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.

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's Doreen Ringer Ross (center) is pictured at the YMF gala with Merv Griffin and John Ottman. Photo by AnnaMaria Disanto

Since 1955, the YMF has provided encouragement and recognition to gifted young musicians from around the country through financial assistance, performance opportunities and music education programs. BMI sponsors various YMF events throughout the year.  ]]> 2006-11-22T03:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334947 Artists, Brown, Bill, Fernandez, Charles , Frizell, John, Holden, Mark, Jones, Ron, Moore, Lennie, Newman, David, Ottman, John, Velasco, Cris, Zigman, Aaron, Musical Styles, Film-TV Composer Expo, presented by Turner Classic Movies and Film Music Magazine. The expo was held in Los Angeles and featured BMI composers David Newman, John Ottman, Aaron Zigman, Charles Fernandez, Mark Holden, Ron Jones, Lennie Moore, John Frizell, Bill Brown and Cris Velasco, who each spoke at the one-day event. Livingston served as a host and judge for TCM's 2006 Young Film Composers Competition dinner and award ceremony, where Los Angeles composer Darrell Raby was chosen as the Grand Prize winner.

Shown at the event are BMI's Anne Cecere and Linda Livingston, composer David Newman, movie critic Leonard Maltin, and TCM's Katherine Evans and Tom Karsch.

The inaugural Composer Expo focused on the artistry and technical craftsmanship of film, television and multimedia music during a 12-hour symposium of seminars, panel discussions, networking and learning opportunities, which brought together the best and brightest composers, music supervisors and other industry professionals.

Shown are (l to r): composer John Debney, BMI composers Basil Poledouris and John Ottman, BMI's Doreen Ringer Ross, Damon Intrabartolo, Carol Goldsmith, Lisbeth Scott and composer John Frizzell.

The three-day conference included an evening concert in the one thousand-year old square, which featured the music of the American composers. In an award ceremony, Carol Goldsmith was given their first award, the "Jerry," which is a caricature statue of the late composer. Honorary president John Frizzell was also awarded a "Jerry" for his support of the event and producing the concert.]]> 2006-08-07T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334615 Artists, Griffin, Merv, Ottman, John Young Musicians Foundation held its annual awards gala recently celebrating 51 years as the premiere youth music organization in the country. Sponsored by BMI, the event honored renowned composer Merv Griffin with the premiere of the "Merv Griffin Rose," the first celebrity flower by Organic Bouquet. Griffin, the winner of last year's YMF Humanitarian Award, was recently named chairman of Foundation's board of directors.

BMI's Ivanne Deneroff, Kraft/Engel Management's Richard Kraft, BMI's Doreen Ringer Ross, BMI composer and YMF honoree John Ottman, and BMI's Linda Livingston

The evening's program featured special performances that included fellow BMI film composer John Ottman (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang; Fantastic Four; X-Men II; The Usual Suspects), who served as guest composer.

YMF Executive Director Edye Rugolo, BMI's Doreen Ringer Ross and BMI composer Merv Griffin

Since 1955, YMF has provided encouragement and recognition to gifted young musicians from around the country through financial assistance, performance opportunities and music education programs. BMI sponsors various YMF events throughout the year.

Photos by Alex Berliner