FMS FEATURE [Standard Operating Procedure: American Youth Symphony Salutes Danny Elfman

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FMS FEATURE...

April 18, 2012
Standard Operating Procedure: American Youth Symphony Salutes Danny Elfman
Free symposium and concert May 6 at UCLA Royce Hall by Marilee Bradford

Westwood, Calif.—The celebrated American Youth Symphony will introduce The Elfman Project, a three-part series exploring the music of award-winning film and television composer Danny Elfman, beginning with a symposium and concert on Sunday, May 6, at Royce Hall on the Westwood campus of UCLA.

The 4 p.m. symposium, co-sponsored by The Film Music Society, will present Elfman in conversation with Variety writer and film-music historian Jon Burlingame and composer David Newman, who serves as President of both the AYS and the FMS. Newman will conduct the orchestra in selections from Elfman's score for Errol Morris' critically acclaimed documentary about the notorious Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse, Standard Operating Procedure (2008).

At 7 p.m., the concert's first act will feature AYS Music Director Alexander Treger conducting Stravinsky's Suite No. 2 for Small Orchestra and Bartok's Divertimento for Strings.

David Newman conducts violinist Alexander Treger and the American Youth Symphony

In the second act, Burlingame will host as Newman leads the 130-member orchestra in selections devoted to three of Elfman's many notable scores: Sommersby (1993 – Finale, End Credits); Edward Scissorhands (1990 – Introduction, Main Title, "The Tide Turns," "Edward the Barber," "Ice Dance," Finale and End Credits); and Batman (1989 – Main Title, "Descent into Mystery," "Up the Cathedral" and Finale).

Performing in the excerpts from Edward Scissorhands and Batman will be the 32-voice women's chorus. Scissorhands selections will be synchronized to film clips.

The Elfman Project follows a highly successful collaboration between the AYS and the FMS on The Goldsmith Project, a three-part exploration of the music of Jerry Goldsmith.

Events are free of charge, but tickets are required. For more information, please visit http://www.aysymphony.org.

©2012 Marilee Bradford