Geoff Knorr


Geoff Knorr is an American composer, orchestrator, and sound designer. He has worked on video game titles such as Civilization VII, Civilization VI, Civilization: Beyond Earth, Civilization V, Ara: History Untold, and Ashes of the Singularity.
Knorr was born in Framingham, Massachusetts and grew up in Marietta, Georgia. He took piano and cello lessons at a young age and he composed his first piece of music in eighth grade. He studied composition with Christopher Theofanidis and Michael Hersch and recording arts and sciences at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Knorr first came to the attention of the Firaxis sound team when he did score preparation for the choir recording for Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword. He has since collaborated as a composer, orchestrator, and sound designer with Firaxis Games, Oxide Games, and Stardock.
Knorr's symphonic arrangements from Civilization V and VI are regularly performed by orchestras around the world as part of the touring Game ON! symphonic game music concerts, conducted by Andy Brick.
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Works

TitleYearDeveloperNotes
Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword2007FiraxisChoir score preparation
Civilization V2010Firaxiswith Michael Curran
Elemental: Fallen Enchantress2012Stardockwith Mason Fisher
Civilization V: Gods & Kings2012Firaxiswith Michael Curran
Civilization V: Brave New World2013Firaxiswith Michael Curran
Haunted Hollow2013FiraxisMusic and sound design
At the Gates (video game)2013Conifer GamesMain menu music
Civilization: Beyond Earth2014FiraxisLead Composer. Additional music by Grant Kirkhope, Michael Curran, and Griffin Cohen
Civilization: Beyond Earth - Rising Tide2015FiraxisLead Composer. Additional music by Grant Kirkhope and Griffin Cohen
Galactic Civilizations III2015Stardockwith Michael Curran and Mason Fisher
Ashes of the Singularity2016Stardockwith Michael Curran and Richard Gibbs
Civilization VI2016Firaxiswith Roland Rizzo and Phill Boucher
Civilization VI: Rise and Fall2018Firaxiswith Roland Rizzo and Phill Boucher
Civilization VI: Gathering Storm2019Firaxiswith Roland Rizzo and Phill Boucher
Civilization VI: New Frontier Pass2020-2021Firaxiswith Roland Rizzo and Phill Boucher
Ara: History Untold2024Oxide Gameswith Michael Curran and Jonathan Peros
Civilization VII2025Firaxiswith Roland Rizzo

Awards and nominations

YearAwardTitleCategoryResult
2014International Film Music Critics Association AwardCivilization: Beyond EarthBest Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive MediaWon
2015ASCAP 2015 Composers' Choice AwardCivilization: Beyond Earth2014 Video Game Score of the YearNomitated
2015International Film Music Critics Association AwardCivilization: Beyond Earth - Rising TideBest Original Score for a Video Game or Interactive MediaNomitated
2016ASCAP 2016 Composers' Choice AwardCivilization: Beyond Earth - Rising Tide2015 Video Game Score of the YearNomitated
2017Game Audio Network Guild AwardsCivilization VIMusic of the YearNomitated
2019Game Audio Network Guild AwardsCivilization VI: Rise and Fall “Cree - The Atomic Era "Best Original Choral CompositionNomitated
2019British Academy Games Awards Civilization VI: Gathering StormGame Beyond Entertainment Nomitated
2020Game Audio Network Guild AwardsCivilization VI: Gathering StormBest Original SoundtrackNomitated
2020Game Audio Network Guild AwardsCivilization VI: Gathering Storm “Maori - The Atomic Era”Best Original Choral CompositionNomitated