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Penka Kouneva has composed soundtracks for films, exhibitions and VR experiences
Penka Kouneva has worked as a composer on blockbuster movies and video games that have grossed some $15bn worldwide. Millions will have heard her music without ever realising it.
Kouneva, who was one of the first female lead orchestrators in Hollywood, has recently been branching out into the world of attractions. She wrote the score for the $30m immersive exhibit Heroes and Legends, which opened in late 2016 at the Kennedy Space Center, near Orlando, Florida, composing music for the 3D films, installations and multimedia.
“The NASA exhibit, Heroes and Legends, was the most unique composing job I’ve had,” Kouneva says. “It tells the stories of the space missions Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. I wrote music that celebrates the American heroes and heartswelling orchestral themes with arrangements to express our fascination with space.”
Kouneva worked closely with experience designers Falcon’s Creative, especially senior sound designer Rick Morris and media editor Jesse James Allen, but reveals hurdles arose when composing for an exhibit environment for the first time.
“The main 3D film is viewed in a spherical space and the acoustics were very challenging,” she says. “The music itself had to create a variety of emotions – heroic; noble; danger, for a malfunctioning rocket; awe, for the Earth seen from space; regret, for a failed mission; hope.
“The objective is similar when composing for an attraction or a film or a video game: to create deeply emotional, engaging, memorable music that helps us remember viscerally the entire experience. The differences are in technology – how the music is implemented, how long the pieces need to be, the arrangements, and so on.”
Road to success Growing up in Bulgaria, Kouneva’s father, an engineer, gave her books about science, space and astronauts, so working on the Kennedy Space Center project was a special experience.
“Space symbolised freedom for me. Science fiction was huge in Eastern Bloc countries because it’s about longing for a more just future, or offering a critical view of society packaged as a futuristic story.”
When she arrived in Los Angeles, California, almost 20 years ago, Kouneva invested most of her time in developing a strong and individual musical style before she started to gradually pick up work.
“I came to LA with almost no money, so I had to work a lot, but that meant many credits, relationships and experience. Although I didn’t have a business plan, I’ve always been intuitive and felt that my greatest capital was my music, my friendships, my people skills and my health. When opportunities fell on my lap, I jumped and made the best out of them.”
Kouneva built her reputation and is now one of the field’s great talents, but working as a freelancer still poses difficulties.
“Getting a substantial job that propels me forward takes much hustling and patience. Understanding the tastes and expectations of my collaborators is not easy, but with experience it gets easier. Also, the balance between being in a creative zone, with running the business, is challenging. I run a tight ship,” she says.
New frontiers In the realm of attractions, Kouneva scored the soundtrack for Universal’s location-based VR shooter game, The Mummy: Prodigium Strike. “My objective in scoring VR was for the music to blend with the sound design and voiceover. Since VR is such a new frontier, it takes a thoughtful, innovative approach.”
Among many others, Kouneva has composed for the Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands, Transformers and World of Warcraft: Legion video games and worked on movies including Elysium, Matrix Reloaded, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and Devil’s Whisper.
These projects are reflective of her music, “orchestral mixed with electronics – dramatic and haunting” and suits genres like action, horror, fantasy and sci-fi.
She has also penned three solo award-winning concept albums, including The Rebirth of Id and The Woman Astronaut.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
People profile: Damien Hirst
Turner Prize-winning artist Damien Hirst exhibits a series of spot paintings and huge sculptures at a Norfolk stately home
People profile: Penka Kouneva
Movie and video game composer Penka Kouneva moves into the world of attractions with the Heroes and Legends exhibit and VR installations
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
WAZA’s Sabrina Brando on providing animals with opportunities for choices, stimulating environments and enriching activities
Interview: Sultan Al Dhaheri
With the launch of Warner Bros World and
the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the Department
of Culture and Tourism’s Sultan Al Dhaheri
explains how investing in attractions is
helping the emirate meet its tourism goals
Animal sanctuaries: Paws for Thought
The UK’s Big Cat Sanctuary is the subject
of a recent BBC documentary. Managing
director Giles Clark explains how the
facility works – and introduces Maya
the jaguar and Willow the cheetah
Science Centres: Getting Engaged
Researchers Dr Amy Seakins and
Dr Heather King explain how science
capital empowers science centres
to engage wider audiences in STEM,
plus European initiatives in action
Digital art: Light Fantastic
Tokyo-based digital art collective teamLab is
on a mission to change the way we interact
with and experience art. Magali Robathan
reports on the group’s installation work
and their upcoming museum launch
Penka Kouneva has composed soundtracks for films, exhibitions and VR experiences
Penka Kouneva has worked as a composer on blockbuster movies and video games that have grossed some $15bn worldwide. Millions will have heard her music without ever realising it.
