Mikolai Stroinski

Mikolai Stroinski
Born
Mikołaj Stroiński

(1979-06-03) 3 June 1979
Nairobi, Kenya
OriginLos Angeles, California, US
Genres
OccupationsComposer, music producer
Years active2004–present
Websitemikolaistroinski.com Edit this at Wikidata

Mikolai Stroinski (or Mikołaj Stroiński, Polish pronunciation: [miˈkɔwaj strɔˈiɲskʲi]; born 3 June 1979)[1] is a Polish film, television, and video game composer.[2][3] He is best known for composing music for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt,[4] The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, Age of Empires IV, Metamorphosis, Diablo Immortal, and Nobody Wants to Die.[5] His work has received international recognition through awards from the Society of Composers & Lyricists, the Game Audio Network Guild, Digital Dragons,D.I.C.E and IGN the Canadian Game Awards, and other organizations.[6]

Life and career

He comes from a musical family.[7] His father, Wojciech Stroiński, was a trumpeter and pianist in the Royal Rag Jazz Band in Poland (1969–1981).[8][9] Mikolai was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and grew up in Warsaw and Zalesie Górne near the Polish capital.[8][10] He graduated from the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice and the Berklee College of Music (2001) in Boston (2004), where he studied film scoring and jazz piano under Ray Santisi.[1][11]

Career

Early work

After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Stroinski settled in Los Angeles and established a music production studio. During the early stages of his career he composed and produced music for American television networks including CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, Discovery Channel, History Channel, TLC, Spike TV, Lifetime, Animal Planet, and the CW.[7] His music was used in numerous reality, documentary, and entertainment programs, including The Apprentice, Survivor, Kitchen Nightmares, Hell's Kitchen, Big Brother, Pawn Stars, and America's Next Top Model. He worked with David Vanacore for those shows.[12][8]

He also worked on film and television productions in both Europe and North America, composing scores for feature films, documentaries, and television dramas. Among his early projects were Wonderful Summer, Modjeska – Woman Triumphant, Hired Gun, Paradoks, Bez Tajemnic (the Polish adaptation of ''In Treatment''), and Zbrodnia.[1][13]

Video game music

Stroinski's international profile increased substantially through his work in the video game industry. His score for The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (2014) received critical acclaim and established him as one of the leading composers working in narrative-driven games.[14]

In 2015 he served as one of the principal composers of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, collaborating with Marcin Przybyłowicz and contributing several of the game's best-known musical themes.[15] He later composed music for the acclaimed expansion Blood and Wine (2016), helping shape the musical identity of the duchy of Toussaint. The soundtrack received widespread praise and contributed to the game's numerous industry awards.[5]

Following the success of The Witcher 3, Stroiński composed music for a diverse range of titles, including GWENT, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, Sniper Ghost Warrior 3, Bee Simulator,[16] Metamorphosis,[17] Chernobylite, Age of Empires IV,[18] Diablo Immortal,[19] and Nobody Wants to Die. His work is characterized by the integration of orchestral writing, ethnic instrumentation, electronic textures, and thematic storytelling.[20][21]

In the 2020s he continued to compose for major international productions, including Riot Games' League of Legends, Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo Immortal, and Rebel Wolves' The Blood of Dawnwalker.[20][22]

Animation

Animation has become a focus of Stroinski's career. He has composed scores for animated feature films including Diplodocus (released in the United States as The Green Dinosaur), The Boy at the Edge of the World,[23] and Wonderland, starring Mads Mikkelsen. He is also composing the score for the upcoming Moss, which is currently in production.

