John Vallely is an Irish screen composer, specialising in children’s animation. He has also worked in video games, commercials, live-action, and animated comics.
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He was nominated for Best Score at the Irish Animation Awards 2025 for the series The Scavengers, which he co-composed alongside Jake Morgan. The duo later teamed up again for the Christmas Animation Movie Nollaí.
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John served as assistant composer to acclaimed Scottish composer Patrick Doyle (Harry Potter, Thor, Brave), preparing and arranging orchestral scores for the sixth season of the Netflix hit series Big Mouth.
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Soundtracks:
Outside of composition for the screen, John also composes contemporary chamber music. He released a collection of piano works through Paragon Music Group in 2025 and is currently preparing for a second release with the label.
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He is a multi-instrumentalist and holds a Master's in Music (Queen's University Belfast), a BA in Music (National University of Ireland Maynooth), and a Performance Diploma in Classical Guitar (Trinity Guildhall). He also undertook further studies in music production at Point Blank Music School London.
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John is a member of the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland.
Latest Release
Moments for Musing
Collection of Solo Piano Works
“Moments for Musing” is a soothing collection of piano works composed by John Vallely and released by Paragon Records. The collection is inspired by images which demonstrate the simple beauty of living in the present. The works explore feelings of nostalgia, hope, serenity and longing. Beautifully performed by pianist Juan María Matas at FJR studios, Granada, each track is a delicate reflection of those precious instances when we break from routine and allow time to simply ponder. The gentle piano melodies capture the essence of these fleeting moments, offering a gentle reminder to slow down, breathe, and savour the now.
Patrick Doyle - Two-Time Academy Award-Nominated Composer
"John served as an Assistant Composer on the Big Mouth project. His competency in large-scale score preparation and orchestration was key; he ensured absolute precision between the MIDI mockups and the final orchestral scores, guaranteeing highly reliable and successful delivery. I would rely on John's technical expertise and professionalism again without hesitation."
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Vanessa Robinson - Co-Founder & CEO Little Moon Animation
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"John’s work on The Scavengers was exceptional: a beautiful blend of cinematic scale and contemporary Irish music that instantly defined the show’s identity. He was a pleasure to work with throughout, and we’re very much looking forward to continuing our collaboration on future projects!"
Mark Gordon - Founder of Score Draw Music
"Working with John is always a brilliant experience. He quickly grasps the specific emotional and energetic needs of children's animation, delivering music that is vibrant and pitch-perfect for the target audience. His adaptability and efficient turnaround make him a perfect partner on projects like this and we would recommend him without hesitation to other producers"
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Mark Aherne - Founder & Creative Director of Universe or Nothing (Video Game Developer)
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"Working with John on Persevere has been a joy and a privilege. I already knew his talent and quality from listening to his work and speaking with him, but what surprised me was how quickly he adapted to a new medium, video games. He embraced the technology and possibilities of this new space, creating pieces that far exceeded what I imagined possible. Not only were they beautiful, they were crafted to adapt dynamically to events in the game. Just brilliant."
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Inessa Kraft - Director & Producer
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"John wrote incredibly beautiful music that matched my vision perfectly. He followed everything what I mentioned as important and made it more beautiful than I could even image, adding a special emotion to my film. I absolutely love it."