BMI honored the composers of music featured in the past year's top-grossing films, top-rated prime-time network television series and highest-ranking cable network programs May 21 at its annual Film & Television Awards. Held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the black-tie gala was hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Film/TV Relations Vice President Doreen Ringer Ross, who handed out more than 80 BMI Crystals throughout the evening.

View Full List of Award Winners

A highlight of the ceremony took the form of the Richard Kirk Award presentation to esteemed composer Christopher Young. Named after late BMI Vice President Richard Kirk, the prestigious award is given annually to a composer who has made significant contributions to film and television music. As the 2008 honoree, Christopher Young joins an elite list of peers that includes George S. Clinton, Harry Gregson-Williams (PRS), Jerry Goldsmith, Thomas Newman, Michael Kamen, Mark Mothersbaugh, Danny Elfman, Alan Menken, Mike Post, Lalo Schifrin and John Williams.

Award-winning composer Christopher Young has carved out an enviable niche in the upper pantheon of Hollywood composers. The UCLA Film School alumnus first turned heads with fiendish scores for horror and science fiction projects, and he proceeded to garner accolades for work on macabre and fantastical films including Hellraiser, its Saturn award-winning sequel and Species, along with BMI award-winners Ghost Rider, The Grudge and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Young became a master of suspense, composing music for thrillers including Copycat and BMI honoree Entrapment, as well as dramatic and critical tours-de-force including Golden Globe nominee The Shipping News, Wonder Boys, Rounders and BMI award-winner Swordfish. He also fleshed out the haunting nuances and electrifying action sequences of box office gold Spiderman 3. The New Jersey native has also excelled in television composition, earning two Emmy nominations for telefilms Last Flight Out and Norma Jean & Marilyn. A dedicated mentor, Young has taught classes at USC, served as an advisor for the Sundance Institute's Film Composers Lab and created an innovative residential development to house aspiring composers in Los Angeles.

BMI also presented the Classic Contribution Award to Peter Golub in recognition of his progressive direction of the Sundance Institute's Film Composers Lab for the past ten years. An accomplished composer of film, theatre, ballet and concert works, Golub is a natural fit for the lab, which aims to enhance the role of music in independent film. His acute composition work includes scores for documentaries I.O.U.S.A. and Wordplay, along with films including The Great Debaters. Universally acknowledged as an unparalleled apprenticeship for the next generation of composing elite, the workshop has invaluably benefited from Golub's creative intuition and steady guidance.

BMI's Emmy-winning composers were also feted; the accomplished list included George Fenton (PRS) for the awe-inspiring documentary Planet Earth: Pole to Pole; William Ross for the 79th Annual Academy Awards; Lenny Williams for Nature: Christmas in Yellowstone; Yoav Goren for The XX Olympic Winter Games: The Stories of Torino; Katreese Barnes for Saturday Night Live's "Dick in a Box"; Gary Deinstadt, Billy Barber, Ron Komie, Danny Pelfrey and David Traugh for Guiding Light; along with Wes Boatman and John Henry Kreitler for "Love is Ecstasy" from Passions.

Legendary rocker turned lauded composer Pete Townshend (PRS) took home the evening's most awards, with three BMI Crystals for CSI, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY. Composers garnering two awards each were Steve Jablonsky for Transformers and Desperate Housewives; Rupert Gregson-Williams (PRS) for Bee Movie and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry; George Fenton for Fool's Gold and Planet Earth: Pole to Pole; Mychael Danna for Surf's Up and Medium; Aaron Zigman for Step Up 2: The Streets and Why Did I Get Married?; Kevin Kiner for Amazing Race and CSI: Miami; Mike Post for Law & Order and Law & Order SVU; and Matt Koskenmaki for Hell's Kitchen and The Ultimate Fighter.

The night's winning composers for top-grossing films and critically acclaimed gems also included past Richard Kirk Award recipient Harry Gregson-Williams (PRS) for Shrek the Third, Trevor Rabin for National Treasure: Book of Secrets, legendary composer and past Richard Kirk Award recipient Lalo Schifrin for Rush Hour 3, John Ottman for Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Mark Mancina for television drama Criminal Minds, Randy Edelman for romantic comedy 27 Dresses, Tyler Bates for horror favorite Halloween and pop music architect Brian Wilson for HBO dramedy series Big Love.

