MAI
NGUYEN VAN

Mai Nguyen Van is a London-based film and TV composer, most recently part of the composers’ team at Primerchord, where she worked on a wide range of American and Australian TV productions, including MasterChef, Bondi Rescue, Women at War, Close Encounters and Shark Week. 

 

Mai’s journey into music began with a strong Classical foundation, honed through the ABRSM grades and the European music school system. Her passion for exploring new musical styles led her to seek mentorship from the touring synth and keyboardist Nik Pringadi, known for his work with X Factor and tours with Smokey Robinson and Belinda Carlisle. Under his guidance, Mai expanded her expertise to include pop and jazz piano improvisation, which also enriched her compositional palette. 

 

As a pianist, Mai has collaborated with Juilliard performers, including bass operatic singer Andrew Munn, during his European tour dates in Warsaw. She has also recorded her debut album, Peace of Nature, with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra musicians Jenny Khafagi, Zoe Black, Blair Harris, Hamish Gullick, and Lachlan Davidson, working alongside music producer Tomas Strode.

 

During her university years, Mai had the opportunity to score projects for the Edinburgh College of Art film and animation students, as well as rescored the feature film Racheltjie de Beer under the supervision of the original composer, Chris Letcher, as part of her final university portfolio. Mai’s versatility extends beyond film and TV; she has also composed adaptive music for video games, rescoring Sony Computer Entertainment’s game Journey. Currently, Mai is training as a film composer at the UK’s leading National Film and Television School.