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Carlos Rafael Rivera

  • Composer
  • Music Department
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Carlos Rafael Rivera
Live orchestral recording of The Queen's Gambit "Main Title".
Play demo reel1:53
The Queen's Gambit (Main Title) - Live Orchestra Recording
4 Videos
12 Photos
Carlos Rafael Rivera is an Emmy and Grammy-winning composer whose scores have shaped some of the most celebrated stories in recent years, including Netflix's The Queen's Gambit. Known for scoring directly from screenplays, he has built lasting collaborations with filmmakers like Scott Frank, with whom he worked on multiple projects, including the upcoming Netflix adaptation of Department Q.

His music has earned numerous accolades, including Primetime Emmy wins for The Queen's Gambit and Apple TV's Lessons in Chemistry, as well as World Soundtrack, BMI, and SCL Awards. Recent projects include Netflix's Chupa, Ezra, and Griselda, highlighting his versatility across genres while reflecting his Latin American heritage and storytelling expertise.

Carlos is Chair of the Media Scoring and Production Department at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, where he mentors students in the creative and practical aspects of modern scoring.

Based in Miami, Carlos balances his career with family life and serves on the Society of Composers & Lyricists board, supporting innovation and diversity in the industry.
BornAugust 18, 1970
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornAugust 18, 1970
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 13 wins & 10 nominations total

    Photos12

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    Known for

    Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen's Gambit (2020)
    The Queen's Gambit
    8.5
    TV Mini Series
    • Composer
    Brie Larson in Lessons in Chemistry (2023)
    Lessons in Chemistry
    8.2
    TV Mini Series
    • Composer
    Liam Neeson in A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)
    A Walk Among the Tombstones
    6.5
    • Composer
    • 2014
    Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder in Hacks (2021)
    Hacks
    8.2
    TV Series
    • Composer

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Composer



    • Dept. Q
      • Composer
      • Released
      • TV Series
      • 2025



    • Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder in Hacks (2021)
      Hacks
      8.2
      TV Series
      • Composer
      • 2021–2025
    • Clive Owen in Monsieur Spade (2024)
      Monsieur Spade
      6.8
      TV Mini Series
      • Composer
      • 2024
    • Sofía Vergara in Griselda (2024)
      Griselda
      7.1
      TV Mini Series
      • Composer
      • 2024
    • Brie Larson in Lessons in Chemistry (2023)
      Lessons in Chemistry
      8.2
      TV Mini Series
      • Composer
      • 2023
    • Robert De Niro, Bobby Cannavale, and William A. Fitzgerald in Ezra (2023)
      Ezra
      6.4
      • Composer
      • 2023
    • Evan Whitten in Chupa (2023)
      Chupa
      5.5
      • Composer (music by)
      • 2023
    • Kate del Castillo in La Reina del Sur (2011)
      La Reina del Sur
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Composer
      • 2022
    • Hess Wesley in Adonai (2022)
      Adonai
      Short
      • Composer
      • 2022
    • Mckenna Grace in Just Beyond (2021)
      Just Beyond
      6.1
      TV Series
      • Composer
      • 2021
    • Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen's Gambit (2020)
      The Queen's Gambit
      8.5
      TV Mini Series
      • Composer
      • 2020
    • Michelle Dockery in Godless (2017)
      Godless
      8.2
      TV Mini Series
      • Composer
      • 2017
    • Liam Neeson in A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)
      A Walk Among the Tombstones
      6.5
      • Composer
      • 2014

    Music Department



    • Michelle Dockery in Godless (2017)
      Godless
      8.2
      TV Mini Series
      • composer: theme music
      • 2017
    • Sal Lopez and Julian Franco in On the Brink (2006)
      On the Brink
      7.4
      Short
      • musician: guitar
      • 2006
    • Brotherhood of Murder (1999)
      Brotherhood of Murder
      5.1
      TV Movie
      • musician: guitar (uncredited)
      • 1999
    • Without a Map (1996)
      Without a Map
      6.5
      • musician: guitar (uncredited)
      • 1996

    Soundtrack



    • Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder in Hacks (2021)
      Hacks
      8.2
      TV Series
      • writer: "Unhoused Residents (Ava's Theme)"
      • 2024
    • Evan Whitten in Chupa (2023)
      Chupa
      5.5
      • writer: "Siempre Volaré (En Tus Sueños)", "En Tus Sueños"
      • 2023
    • Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, and Yeardley Smith in The Simpsons (1989)
      The Simpsons
      8.6
      TV Series
      • writer: "The Queen's Gambit Theme" (uncredited)
      • 2023

    Videos4

    How to Score Characters - Godless - Carlos Rafael Rivera
    Demo Reel 1:51
    How to Score Characters - Godless - Carlos Rafael Rivera
    The Queen's Gambit (Main Title) - Live Orchestra Recording
    Demo Reel 1:53
    The Queen's Gambit (Main Title) - Live Orchestra Recording
    The Queen's Gambit (Main Title) - Live Orchestra Recording
    Demo Reel 1:53
    The Queen's Gambit (Main Title) - Live Orchestra Recording
    How to Score a Story - Godless - Carlos Rafael Rivera
    Demo Reel 1:57
    How to Score a Story - Godless - Carlos Rafael Rivera
    Composing A Walk Among the Tombstones
    Demo Reel 1:49
    Composing A Walk Among the Tombstones

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Facebook Fan Page
      • LinkedIn
    • Alternative name
      • Carlos Rivera
    • Born
      • August 18, 1970
      • Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Self-verified on IMDbPro

    • Race / Ethnicity
      • Hispanic / Latino / Latina / Latine
    • Nationality / Religious or Ethnic identity
      • American, Cuban, Guatemalan

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Once a member of Zoo Story, a LA Rock band fronted by Randy Coleman. Carlos played lead and sang on some of the songs.

    FAQ6

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