Prolific composer Christopher Young will be this year's honoree to receive the Richard Kirk Award for outstanding career achievement.

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Prolific composer Christopher Young will receive the Richard Kirk Award for outstanding career achievement at BMI's annual Film & Television Awards on Wednesday, May 21 in Los Angeles. Staged at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the black-tie, invitation-only dinner will also honor the composers of the past year's top-grossing films, top-rated prime-time network television series and highest-ranking cable network programs. BMI's President & CEO Del Bryant, and BMI's Vice President, Film/TV Relations, Doreen Ringer Ross, will host the event.

Named in honor of former BMI Vice President and film & television department founder Richard Kirk, the Richard Kirk Award is bestowed on composers who have made significant contributions to the realm of film and television. As the 2008 honoree, Christopher Young joins an elite list of peers that includes George S. Clinton, Harry Gregson-Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Thomas Newman, Michael Kamen, Mark Mothersbaugh, Danny Elfman, Alan Menken, Mike Post, Lalo Schifrin and John Williams.

Award-winning composer Christopher Young has carved out his enviable niche in the upper pantheon of Hollywood composers with unusual speed and unerring flair. The UCLA Film School alumnus first turned heads with fiendish scores for horror and science fiction projects, and he proceeded to garner accolades for work on macabre and fantastical films including Hellraiser, its Saturn award-winning sequel and Species, along with BMI award-winners Ghost Rider, The Grudge and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Young became a master of suspense, composing music for thrillers including Copycat and BMI honoree Entrapment, as well as dramatic and critical tours-de-force including Golden Globe nominee The Shipping News, Wonder Boys, Rounders and BMI award-winner Swordfish. He also fleshed out the haunting nuances and electrifying action sequences of box office gold Spiderman 3. The New Jersey native has also excelled in television composition, earning two Emmy nominations for telefilms Last Flight Out and Norma Jean & Marilyn. A dedicated mentor, Young has taught classes at USC, served as an advisor for the Sundance Institute Film Composers Lab and created an innovative residential development to house aspiring composers in Los Angeles. He describes his progressive two-pronged approach to composition as the exploration of the contemporary music's abstract ideas and the infinite pursuit of "the great American tune."

The ceremony will salute BMI's Emmy-winning composers from the past year. BMI will also present the Classic Contribution Award to Peter Golub in recognition of his progressive direction of the Sundance Institute Film Composers Lab for the past ten years. An accomplished composer of film, theatre, ballet and concert works, Golub is a natural fit for the lab, which aims to enhance the role of music in independent film. Universally acknowledged as an unparalleled apprenticeship for the next generation of composing elite, the workshop has invaluably benefited from Golub's creative intuition and steady guidance.

Focusing on the dialog and relationship between composer and director, the panel is a cornerstone discussion at the festival on the role of music in film. Topics to be discussed at the panel will include: what goes into creating a successful film score and what makes for an effective composer/director relationship? These questions and others will be answered during this revered festival event.

Panelists scheduled to speak include composers George S. Clinton (Austin Powers), Christopher Young (Sleepwalking), John Frizzell (Henry Poole Is Here), BT (Monster), Peter Golub (I.O.U.S.A., Frozen River, Sundance Composer Lab Director), David Schwartz (Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson), Mervyn Warren (A Raisin In The Sun), Henning Lohner (Love Comes Lately), Mark de gli Antoni (Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired), Christopher Anderson-Bizzoli (The Wind and the Water) and Neal Evans (The Black List).

Filmmakers scheduled to speak include Timothy Greenfield Sanders (The Black List), Amy Redford (The Guitar), Alex Gibney (Gonzo: the Life & Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson), and Patrick Creadon (I.O.U.S.A.), Jan Schuette (Love Comes Lately), and Craig Zadan (A Raisin In The Sun). The discussion will be moderated by Doreen Ringer Ross, Vice President, Film/TV Relations at BMI.

BMI has been an ongoing supporter of the film music program at the Sundance Film Festival as well as at the Sundance Composers Lab, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary. BMI will host the sixth annual Sundance Snowball on January 23 from 6-9 p.m., featuring Six Degrees recording artist Cheb i Sabbah, Steve Smith from rock group Dirty Vegas, Nick Urata from gypsy rock group DeVotchKa and Los Angeles roots/rock/reggae group The Aggrolites.