Film and television

Alongside his game work, Stroinski has an active career in film and television. His credits include documentary, dramatic, and animated productions such as Over the Limit,[24][25] Dangerous Words from the Fearless,[26] The Liberator, Queen, Diplodocus, and The Boy at the Edge of the World. His music has been featured in productions distributed by Netflix and other international broadcasters.[5]

Musical style and influences

Stroinski's compositions frequently combine large-scale orchestral writing with folk, jazz, electronic, and world-music influences. Critics have noted his ability to create highly atmospheric musical environments that support narrative storytelling while maintaining strong melodic identities. His work often emphasizes cultural specificity, particularly in historical and fantasy settings, while employing contemporary production techniques.[2]

His scores for The Witcher series are particularly noted for their use of Slavic musical influences and regional instrumentation, while later projects such as Age of Empires IV and Diablo Immortal demonstrate a broader global and historical palette.[21]

Selected works

Video games

Year Game Developer
2014 MouseCraft Crunching Koalas
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter The Astronauts
The Witcher Adventure Game CD Projekt Red, Can Explode Games
2015 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt CD Projekt Red
2017 Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 CI Games
Gwent: The Witcher Card Game CD Projekt Red
2018 Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales CD Projekt Red
Kursk  Jujubee
Attack of the Earthlings Team Junkfish
Detached: Non-VR Edition Anshar Studios
2019 Bee Simulator  Varsav Game Studios
2019 Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts CI Games
2020 Metamorphosis Ovid Works
2021 Chernobylite The Farm 51
Age of Empires IV Relic Entertainment, World's Edge
2022 Diablo Immortal Blizzard Entertainment, NetEase
2024 Nobody Wants to Die Critical Hit Games
2025 Assassin's Creed Jade Ubisoft
2026 The Blood of Dawnwalker Rebel Wolves, Bandai Namco Entertainment

Television

  • Breakthrough with Tony Robbins (2010)
  • Baby Boomer Bunnies (2011)
  • Paradoks (2012)
  • Without Secrets (2012–2013)
  • Zbrodnia (2014–2015)
  • Kaprys losu (2016)
  • The Liberator (2020)
  • Capelli Code (2021)
  • Queen (2022)

Film

  • Hired Gun (2009)
  • Modjeska – Woman Triumphant (2009)
  • Wonderful Summer (2010)
  • Marchewkowe pole (2016)
  • Over the Limit (2017)
  • Dangerous Words from the Fearless (2017)
  • Diplo: The Mighty Dinosaur (2024)
  • The Boy at the Edge of the World (2025)

