Composer Mark Smythe, who was nominated in 2023 for a Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) Award and World Soundtrack Award for scoring The Reef: Stalked, died May 9 after collapsing while hiking on Mt. Wilson in Los Angeles. He was 53.
Smythe was a beloved member of the film and TV composing community and in addition to his work as a musician, he served as the Society of Composers and Lyricists’ chief operating officer from 2018-2021, after a stint as Los Angeles administrator.
“To say that his loss comes as a profound shock to our community, especially to his students, collaborators, and friends, is an understatement,” said SCL president Ashley Irwin.
Smythe was born in New Zealand, then moved to Australia before coming to Los Angeles in 2013. In addition to the SCL and World Soundtrack nominations, he received three Hollywood Music in Media Award nominations for scoring films Unfallen, Flying South and The Things She Did. His score for Daddy’s Little Girl earned him the Australian Screen Industry Network award for best composer in 2012.
“Beyond his professional accomplishments, people genuinely enjoyed Mark’s company, as evidenced by the current outpouring of love for him on social media,” said SCL president Ashley Irwin. “He had a wry sense of humor and an infectious laugh that could light up a room. Exceptionally generous with his time and energy, he had a way of making everyone feel welcome, whether they were longtime SCL members or attending their initial event. For many, Mark was the first friend they made at the SCL. Those who knew Mark will never forget being greeted with his favorite line: ‘I’m all the better for seeing your smiling face.’”
Australian music rights management organization APRA AMCOS also paid tribute to Smythe on its Instagram page. Smythe “became an APRA member in 2004 and was also a beloved colleague to many in our Melbourne office, where he worked as client and legal liaison for four years in the early 2000s before heading to Los Angeles to pursue film and concert composing full-time,” posted the organization.”
APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston added, “Mark’s passing is a great loss to the screen composing world and to the musical communities he was such a meaningful part of. He is remembered very fondly by his former APRA AMCOS colleagues for the positive spirit he brought to work every day – both at the office and in his music.
In addition to composing, at the time of his death, Smythe was teaching media composition at California State University, Northridge, as well as Department Head of Composing for Visual Media at the Los Angeles College of Music.
“Many composers in our community had the privilege of learning from Mark, and remember him not only as a great teacher, but as someone who believed in them personally,” Irwin said.
Smythe was also composing choral works and had collaborated with the LA Choral Lab on several projects.
Among the survivors are Smythe’s sister, Kate Ward-Smythe.
