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Dan Lopatka
Music

Teaching Associate, Digital Music Composition

Courses Taught

  • MUS 323: Digital Music Composition

Education

M.M. in Jazz Performance, Northern Illinois University
B.A. in Music Performance, University of Illinois at Chicago, summa cum laude

About

Dan Lopatka is a bassist and composer from Chicago specializing in video game music. He has penned the scores for two video games, The Wind and Wilting Blossom (2020, Picklefeet Games) and Adventurer Manager (2014, Vigilant Addiction Studios). As a bassist, Dan has performed with many notable musicians, including Emmy Award-winning composer Orbert Davis, four-time Grammy nominee Stefon Harris, Motown legend Martha Reeves, and dancehall royalty Sister Nancy.

Dan has performed extensively on television shows like Fox’s Empire series (Seasons 1–4), The Jerry Springer Show, and the Daytime Emmy-winning children’s show, Green Screen Adventures. Dan works regularly around Chicago in projects spanning many genres—from ska to bluegrass to most things in between. His latest venture is DLC Music, a music company specializing in live K-Pop, J-Pop, and Video Game Music.

Dan has received two degrees in jazz performance from Northern Illinois University (M.M.) and University of Illinois at Chicago (B.A.). He recently joined the music faculty at UIC, teaching Digital Music Composition and coaching jazz combo.