I’m Hali — a composer, filmmaker, and photographer who believes every moment carries a story waiting to be told.

My creative journey began early. I grew up in a world of music and imagination, spending my childhood writing scripts, directing homemade films with my friends, and acting in the little stories we created together. At the same time, music became my foundation. I started playing violin at age three and discovered a deep love for the emotional language of sound. As a young fiddler, I became the youngest New Mexico State Grand Champion at ages 10, 11, and 12.

That blend of storytelling and sound shaped everything that followed.

I’m now a multi-award-winning violinist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer with six studio albums and original scores for films including Soul Mates, A Door in the Sky, and my first feature horror film, Deathwheel.

My passion for filmmaking evolved from childhood creativity into a lifelong craft. As a teen and young adult, I wrote, directed, produced, scored, and edited short films under my former production company, Tasty Dirt Productions. The Journey Home earned a Best Director nomination, and Da Capo placed fourth in the Serious Film Challenge 2. I’ve worked in roles ranging from script supervisor and 1st AD to sound and camera — and I often continue creating alongside my kids.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition for Film, TV, and Games from Berklee College of Music, where I studied under composers such as Pinar Toprak (Captain Marvel), Ben Newhouse, and Michael Sweet.

Today, my creativity extends beyond music and film. Through photography, visual branding, and digital storytelling, I help entrepreneurs, families, and small businesses bring their stories to life with visuals and experiences that feel authentic, intentional, and emotionally resonant.

A Creative Legacy I Share With My Kids

Storytelling isn’t just my work — it’s part of my family. My children have grown up surrounded by cameras, music, and imaginative play, often creating their own stories just as I did at their age. Watching their creativity unfold has deepened my belief that storytelling spans generations, shapes identity, and invites us to see the world with wonder.

And all of that is what led me to create RivSky Media — a studio built from a lifelong love of film, music, and meaningful storytelling. RivSky Media exists to blend visuals and sound into narratives that capture truth, connection, and the beauty in everyday moments.

Whether I’m composing a score, capturing a moment through my lens, directing a film, or designing a visual identity, my goal is always the same:

to create work that moves beyond words, resonates emotionally, and lets every story shine.