ABOUT
Virginia Leo is an Italian-born composer, sound designer, and pianist specializing in immersive audio for video games and interactive media. Based in Texas, she blends emotional sensitivity with cinematic storytelling, crafting textured soundscapes, heartfelt piano motifs, and bold, stylized music that elevate gameplay and narrative across a wide range of genres.
Her journey began with a passion for music and games from an early age. After training in classical piano and studying popular music in the UK, Virginia earned a degree in Sound for Games and Apps at dBs Institute. She merges traditional composition with modern audio implementation, with a focus on crafting soundtracks that stay with players long after the game ends.
Virginia is known for her ability to absorb a game’s lore and atmosphere, composing music that perfectly fits the world and emotional tone of each project. She has a strong track record of delivering high-quality audio on tight timelines, while maintaining a collaborative and player-focused mindset. Her flexibility across styles makes her a natural fit for indie games of all genres.
She is currently the lead composer and sound designer on the viral indie hit The Baby In Yellow (Team Terrible), which has reached millions of players and been performed live by ensembles including Density512 Chamber Orchestra, Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the APSU Symphony. Other credits include Sea Of Rifts, the Space Update for Wobbly Life (RubberBandGames), and a range of indie games, VR experiences, and game jam titles. Her work has received top audio recognition at events like Ludum Dare and Global Game Jam.
Beyond composition, Virginia is an active speaker and mentor in the game audio community, with appearances at PAX, SXSW, IGDA, ASMAC, and Airwiggles AirCon. She's passionate about mentorship, diversity in game audio, and the evolving role of sound in interactive storytelling.
When she's not composing, you’ll find her playing cozy games, listening to Nintendo soundtracks, or drawing inspiration from films.
PANELS
American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC)
Video Game Composer Forum “Specialization” vs. “Versatility”
May 2023
Work With Indies
Career in Game Audio:
A Roundtable
September 2023
International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
Perspectives Across the
Austin Dev Scene
October 2024
International Game Developers Association (IGDA)
IGDA Austin's Global Game Jam 2025 Pre-Jam Talk
Ga
January 2025
Electronic Game Developers Society (EGaDS)
GDC² at University of Texas
Official SXSW Event
Sound Design: Live!
March 2025
Density512 & KMFA 89.5 Classical Music Radio Station
Airwiggles Audio Conference AirCon25
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
AWARDS
Yogscast Award
Yogscast Award at
Bristol Game Hub for Home Invasion
Global Game Jam 2019
GGJ 2020 Winner
Best Overall Game at
Bristol Game Hub for Frank's Anatomy
Global Game Jam 2020
3rd Audio LD51
3rd Place out of 2400+
in 'Audio' category for Metal Muscle Mage
Ludum Dare 51
6th Audio LD52
6th Place out of 1600+
in 'Audio' category for Harveyster
Ludum Dare 52
LIVESTREAMS
I run a weekly livestream on my YouTube Channel called "Game Dev Report" where I play and give feedback on work-in-progress games submitted by indie developers. I spotlight one game per episode and also offer live interviews with the developers.
⭐ Join every Saturday at 12:00 PM Central Time for more Episodes! ⭐
I also livestream the games I work on! It allows me to engage with the game's communities whilst offering a live Q&A opportunity where anyone can ask questions about the game's audio production or simply get a chance to hang out with the developers of the game.
MENTORING
I'm a mentor for the Global Game Jam Mentor Match-Up Program. I have experience remotely mentoring aspiring composers and sound designers across the world, providing support and feedback to anyone interested in a career in the game audio industry. My goal is to make the game audio community accessible to people from any experience level and help them by giving resources, tools and advice on how to break into the industry and make a career out of their passions and talents.
Marcus Galic
Flammington Studios
"Having Virginia Leo as a mentor has been an incredible boost to my confidence as an emerging composer. With honest and relatable knowledge she’s eager to provide valuable advice and share resources to further help the development of artists in game audio. Friendly and easy to talk with, Virginia creates a comfortable space where I can freely share my goals, aspirations and areas I’d like to improve on. I appreciate everything that Virginia has done for me, and have a reinvigorated motivation with a clearer image of the steps to take to progress my own career in game music and audio."
Victor Gautschi
Winnie Gotmilk
"I found out about Virginia’s mentoring services at a crucial point in my career and I’m very glad to have benefitted from her composing and business insights. She speaks from experience in the industry and has a lot of useful information to share as well as motivation to impart. Whether you're a music veteran needing a little boost or just planning the first steps of your musical journey, Virginia will surely prove to be a great support, and work with you to find out key points to improve upon. Many thanks for your support, Virginia!"