For more information on BMI events at Sundance as well as on-site coverage of the Festival, please visit bmi.com/sundance.

Sundance Film Festival

Sundance Film Festival is the premier showcase for U.S. and international independent film. Held each January in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah, the Festival is a core program of Sundance Institute, a nonprofit cultural organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Presenting dramatic and documentary feature-length films in nine distinct categories and approximately 80 short films each year, the Sundance Film Festival has introduced American audiences to some of the most innovative films of the past two decades. Since 1984, the Festival program has evolved to include music, art, and dialogue. Beyond the streets of Park City, the official website of the Sundance Film Festival, http://www.sundance.org/festival shares the Festival experience with a global audience with short films, filmmaker interviews, video episodes, podcasts, photos, news stories, and more.

George S. Clinton

BMI Classic Contribution Award

Lucas Richman

BMI Film Music Awards

David Arnold: Casino Royale
Tyler Bates: 300
Teddy Castellucci: Wild Hogs
Teddy Castellucci: Little Man
George S. Clinton: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
Charlie Clouser: Saw III
Mychael Danna: Little Miss Sunshine
Alexandre Desplat (Sacem) The Queen
Danny Elfman: Meet The Robinsons
Danny Elfman: Charlotte’s Web
Danny Elfman: Nacho Libre
Harry Gregson-Williams: Flushed Away
Harry Gregson-Williams: Déjà Vu
Rupert Gregson-Williams: Over The Hedge
Rupert Gregson-Williams: Click
John Murphy (PRS): Miami Vice
David Newman: Norbit
John Ottman: Superman Returns
Theodore Shapiro: The Devil Wears Prada
Theodore Shapiro: Blades Of Glory
Theodore Shapiro: You, Me And Dupree
Alex Wurman: Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby
Christopher Young: Ghost Rider
Aaron Zigman: Bridge To Terabithia
Aaron Zigman: Step Up

Oscar Award Winner

Gustavo Santaolalla: Babel

Golden Globe Award Winner

Alexandre Desplat (Sacem): The Painted Veil

BMI Television Awards

Chris Daughtry: American Idol
Carim Clasmann (PRS): Grey’s Anatomy
Galia Durant (PRS): Grey’s Anatomy
Pete Townshend (PRS): CSI
Danny Elfman: Desperate Housewives
Steve Jablonsky: Desperate Housewives
Robert Del Naja (PRS): House
Grantley Marshall (PRS): House
Andrew Vowles (PRS): House
Kevin Kiner: CSI: Miami
Pete Townshend (PRS): CSI: Miami
Mark Mancina: Criminal Minds
Bill Brown: CSI: NY
Pete Townshend (PRS): CSI: NY
Brian Kirk:  Ncis
Chuck Lorre: Two And A Half Men
Dain Blair:  Deal Or No Deal
Tony Phillips: Deal Or No Deal
Joel Wachbrit: Shark
Peter Manning Robinson: Without A Trace
Mike Post:  Law & Order: Svu
Jeff Beal:  Ugly Betty
Martin Davich: ER
David Schwartz: Rules Of Engagement
Rob Cairns:  Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Charlie Clouser: Numb3rs
Chris Wagner: The New Adventures Of Old Christine

Emmy Award Winners

Edward Shearmur: Masters Of Horror
Chris Biondo: National Geographic Explorer - Deadly Love
Harry Leonard Williams: National Geographic Explorer - Deadly Love
Greg O’connor: “A Wonderfully Normal Day” From MADTV
Jim Wise:  “A Wonderfully Normal Day” From MADTV
Bradley Hatfield: “Sunshine” From THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

BMI Cable Awards

Natasha Bedingfield (PRS): The Hills
Danielle Brisebois: The Hills
James Levine: The Closer
Alex Wolff: The Naked Brothers Band
Michael Wolff: The Naked Brothers Band
Nat Wolff:  The Naked Brothers Band
Howlin’ Wolf: The Sopranos
James Johnston: WWE Raw
Bruce Hanifan: Deadliest Catch
Terri Nunn: Angela’s Eyes
Mitchell Sigman: Angela’s Eyes
Steve Hampton: The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody
Gary Scott: The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody
Gwendolyn Sanford: Weeds
Gary Stockdale: Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
Rolfe Kent: Dexter
Daniel Licht: Dexter
Matt Koskenmaki: The Ultimate Fighter
Jarrid Mendelson: The Ultimate Fighter
James Levine: Nip/Tuck