Awards and nominations

Year Result Award Category Work Ref.
2014 Won Annual Game Music Awards Best Score Orchestral / Cinematic;
Outstanding Contribution – Newcomer of the Year		 The Vanishing of Ethan Carter [27]
2015 Nominated 18th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition [28]
Nominated Game Developers Choice Awards Best Audio [29]
Nominated Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Original Score – Video Game [30]
Nominated The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Won NAVGTR Awards Original Dramatic Score, Franchise [31]
Won Best of IGN Best Original Music [32]
Nominated The Game Awards Best Score / Soundtrack [33]
Won PlayStation.Blog Game of the Year Awards Best Soundtrack [34]
Won Global Game Awards Best Audio [35]
2019 Won Digital Dragons Awards Best Game Soundtrack Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales [36]
2020 Won Music+Sound Awards Best Original Composition in Gaming Bee Simulator  [37]
Nominated Game Audio Network Guild Awards Best Original Instrumental;
Best Music in a Casual Game;
Best Original Soundtrack Album		 [38]
Won Best Music for an Indie Game [39]
2021 Nominated Metamorphosis [40]
Nominated Music of the Year
Won Society of Composers & Lyricists Outstanding Original Score for Interactive Media [41]
2022 Won Canadian Game Awards Best Score / Soundtrack Age of Empires IV [42]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "'Cudowne lato': twórcy. Mikołaj Stroiński". interia.pl (in Polish). 20 January 2011. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  2. 1 2 Lech, Filip (7 October 2022). "How I Composed Music for 'The Witcher': An Interview with Mikołaj Stroiński". culture.pl. Retrieved 10 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ↑ Penney, Andrew (16 October 2020). "How Mikolai Stroinski And Garry Schyman Created An Enchanting Score For Metamorphosis". thegamer.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  4. ↑ "How I Composed Music for The Witcher: An Interview with Mikołaj Stroiński". Culture.pl. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Mikołaj Stroiński | Życie i twórczość | Artysta". Culture.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Mikołaj Stroiński wystąpi w Narodowym Forum Muzyki". gry.interia.pl (in Polish). 12 April 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 Idaczek, Małgorzata (2 July 2008). "Mikołaj Stroiński kompozytor muzyki filmowej w Piasecznie". powiat-piaseczynski.info (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 Tylec, Grzegorz (25 July 2008). "Z Zalesia do Los Angeles". kurierpoludniowy.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 17 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  9. ↑ "Royal Rag Jazz Band". bibliotekapiosenki.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  10. ↑ "Nominees for original score for interactive media". copcomm.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Mikołaj Stroiński, kompozytor". wyborcza.pl (in Polish). 19 October 2018. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  12. ↑ "Award-Winning Composer Mikolai Stroinski Joins CI Games' Sniper Ghost Warrior Development Team". cogconnected.com. 23 November 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  13. ↑ "Mikołaj Stroiński". sfp.org.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  14. ↑ "Composer Mikolai Stroinski previews 'Ethan Carter'". www.yourclassical.org. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "Mikołaj Stroiński". Culture.pl. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Remington, Kate (29 November 2019). "Mikolai Stroinski's Light-As-Air Soundtrack For 'Bee Simulator'". wshu.org. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  17. ↑ Banas, Graham (22 October 2020). "Interview: Transforming with Metamorphosis Composers Mikolai Stroinski and Garry Schyman". pushsquare.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  18. ↑ Gardiner, Lin (30 March 2023). "The Music of Age of Empires IV". audiokinetic.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  19. ↑ Kaufmann, Andy (18 September 2024). "Video Game Composers Discussion 2024". musicconnection.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  20. 1 2 Hughes, Sam (1 July 2015). "Interview with Composer Mikolai Stroinski". thesoundarchitect.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  21. 1 2 Leone, Matt (7 August 2024). "Witcher 3 composer Mikolai Stroinski begins work on each game by 'going on a date'". polygon.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  22. ↑ Savery, Richard (26 January 2016). "Mikolai Stroinski discusses The Witcher 3". audiogang.org. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  23. ↑ "The Boy at the Edge of the World". poff.ee. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "OVER THE LIMIT". Polish Film Festival in America. 19 November 2023. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  25. ↑ Over the Limit Soundtrack 2018 – Complete List of Songs. Retrieved 16 July 2026 – via www.soundtrakd.com.
  26. ↑ "Mikołaj Stroiński". www.filmbooster.com. Retrieved 16 July 2026.
  27. ↑ "Game Music Accolades For Stroinski". usc.edu. 1 February 2015. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  28. ↑ "2015 Awards Category Details. Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition". interactive.org. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  29. ↑ Haas, Pete (9 January 2015). "GDC Awards 2015 Nominees Announced". cinemablend.com. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  30. ↑ Feinberg, Scott (20 October 2015). "Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Sam Smith, Lady Gaga, Brian Wilson Among Nominees". hollywoodreporter.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  31. ↑ "2015 Winners". navgtr.org. 21 March 2016. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  32. ↑ "IGN Best of 2015. Best Original Music Winner". ign.com. 8 January 2016. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  33. ↑ Sarkar, Samit (13 November 2015). "Here are the nominees for The Game Awards 2015". polygon.com. Archived from the original on 16 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  34. ↑ Masongill, Justin (12 January 2016). "Winners: PlayStation.Blog 2015 Game of the Year Awards". playstation.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  35. ↑ "Global Games Awards. The Witcher III". game-debate.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  36. ↑ "2019 Digital Dragons Awards". digitaldragons.pl. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  37. ↑ "The Music+Sound Awards Best Original Composition 2020 Winners". masawards.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  38. ↑ Cristi, A.A. (13 February 2020). "Game Audio Network Guild Announces 18th Annual G.A.N.G. Award Nominees". broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  39. ↑ "2020 G.A.N.G Awards". audiogang.org. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  40. ↑ Ferme, Antonio (28 April 2021). "G.A.N.G. Awards Winners: 'The Last of Us Part II' Leads With Eight Wins". variety.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  41. ↑ "SCL Awards". thescl.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  42. ↑ "Canadian Game Awards 2022 Winners". cgameawards.ca. 4 July 2022. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  43. Lech, Filip. "Mikołaj Stroiński". culture.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 September 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  44. "Unique spectacle of Polish young artists". baletcolor.pl. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
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