Nolan Musonda is a composer and alto saxophonist from Saginaw, Michigan. He is currently a music composition major at Alma College in Michigan. Nolan has been selected twice as a Premier Composer in the Young Composers of Michigan program, debuting “Saxophone Quartet No. 1” in January of 2025 and “Reverie for Four Instruments” in January of 2026 at the YCM Premier Concert. He has written soundtracks for 5 short films, 3 of which he also directed. In addition, he conducted the premiere of his first symphony, “The Moon Duology,” at Saginaw Heritage High School in May of 2025. In the future, Nolan’s career goal is to become a film composer.

While composing is his primary passion, Nolan has also received several acknowledgments as a saxophonist. He is currently a member of the Kilite Marching Band and Wind Ensemble, as well as a soloist in the Alma College Jazz Band. In high school, he was nominated two consecutive years as a Michigan School Band and Orchestra Outstanding Soloist, after receiving a solo score of 98 in Proficiency II and 97 in Proficiency III. He was also featured on a full length solo piece as a member of the Saginaw Heritage Jazz Ensemble.

Nolan enjoys playing a wide variety of instruments in order to improve his composition skills. He plays piano, guitar, trumpet, trombone, french horn, clarinet, and flute. He is passionate about film soundtracks, orchestral music, and jazz. In addition to music, Nolan is also passionate about computer coding, 3D animation in Blender, and photography. He enjoys combining his music composition skills together with visual art, especially in the realm of film composing.