Meet Isaac Mailach
“You have to accept that there is no right answer and just do what you like to do. What’s the point of living in the first place if we don’t enjoy it?”
Any movie is only as good as its soundtrack. Music adds another dimension to the visual experience.
Isaac Mailach loved being immersed in worlds of music, and, despite his propensity towards science and math, chose to pursue music composition and cello performance professionally. “I wanted to find a career that would engage me my entire life, and I didn’t think a desk job could do that for me.”
His decision was not taken lightly. “My high school teachers were disappointed. They told me that I can make real change with my math and science skills.”
How could he deprive the world of his contribution to these fields? Isaac had a counterargument to theirs. “The world needs music. All I could think was, who’s to say that composing is going to help the world any less than what I could do in physics, chemistry, or math? It’s impossible to know at this point.”
Isaac was compelled to study composition and performance to create experiences for people that go beyond the human realm. “I knew I wanted to create something in my career. Composing soundtracks can create something that we can never experience in our day to day lives.”
The creative aspect, making something from nothing, is what excites Isaac the most. “It’s like making a sculpture. You start with a basic idea, and over time chisel away and get at the details until you have something that is way more complex than you could have initially imagined.”
Isaac recently composed the music for the feature-length film “Before the Plate”, which premiered earlier this month. The success of this project reassured him that he can do what he loves for a living.
“There’s no guarantee in anything. You have to accept that there is no right answer and just do what you like to do. What’s the point of living in the first place if we don’t enjoy it?”
Isaac looks forward to continuing his studies and believes that with patience and practice, his compositions and his playing will continue to improve and inspire himself and his listeners.
Isaac Mailach is currently pursuing a double major in Cello Performance and Composition at Wilfrid Laurier University. He has been playing the cello since he was three years old. He hopes to compose for visual media and continue performing as well.
Listen to Isaac’s compositions on his website!
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Jumans of Toronto is a window into the lives and passion of Jewish young adults making their mark in the world. A 50-part series, Jumans is inspired by Humans of New York. If you’d like to recommend someone awesome to be highlighted, please send an email to adina@thehousetoronto.com.
Written by: Adina Samuels