Benjamin Wynn

Benjamin Wynn is an American composer, sound designer and music producer mostly known for creating the sound design for the TV series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. He has collaborated with composers such as Joby Talbot. He is the co-owner of The Track Team, a music and sound production company based in Los Angeles, and also produces hip-hop electronic music under the name "Deru". He is the grandson of renowned neurosurgeon, Joseph Ransohoff.

Background

Wynn studied electronic music at the California Institute of the Arts, where he focused on synthesis, signal processing, acoustics, music theory and composition, and earned a Bachelor's degree in music technology.

Collaboration

In 2007, Wynn (as Deru) collaborated with British composer Joby Talbot on the score to Wayne McGregor's ballet, "Genus", based on Charles Darwin's book, On the Origin of Species, commissioned by the Paris Opera Ballet. The ballet premiered at the Palais Garnier in October 2007 and was commissioned for a second round of performances in November 2009. The eight-part score combines electronics with a 10-part choir and string instruments. The score is available on Ant-Zen and Dear Oh Dear Records and was featured in the 2009 documentary, "La Danse: The Paris Opera Ballet".