Kouneva, who was one of the first female lead orchestrators in Hollywood, has recently been branching out into the world of attractions. She wrote the score for the $30m immersive exhibit Heroes and Legends, which opened in late 2016 at the Kennedy Space Center, near Orlando, Florida, composing music for the 3D films, installations and multimedia.
“The NASA exhibit, Heroes and Legends, was the most unique composing job I’ve had,” Kouneva says. “It tells the stories of the space missions Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. I wrote music that celebrates the American heroes and heartswelling orchestral themes with arrangements to express our fascination with space.”
Kouneva worked closely with experience designers Falcon’s Creative, especially senior sound designer Rick Morris and media editor Jesse James Allen, but reveals hurdles arose when composing for an exhibit environment for the first time.
“The main 3D film is viewed in a spherical space and the acoustics were very challenging,” she says. “The music itself had to create a variety of emotions – heroic; noble; danger, for a malfunctioning rocket; awe, for the Earth seen from space; regret, for a failed mission; hope.
“The objective is similar when composing for an attraction or a film or a video game: to create deeply emotional, engaging, memorable music that helps us remember viscerally the entire experience. The differences are in technology – how the music is implemented, how long the pieces need to be, the arrangements, and so on.”
Road to success Growing up in Bulgaria, Kouneva’s father, an engineer, gave her books about science, space and astronauts, so working on the Kennedy Space Center project was a special experience.
“Space symbolised freedom for me. Science fiction was huge in Eastern Bloc countries because it’s about longing for a more just future, or offering a critical view of society packaged as a futuristic story.”
When she arrived in Los Angeles, California, almost 20 years ago, Kouneva invested most of her time in developing a strong and individual musical style before she started to gradually pick up work.
“I came to LA with almost no money, so I had to work a lot, but that meant many credits, relationships and experience. Although I didn’t have a business plan, I’ve always been intuitive and felt that my greatest capital was my music, my friendships, my people skills and my health. When opportunities fell on my lap, I jumped and made the best out of them.”
Kouneva built her reputation and is now one of the field’s great talents, but working as a freelancer still poses difficulties.
“Getting a substantial job that propels me forward takes much hustling and patience. Understanding the tastes and expectations of my collaborators is not easy, but with experience it gets easier. Also, the balance between being in a creative zone, with running the business, is challenging. I run a tight ship,” she says.
New frontiers In the realm of attractions, Kouneva scored the soundtrack for Universal’s location-based VR shooter game, The Mummy: Prodigium Strike. “My objective in scoring VR was for the music to blend with the sound design and voiceover. Since VR is such a new frontier, it takes a thoughtful, innovative approach.”
Among many others, Kouneva has composed for the Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands, Transformers and World of Warcraft: Legion video games and worked on movies including Elysium, Matrix Reloaded, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and Devil’s Whisper.
These projects are reflective of her music, “orchestral mixed with electronics – dramatic and haunting” and suits genres like action, horror, fantasy and sci-fi.
She has also penned three solo award-winning concept albums, including The Rebirth of Id and The Woman Astronaut.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
People profile: Damien Hirst
Turner Prize-winning artist Damien Hirst exhibits a series of spot paintings and huge sculptures at a Norfolk stately home
People profile: Penka Kouneva
Movie and video game composer Penka Kouneva moves into the world of attractions with the Heroes and Legends exhibit and VR installations
Industry Opinion: Zoos & Aquariums
WAZA’s Sabrina Brando on providing animals with opportunities for choices, stimulating environments and enriching activities
Interview: Sultan Al Dhaheri
With the launch of Warner Bros World and
the Louvre in Abu Dhabi, the Department
of Culture and Tourism’s Sultan Al Dhaheri
explains how investing in attractions is
helping the emirate meet its tourism goals
Animal sanctuaries: Paws for Thought
The UK’s Big Cat Sanctuary is the subject
of a recent BBC documentary. Managing
director Giles Clark explains how the
facility works – and introduces Maya
the jaguar and Willow the cheetah
Science Centres: Getting Engaged
Researchers Dr Amy Seakins and
Dr Heather King explain how science
capital empowers science centres
to engage wider audiences in STEM,
plus European initiatives in action
Digital art: Light Fantastic
Tokyo-based digital art collective teamLab is
on a mission to change the way we interact
with and experience art. Magali Robathan
reports on the group’s installation work
and their upcoming museum launch
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of
Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los
Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
