Blake Cordell
Composer | Sound Designer | Playwright
Education
Kansas State University | Bachelor of Music in Composition & Bachelor of Arts in Theatre | Dec, 2018
University of Iowa | Masters of Art in Music Composition | May, 2026
Awards
2025 University of Iowa Performing Arts Summer Research Award
2025 University of Iowa Graduate College Research Grant in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
2025 International Joseph Dorfman Memorial Compositoin Competition, 3rd place
2016 KCACTF Sound Design Excellence Award
2015 Kennedy Center American Collegiate Theatre Festival National New Play Award for Region 5
2015 National Partners of the American Theatre Playwriting Award Finalist
Contact me at b-cordell@outlook.com
Instrumental Compositions and Performances
Scilicious Sinter | For String Quartet
Upcoming Premier March 11, 2026 at the University of Iowa by JACK Quartet
Prismatic Thermophiles | For Clarinet in Bb, Cello, Piano, Percussion
3rd Place in the 2025 International Joseph Dorphmann Memorial Composition Competition
Premiered August 7, 2025 at Landesakademie in Ochsenhausen, Germany by Kliment Krylovskiy, clarinet; Umberto Pedgraglio, cello; Dmytro Semykras, piano; Lucas Gérin, percussion
Súile Foaroise | Solo for Flute
Premiered September 28, 2024 at the University of Iowa by Caleb Estrada-Valentin
Performed August 1, 2025 at Landesakademie in Ochsenhausen, Germany by Robbie Strauss
Dear Daedalus | Duet for Soprano and Double Bass
Premiered May 3, 2025 at the University of Iowa by LIGAMENT
Celestial Wings | For SATB Choir
Workshopped February 11, 2024 at the University of Iowa by The Crossing
The Fortune Teller's Tent | For String Quartet
Premiered February 6, 2024 at the University of Iowa by JACK Quartet
Seven-Legged Spider | Duet for Alto Saxophone and Yamaha YDS-150
Premiered February 23, 2025 at the University of Iowa by Chris Hunley, sax; Blake Cordell, YDS
This Was a Story | Duet for QWERTY Keyboard and Vibraphone
Premiered October 27, 2024 at the University of Iowa by Blake Cordell, typist; Miles Bohlman, perc.
Lotus Clour | For Wind Band
Commissioned by Bethel College
Premiered April 24, 2024 by the Bethel College Wind Ensemble, dir. Chris Miertschin
A Year of Repetition | For Viola with Piano and Multimedia Accompaniment
Commissioned by Elizabeth Tobald
Premiered April 14, 2021 online by Elizabeth Tobald, viola; Irena Radić, piano
Playwrighting
Only a Mask | musical for 6 actors (3m, 3f) with Alto Sax, Trumpet, Electric Bass, Keys, Drum Set
World premiere Oct 30, 2025 at the James Theater in Iowa City, IA (dir. Michael C. Flores)
Rover | play with music for 1 actor with digital accompaniment
World premiere Dec 2, 2017 at the Purple Masque Theatre in Manhattahn, KS (dir. Blake Cordell)
Inn-Dependent | musical for 10 actors (6m, 4f) with Alto Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Keys, Drum Set
2015 Kennedy Center American Collegiate Theater Festival National New Play Award for Region 5
World premiere April 12, 2018 at the Purple Masque Theatre in Manhattan, KS (dir. Trace Campbell)
Selected scenes April 9, 2021 online through Kansas Theatre Works (dir. Jerry Jay Cranford)
Concert reading Jan 25, 2017 at the Temple Theatre in Des Moines, IA (dir. Paul Hustoles)
Development reading Feb 17, 2015 at Nichols Theatre in Manhattan, KS (dir. Blake Cordell)
Ho Ho No! | collection of short scenes for 9-15 actors, written with Michael Duncan, Jonah Kirkhart, Cody O'Hare, Teva Spencer, and Ceslie Parker-Waller
World premiere December, 2016 at Nichols Theatre in Manhattan, KS (dir. Jerry Jay Cranford)
Performance December 10, 2020 online through Kansas Theatre Works (dir. Jerry Jay Cranford)
Kill Grimm | one-act audioplay for 1 actor
World premiere October 29, 2020 online through Kansas Theatre Works (dir. Chuck Leonard)
Intergalactic Ranger | one-act play with music for 4 actors (2m, 2f)
World premiere April 1, 2017 at Kansas State University, 24-Hour Play Fest (dir. Madison Plouvier)
Music for Video Games
Histoire de Lune | unreleased independent video game by Suits and Sandals
Strange Conundrums | independent video game by Guardly: release
Mica Apoptosis | independent video game by Kirroha: release
Fading Souls | unreleased independent video game by ZestyDoesThings: concept
Pistola | unreleased independent video game by Specter works: concept
Chateau Quest | independent video game by Specter Works: demo
Only a Mask | unreleased independent video game by Specter Works
Music for Films and Animations
Carl & Doug | animated short film by Tiny Siren Animations on Amazon and Youtube: link
Petrichor | short film by Grace Potratz
Toast | CalArts student film by Kiernan Sjursan-Lien: link
Gate Seekers | pilot episode of an animated series by Story Sight Studio
Lia and Leo | pilot episode of an animated series by Tiffany Lim
Singin' in the Scenes | podcast by Harper Leander: link