Soaring Through Sound: Alex Abramson’s Music Journey with Delta Air Lines

Montgomery Bell Academy junior Alex Abramson stands out on The Hill for his wide-ranging talents and curiosity. An AP Scholar and president of the newly formed Rubik’s Cube Club, Alex is also known for making a mean banana bread. Most recently, he has taken his creativity to new heights - literally - by composing original music for an airline’s boarding process.

Alex began playing piano at the age of four and has always enjoyed experimenting with music. Lately, he has explored how music influences the mind and emotions.

"I took a flight a few years ago and the airline had commissioned special music for passengers to listen to as they boarded the airplane," Alex recalled. “It really transformed the experience, changing it from just a ride on a vehicle going from one place to another into an exciting journey.”

That moment sparked an idea. Using skills and software he learned as a freshman in Mrs. Nikki Wilson’s AP Music Theory class, Alex decided to create his own airline boarding music and share it with Delta Air Lines.

Delta provides a top-tier travel experience, but Alex felt something could be added.

“I was on a Delta flight, and I felt the pop song they were playing didn’t really create a sense of theme the way dedicated boarding music does,” he said. “I listened to the pitch of the engine. It was pitched at the note E, so I thought, why not write music in the key of E major?”

The real challenge was getting Delta to listen. Alex searched online for email addresses of the airline’s executives, uncertain if his message would reach anyone. To his surprise, within days, he received a response from the head of Delta Studio, the airline’s seatback entertainment and audio system.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d get a response,” Alex admitted.

The two met over Zoom in January 2024. Alex played his composition, and while Delta couldn’t implement it at the time due to existing contracts, they encouraged him to stay in touch. Over the summer, he refined his idea and taught himself a new music production software.

In December, Delta invited him to its world headquarters in Atlanta. There, he met with another executive, toured the facilities, and played his revised piece, Airline Boarding Music in A Major. Alex’s piece runs just under five minutes, and it evokes a sense of anticipation and calm before a flight.

“I really wanted it to embody the experience of flying and that feeling of a journey,” Alex said. “I love how music can change people’s emotions and create a sense of happiness. In a setting like an airplane, it can also help ease anxiety.”

“I designed the piece to create an airy, floating sensation—like soaring through the clouds,” he added. “I hope it becomes something people recognize and associate with Delta.”

Delta is using Airline Boarding Music in A Major at its training facility for flight attendants, and Alex is optimistic that his work will be recommended for use on actual flights in the coming months.