakespeare’s Villains and Lackawanna Blues at The Public Theater.
Over the course of his career, Nielson has co-founded and led several acclaimed audio ventures:
The Audible Group (now Listenably) – a pioneering audio theatre company that produced original and classic works for charity, including A Child’s Christmas in Wales and The Gift of the Magi, as well as the dramatic audio series Troublesome Gap.
Sound Lab Studios – a full-service audio post-production facility serving film, television, and industrial.
The Curious Music Company – a boutique production music library and custom music house for broadcast and digital media.
Third Rail Audio – specializing in audio design, interactive storytelling, and immersive sound and music experiences for the gaming world.
Nielson’s work has been recognized with several Helen Hayes Awards and many more nominations, along with honors from the League of Cincinnati Theatres, the Barrymore Awards, and BroadwayWorld.com.
He is currently developing several original storytelling projects, including:
The Clockmaker’s Son – a new musical blending heart, time, and craftsmanship
Troublesome Gap – an Appalachian supernatural mystery audio drama.
Mind Emeriti – a satirical narrative audio variety show