[6] In the fourth grade he began studies on the trumpet and piano and that continued throughout his high school years in which he was a member of a variety of bands and orchestras.

[7] After high school, he began private independent studies in composition and orchestration at the Village East Conservatory of Music.

Following the years at the conservatory and few scoring projects, he attended Mannes College of Music in New York City for further education in composition and orchestration.

[8] Riepl began his career working as an assistant and co-writing partner for Kevin Manthei in the early 2000s.

[9] At the time, Cliff Bleszinski, former design director at Epic Games, who was then looking for a different musical sound for the Unreal franchise, played his demo reel.