BMI honored the composers and songwriters of the music from the past year's top-grossing films, top-rated prime-time network television series and highest-ranking cable network programs at its annual Film & Television Awards. Held May 17 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, the black-tie gala was hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Film/TV Relations Vice President Doreen Ringer Ross, who handed out more than 100 BMI Crystals throughout the evening.

	BMI Film/TV Awards Photo Slideshow
	2006 Film/TV Awards list
	Harry Gregson-Williams Bio

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the BMI Richard Kirk Award for Outstanding Career Achievement to versatile film composer Harry Gregson-Williams. Named after late BMI Vice President Richard Kirk, the prestigious award is given annually to a composer who has made significant contributions to film and television music. Past honorees include Jerry Goldsmith, Mike Post, Thomas Newman, Michael Kamen, Mark Mothersbaugh, Lalo Schifrin, Danny Elfman, Alan Menken and John Williams.

Harry Gregson-Williams	Earle Hagen

One of Hollywood's most sought-after composers, Harry Gregson-Williams has infused his unique musical talent into the scores of such diverse films as The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, Man on Fire, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Shrek, Shrek 2, Spy Game, Chicken Run, Kingdom of Heaven, Antz and Domino. The British-born Golden Globe nominee, who was named Composer of the Year at the 2005 Hollywood Film Festival, is currently working on the music to Shrek the Third and Déja Vu.

Celebrated BMI composer Earle Hagen received the Classic Contribution Award in recognition of more than 50 years as a BMI affiliate. He was also cited for 10 years of dedication as a mentor and teacher of the BMI workshop he founded in 1986, where he was instrumental in fostering the careers of many young film and television composers. A past Richard Kirk Award recipient, Hagen has written some of the most memorable themes in TV music history, including The Andy Griffith Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, I Spy, Make Room for Daddy, Gomer Pyle, USMC, That Girl and The Mod Squad, among others. He is also the author of three books, two of which are considered the definitive textbooks in the film scoring field.

BMI's Oscar-, Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning composers were also feted, including Latin rock pioneer Gustavo Santaolalla, whose Brokeback Mountain music earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Score and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for "A Love That Will Never Grow Old" from the movie's soundtrack. Danny Elfman's Emmy-winning theme to the ABC hit Desperate Housewives gave the composer two of his three wins; his score to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory also earned him a BMI Film/TV Award.

The gala ceremony also honored Rolfe Kent for the comedies Failure to Launch and Wedding Crashers, Trevor Rabin for sports drama Coach Carter, BMI Icon Brian Wilson for the theme to HBO's Big Love, Mark Mothersbaugh for the underscore to Big Love and family film Herbie: Fully Loaded, Charlie Clouser for the sequel Saw II and hit TV show Numb3rs, John Williams for the Golden Globe-winning Memoirs of a Geisha and blockbuster film War of the Worlds, David Newman for the romantic comedy Monster-In-Law, Alex Wurman for the groundbreaking documentary March of the Penguins, and Christopher Young for the horror movie The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

BMI Television and Cable Awards went to Steve Jablonsky for Desperate Housewives, Larry Groupe for Commander in Chief, Kevin Kiner for CSI: Miami, Peter Manning Robinson for Without a Trace, Charlie Midnight for Daisy Does America, James Levine for The Closer, and Dain Blair and Tony Phillips for the hit series Deal Or No Deal and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Also taking home multiple BMI Crystals were repeat triple winner Pete Townshend (PRS) for CSI, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY, as well as double winners Dominic Messinger for the soaps All My Children and One Life to Live, and Mike Post for the long-running Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

During the two-week intensive lab, Fellows participate in workshops and creative exercises under the guidance of leading film composers and film music professionals. The Composers Lab participants also collaborate with filmmakers from the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program as well as the Sundance Documentary Program to explore the process of writing music for film and to create accompanying scores for scenes shot by the Filmmaker Fellows during the Institute's Filmmakers Lab.

