Robert Folk

Robert Elms Folk (born March 5, 1949) is an American film and television composer and conductor who has written over 80 film and television scores, as well as concert works.

Life and career

Robert Folk is a graduate and former faculty member of the Juilliard School in New York City. Since completing his doctorate, Folk has composed and conducted original music for over 50 feature films. His credits include seven Police Academy films, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Nothing To Lose, Tremors (uncredited), The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, Toy Soldiers, Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time, Kung Pow! Enter the Fist, Boat Trip, Back in the Day, American Pie: Band Camp and most recently, Van Wilder 2 and Vivaldi.

Among the filmmakes Folk has worked with are Steve Oedekerk, George Gallo, Gary Sinise, Hugh Wilson, Don Bluth, Jon Davison, Gary Goldman, Steve Rash, David Permut, Gene Quintano, Roger Birnbaum, Ron Underwood, Mark Burg, Thom Mount, Paul Maslansky, George Miller, Fred Zollo, Marty Bregman, Gale Anne Hurd, Marco Weber, Ringo Lam, Jake Eberts and Gary Barber. Folk has also composed numerous concert works including symphonic, vocal and chamber music compositions. His ballet “To Dream of Roses,” composed for the Osaka Worlds Fair, was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Many of Folk's film scores have been released on compact disc, including Police Academy, The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, Toy Soldiers, Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time and Maximum Risk.

In 2019, Folk was a guest of honour at the Movie Score Malaga (MOSMA) festival in Spain where selections of his film works were performed in concert by Orquesta Sinfónica Provincial de Málaga.