GRAMMY® nominated composer Zain Effendi has been officially recognized for Best Instrumental Composition for his revolutionary piece “Opening,” created for Disney’s reimagined EPCOT Test Track attraction. The work marks a defining moment in modern orchestral storytelling, combining cinematic emotion, futuristic sound design, and Disney’s timeless sense of wonder.
Effendi’s journey to this achievement has been nothing short of extraordinary. Educated at The Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music, he began his career under legendary film composer Hans Zimmer, contributing to some of Hollywood’s most iconic scores, including The Dark Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Kung Fu Panda, and The Holiday. Those early years at Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions forged a creative discipline that shaped Effendi’s unique capacity to work within massive Hollywood productions and deliver absolute magic.
With “Opening,” Effendi brings that experience to a new frontier. The composition is a symphonic-electronic epic created in collaboration with Walt Disney Imagineering for the completely redesigned Test Track experience at EPCOT. The work redefines theme park music: powerful yet intimate, futuristic yet timeless, and infused with so much heart that it’s no wonder he’s been recognized by the Recording Academy®. Guests are taken on an immersive, emotional sonic journey through layers of melody, rhythm, and texture that mirror the anticipation and excitement of the attraction itself.
“Great music makes you forget the weight of the world,” Effendi says. “It’s not escape – it’s elevation. It’s the sound of your soul remembering how to fly.” You can hear that weightlessness in “Opening,” the first surge of a score that refuses to stay grounded. Between the orchestra’s gorgeous melodic lines and the pulse of rich, layered synths, the music feels like the soundtrack we’ve all been waiting for. Effendi’s Test Track score moves with the force of a blockbuster and the soul of a symphony, bending genres until they blur into something entirely its own. It’s the kind of work that doesn’t just raise the bar for Disney – it tilts the axis for film and television music too. The sound is vast, fearless, and human all at once: proof that sometimes the most transcendent moments happen where you least expect them.
The GRAMMY® nomination adds to an already distinguished career. Effendi’s portfolio spans Disney, Sony, Warner Bros., and Bad Robot. He has earned two Telly Awards, multiple World Entertainment Awards, and Hollywood Music in Media Awards for Best Live Concert and Best New Composer. His music has defined landmark experiences including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Shanghai Disneyland’s Adventure in Rhythm, and the Disney Starcruiser hotel experience. His compositions have topped the iTunes Charts, Amazon Charts, and the Official Walt Disney World Playlist, establishing him as one of the most visionary composers of his generation.
With “Opening,” Zain Effendi has delivered more than a composition – he has created an emotional blueprint for the future of Disney storytelling. It is not simply music for a ride but music for the imagination, seamlessly blending innovation, artistry, and emotion.
“The goal isn’t to impress people,” Effendi says. “It’s to make them feel something real in a world that’s forgotten how.” And he’s right – you don’t just hear Effendi’s music; you feel it, like it’s rewiring something inside you. The music doesn’t ask for your attention; it takes it, pulling you into a world where emotion outruns expectation and every note carries a truth of its own.
For press inquiries and official materials, please contact David Margolis at dm@myworldmgmt.com or visit Zain Effendi’s official channels on Spotify, SoundCloud, IMDb, and Instagram.