The Composers Lab is a major component of the Sundance Institute Film Music Program, which is dedicated to supporting emerging film composers and enhancing the role of music in independent film. First offered from 1986-1989, the Composers Lab was re-introduced in the summer of 1998 with the support of BMI to provide a collaborative and supportive environment where composers can experiment and expand their musical language. The Sundance Composers Lab provides valuable first-hand experience in composing for film and enhances the musical understanding of independent filmmakers participating in the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program.

"BMI has been a part of the Lab from its inception, and it's become a vital educational experience for many of our composers," said Doreen Ringer Ross, Vice President, Film/TV Relations at BMI, who serves as a Creative Advisor for the Lab. "It's been a great vehicle for unique composers with experience in other areas to learn the craft of dramatic underscore as well as engage in direct interaction with filmmakers."

"Music is a crucial and often overlooked part of the filmmaking process," explains Peter Golub, Director of the Sundance Institute Film Music Program. "This Lab provides a unique opportunity for emerging composers and directors to work together in an atmosphere that encourages experimentation. Interest in this program continues to grow and this year's Fellows represent an extraordinary level of accomplishment and range of musical experience. We're very excited about the work we'll be doing with them and the impact we will have on the Fellows from the Filmmakers Lab and the Documentary Program.""

In addition to their work with the Filmmakers Lab, Composers Lab Fellows will work under the mentorship of a distinguished group of composers, filmmakers, and film industry professionals who serve as Creative Advisors, including BMI's Ringer Ross; world renowned musicians Maya Beiser (cellist) and Steven Schick (percussionist); director John Waters (A Dirty Shame, Hairspray, Pink Flamingos); film composers Jeff Beal (Pollack, In the Realms of the Unreal, Carnivale), George S. Clinton (Austin Powers trilogy, Joe Somebody, A Dirty Shame), James Newton Howard (The Village, Hidalgo, Snow Falling on Cedars) and Christopher Young (The Hurricane, The Grudge, Wonder Boys); classical composer Osvaldo Golijov (The Man Who Cried, "La Pasi�n Seg�n San Marcos" ["St. Mark's Passion"]); Paul Broucek, President, Music, New Line Cinema; sound editor Jon Johnson; music supervisors Evyen Klean (Angels in America, S.W.A.T., Real Women Have Curves) and Tracy McKnight (Everyday People, My Architect: A Son's Journey, The United States of Leland); film music agent Robert Messinger (First Artists); filmmaker Robb Moss (The Same River Twice); and music editor Adam Smalley.

The Sundance Institute Composers Lab continues to receive major support from founding sponsor BMI; additional in-kind support is generously provided by Alesis, LaCie, Mark of the Unicorn, Mackie and Yamaha.

2005 Sundance Institute Conductors Lab Fellows:

Don Byron
Bronx-born clarinetist Don Byron is a singular voice in a dizzying range of musical contexts, redefining every genre of music he plays, be it classical, salsa, hip-hop, funk, klezmer, or any jazz style from swing and bop to cutting-edge improvisation. He has composed and arranged music for jazz and chamber ensembles, for films and dance, and has recorded ten albums as a leader for Blue Note and Nonesuch Records.

Barbara Cohen
Barbara Cohen is a gifted vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mandolin, flute, piccolo etc). Her intricate body of work embraces a variety of musical genres from folk, roots rock, trip-hop, electronica and world music. This former Virgin Records recording artist has been the recipient of many awards including the Minnesota State Arts Board Fellowship Grant for artistry and composition.

Marco d'Ambrosio
Marco's scores have been on projects released by 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures Classics, Lucasfilm, PDI/DreamWorks, Pixar, APPP and Columbia TriStar. He has composed music for the independent features including Haiku Tunnel (Sundance 2001), the anime Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust and Testosterone (Toronto 2003), in theatres on THX, Dolby and Century Theatres trailers and on PBS documentaries including the award winning Blink, They Drew Fire and Double Dare.

Andrea Kapsalis
Andreas Kapsalis' song "Cubist" was recently featured on NPR's "All Songs Considered." He also received high praise from jazz legend Dave Brubeck for an arrangement of the classic song "Blue Rondo a la Turk," recorded in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning producer Jim Tullio. Andreas utilities a rare eight finger guitar technique to demonstrate his ability to play melody, rhythm, and bass simultaneously while exploring the traditions of classical and Mediterranean styles in his compositions.

