Bio
Greg Karnilaw is a classically trained composer, guitarist, singer/songwriter, performer, film maker, writer, and producer. In 2020 he finished and filmed; Nature We & I a one man musical performance work, and Mokusō II, an experimental short film. Greg directed, created, composed, produced, and performed in both works.
The film Nature We & I, was awarded:
Best Environmental Film, in the New York Tri-State International Film Festival 2021
Best Film Score, in the New Wave Short Film Festival 2021
Best monologue & Best Acting Debut in the Osiris Film Awards 2021
Best Original Score, in the New York Neorealism Film Awards 2021
Bronze Medal for Creativity/Originality , Global Music Awards 2021
Award winner for Music Video, in the Druk international film festival
Mokusō II was awarded;
Best Experimental Film, in the, Monthly Future of Film Awards 2021
Award winner for Experimental Film, The IndieFest Film Awards 2020
Award winner for Music, in the Like It Film Fest 2020
In 2018 he co-produced PLAY/PRACTICE wordless films with live music, which premiered at Anthologies Film Archives in NYC. Greg also composed the score for four of the films, one of which being PRACTICE which he created, and co-directed. In 2017 he released his first CD Moments of Solitude, a collection of solo works for flute, bass clarinet, piano, violin, cello, and electric guitar.
Greg’s opera To Triumph premiered at American Opera Projects, First Chance Series in 2002, which he is both the composer and librettist of. His Three For Two - music for Harp and Percussion was premiered by members of Yo-Yo Ma's The Silk Road Ensemble at the New Hampshire Lake Winnipisakee Music Festival 2003. His Five Impressions for Piano was featured at the Flea NYC in 2002.
Mr. Karnilaw also performs original solo electric guitar compositions using a two handed percussive tapping technique. In August of 2005, he won the Manhattan Sam Ash guitarist of the month competition. He has performed at CB’s Gallery, The Juilliard School and other NYC locations.
He has studied composition with Dr. Andrew Thomas, the former head of the pre-college at Juilliard, John Corigliano, and David Maslanka. Mr. Karnilaw is a graduate cum laude of CUNY’s 802 music program. While studying voice at Lehman College, Mr. Karnilaw was a two time recipient of the Emile Anders Choir Award. He has also received a Meet the Composer Grant
Greg lives with his wife and their two children on the UWS of Manahatten. When he's not writing or performing his music, he works as a private chef, and a Seido karate instructor, he’s a 6th degree black belt. Greg is also a avid bicyclist and bird watcher.