Spencer Nilsen, President and Creative Director at Ex’pression College for Digital Arts in Emeryville, CA first displayed a passion for music at the age of two when across his lap he would strum his fathers 1920 Gibson acoustic guitar. The instrument survived his early musical curiosity and now hangs on his living room wall, after years of equal abuse by his own two kids. But it was the antique piano that Spencer’s father took in-trade for architectural work that would change his life forever. It became his “toy box” and Spencer would spend hours banging, plucking, and experimenting with every aspect of the complex instrument.

When he landed his first writing and recording sessions for various San Francisco Bay Area artists, Spencer was just 14-years old. His mother would shuttle him and his keyboards to studios like The Plant and Tres Virgos in Marin County, CA. Although he enjoyed the energy and collaboration of being in bands, it was his life-long love of movies and classical music that ultimately led him into the art of film, TV and video game scoring.

After a dizzying stint in the concert industry, working on productions with bands like Aerosmith, The Clash, Tom Petty, The Police and U2, Spencer formed a production company, AdVenture Communications with world-renowned lighting director and cinematographer, Bill Holshevnikoff. Together they produced, directed, and scored dozens of TV shows, commercials, and music videos for clients like ESPN, Turner Broadcasting, The Super Bowl, and American Express.  When Spencer got signed by American Gramaphone Records in 1989 and released his critically acclaimed album Architects of Change a year later, music had become his singular vision.

In 1992, Spencer was recruited by video game giant, SEGA, to head the company’s growing music department and recording complex. Throughout the 1990s, Spencer wrote and produced the soundtracks to some of the company’s biggest hits including Sonic The Hedgehog CD, Ecco The Dolphin, Spider-man, Batman Returns, Joe Montana Football, and Jurassic Park.

Spencer has since scored hundreds of games, TV shows, and films, as well as produced albums for other artists, including pop/gospel act Rod Washington Moore and hard rockers Bygone Dogs. His own albums and game scores have been embraced by fans around the world, and Spencer is thrilled knowing many Ex’pression College students grew up with his music blaring from their favorite video games. Please visit Ex’pression College by clicking here.