John Konopka is an accomplished film composer, mixing and mastering engineer, and recording engineer with a diverse background in music production and audio recording. He attended the Cleveland Institute of Music from 2017 to 2020, studying Audio Recording and Music Composition under the mentorship of Bruce Egre, Alan Bise, and Dr. Keith Fitch. However, due to the passing of Bruce Egre and the discontinuation of the program, he was unable to complete his degree. He later earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in December 2022.
As a film composer, John has scored numerous projects, including the Emmy-winning PBS documentary Celebrating the Comeback of the Burning River (2019). His work has been featured in films premiered at major festivals, such as Harleyville, which was selected for the Best Shorts competition at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival—an Academy Award-qualifying event. His recent projects include Shepherd in Winter, which premiered at the 22nd Indy Film Fest, and Allies Left Behind, a documentary produced by Wolv Media.
In addition to his work in film, John has been a highly sought-after mixing and mastering engineer since 2022, working with artists who have between 50,000 and 100,000+ monthly listeners. As a Preferred Provider on SoundBetter, he has built a strong reputation for his expertise, receiving over ninety-five 5-star reviews for his services. His work includes collaborations with artists such as Maya Manuela, Adjoin, Brett Seper, The Vigil Project, and Shawn Williams.
John’s career as a recording engineer began in 2017 at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he recorded student and faculty recitals, concerts, and live broadcasts. Since then, he has worked with world-class musicians and ensembles, including members of the Cleveland Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony, Quire Cleveland, and the Nashville Chamber Music Society. His experience extends to surround sound audio engineering, having contributed to 360° OF SIGHT + SOUND: THE PLANETARIUM PROJECT at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in collaboration with CIM and the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA). He currently serves as a board member for the Massachusetts Chamber Music Artists organization (MCMA).
John is certified in Pro Tools and Dante and has extensive experience with Sequoia, Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, Digital Performer, Sibelius, and Final Cut Pro. His technical expertise and artistic sensibility have earned him numerous accolades, including a Bronze Medal at the 2019 AES student recording competition, finalist recognition for the Morton Gould ASCAP Young Composer Award, and third place in the MTNA Composition Competition.