Ljova (a.k.a. Lev Zhurbin)
Ljova is a composer, arranger and violist. Most recently, Ljova has been collaborating with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project and the Kronos Quartet, among others.

Gyan Riley
Gyan Riley, a 27-year-old California native, has emerged as a prominent figure in the guitar world and the contemporary music scene both as a performer and composer. Concert tours with the Europe-based World Guitar Ensemble, the Los Angeles-based Falla Guitar Trio, and father/composer/pianist Terry Riley, have taken him throughout Europe and the United States to perform originals and works from the repertoire.]]> 2005-07-26T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234042 Artists, Davis, Don, Young, Christopher, Musical Styles, Film-TV Hollywood Entertainment Museum. The exhibit displays works from the Film Noir genre and features BMI composers Don Davis and Christopher Young, along with dozens of other classic and contemporary composers.

Shown at the reception are exhibit co-curator Warren Sherk, BMI composer Christopher Young, exhibit co-curator Jan-Christopher Horak, BMI's Ivanne Deneroff and BMI composer Don Davis.

The exhibit, co-presented by the Film Music Society, runs through June 7 and chronicles the composers' approach to scoring through disc recordings, music sketches and manuscripts, photographs, sheet music, cue sheets and other production-related materials.]]> 2004-04-29T18:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/200010 Artists, Neale-Oestreicher, Stephen, Young, Christopher, Musical Styles, Dance, Film-TV Stephen Neale-Oestreicher, a film scoring major from St. Louis, has been named the 2003 BMI Film Scoring Scholarship recipient at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Christopher Young, Stephen Neale-Oestreicher and BMI's Doreen Ringer-Ross

The BMI Film Scoring Scholarship at Berklee is a yearly tuition scholarship chosen on compositional maturity, talent and financial need, and each year is given in the name of a BMI composer. This year’s scholarship was awarded in the name of Christopher Young.

Berklee College of Music President Lee Eliot Berk; BMI Film Scoring Scholarship recipient Stephen Neale-Oestreicher; film composer Christopher Young; BMI's Doreen Ringer-Ross; and Berklee Film Scoring Department Chair Don Wilkins

Neale-Oestreicher was presented as the scholarship recipient by Young and BMI Vice President, Film/TV Relations Doreen Ringer-Ross during a ceremony February 28 at the school.

“This scholarship continues our mission of supporting young and emerging composers at the college level,” said Ringer-Ross. “We support Berklee’s commitment to excellence in music and film scoring and their determination to further the growth of talented, trained, and educated composers.” Berklee is the only college in the world that offers an undergraduate degree in Film Scoring, one of the fastest growing departments in the college.

Christopher Young speaks to Berklee students

Berklee Film Scoring Department Chair Don Wilkins said, “From his scoring assignments and in our conversations, Steve impresses me as having a mature understanding of dramatic scoring. He demonstrates substantial musical range along with the resourcefulness needed to provide effective emotional support. ”

As part of the ceremonies, Young taught a master class on film scoring and composition and fielded roughly two hours of questions. Young offered honest guidance on the realities of a career in film music, and shared a few keys to his own success, namely passion, confidence, and discipline.

A Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated composer, Young has scored over 70 films in virtually every genre. His credits range from Hellraiser to Swordfish and the Celtic-influenced The Shipping News, for which he received both Critics' Choice and Golden Globe nominations. His score for the thriller Copycat earned Young a BMI Film Award and Species garnered him a Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel nomination.

Neale-Oestreicher will graduate from Berklee in May 2003. Creating soundscapes for theater gave him the impetus to pursue writing music for film. He has worked as a performer, composer, sound designer, and music director for theater productions in Edwardsville, St. Louis, and Arrow Rock, Missouri. His passion to pursue his dream job of writing music for movies led Neale-Oestreicher to Berklee to study film scoring. Prior to attending Berklee, Neale-Oestreicher toured the U.S. for five years with the acapella octet Pieces of 8, with whom he sang bass and recorded two CDs, and illustrated a children's book and cassette. He has played piano since the age of six.

Photos: Farnsworth Blalock Photography]]> 2003-03-06T17:00:00-05:00