Braden Pontoli, a Los Angeles-based musician, composer and sound artist whose creative work touched communities across Southern California, has been found dead following a disappearance that prompted an urgent search by family, friends and members of the public.
Pontoli had been reported missing after traveling to Santa Monica on Tuesday, September 8, for what was described as an in-person job interview. According to information previously shared by people close to him, he contacted his partner after arriving safely in the area near a WeWork location. His sudden loss of communication quickly raised concern among those who knew him.
A missing-person case was circulated under Santa Monica Police case number 26-90155, with friends and relatives appealing for information about his whereabouts. Reports at the time said his disappearance was considered unusual by those close to him.
Pontoli was known professionally as a composer, conductor, musician, sound artist and sound healer. His official biography describes a career spanning film scoring, stage and gallery work, live performance, conducting and sound installations. He held a Master of Fine Arts in Music Performance and Composition from the California Institute of the Arts and a Bachelor of Music Education from Baldwin Wallace University.
He was also a co-founder and artistic director of Keiju Kollektiv, a Los Angeles-based Nordic folk vocal ensemble, and participated in community-centered projects including Altadena Heals. (
Pontoli’s death brings a tragic end to the search that had left his loved ones hoping for his safe return. Details surrounding where and how he was found, as well as the official cause and manner of death, have not been publicly established in the sources reviewed.
For those who knew Pontoli, his legacy will extend beyond the circumstances of his death. His music, creative collaborations and commitment to sound, performance and community remain part of the artistic life he helped build in Los Angeles.