August 14, 2002

Film, TV Composers Refine Skills at BMI Film Conducting Workshop

The BMI Film Conducting Workshop recently commenced its fifth year, having had eight BMI-affiliated professional film and television composers complete the two-week course. This year’s students were Tyler Bates (City of Ghosts, Love And A Bullet, Get Carter, Rated X), Jeff Fair (Elian Gonzalez Story, The Division), Jim Levine (What About Joan), Dan Licht (Cabin By The Lake, Children Of The Corn 2 & 3, Splendor), Cliff Martinez (Traffic, Sex, Lies & Videotape), Mike McCuistion (Batman Beyond, Justice League), Pete Scaturro (The Practice) and Alex Wurman (Play It To The Bone, 13 Conversations About One Thing).

Shown l to r: Michael McCuistion; Tyler Bates; Ivanne Deneroff; Pete Scaturro; Doreen Ringer Ross; Lucas Richman; Ray Yee; Jeff Fair; Alex Wurman; Dan Licht. Front kneeling: Cliff Martinez (l) and James Levine

The course focused on developing conducting technique and participants worked with live players ranging from piano duets to a full chamber orchestra. The musical repertoire for the workshop ranged from classical selections to music from commercial films.

Lucas Richman (l) shares a laugh with Cliff Martinez

“Conducting for the Film Composer” is an annual workshop sponsored by BMI and taught by conductor/composer Lucas Richman and held at the Musicians Union.