Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Country

:

United States of America

Birth

:

April 4, 1922 in New York City, NY

Death

:

August 18, 2004 in Ojai, CA

Genre

:

Film

 

Elmer Bernstein was an American composer and conductor who was born on April 4, 1922, in New York City. He was the son of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants and grew up in a musical family. His father was a composer and conductor, and his mother was a pianist. Bernstein began studying piano at a young age and later learned to play the clarinet and saxophone. Bernstein attended the Walden School, a progressive school for the arts in New York, where he studied composition with Aaron Copland. He later attended the Juilliard School, where he studied with Stefan Wolpe and Roger Sessions. During World War II, Bernstein served in the Army Air Corps and played in the band. After the war, Bernstein began his career as a composer and arranger for radio and television. He worked on shows such as "The Honeymooners" and "The Phil Silvers Show." In 1951, he composed the score for the film "Saturday's Hero," which was his first feature film score. Bernstein's breakthrough came in 1955 when he composed the score for the film "The Man with the Golden Arm." The score, which featured a jazz-influenced main theme, was groundbreaking for its time and earned Bernstein his first Academy Award nomination. He went on to compose scores for many other films, including "The Magnificent Seven," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "The Great Escape," and "Ghostbusters." Bernstein was known for his versatility as a composer and his ability to write music in a wide range of styles. He composed scores for Westerns, dramas, comedies, and horror films. He also wrote music for television shows, including "The Twilight Zone" and "National Geographic Explorer." In addition to his work in film and television, Bernstein was also a respected concert composer. He wrote symphonies, concertos, and other works for orchestra. His "Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra" was premiered by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1960 and has since become a popular work in the guitar repertoire. Bernstein was also a conductor and led many orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He was known for his dynamic and expressive conducting style and was highly regarded by his colleagues and audiences alike. Throughout his career, Bernstein received many awards and honors for his work. He won an Academy Award for his score for "Thoroughly Modern Millie" in 1967 and was nominated for 14 other Oscars throughout his career. He also won a Golden Globe, a Grammy, and an Emmy. In 2004, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Elmer Bernstein passed away on August 18, 2004, at the age of 82. He left behind a legacy of memorable and influential music that continues to be celebrated and performed today.

More....