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Monday, October 22, 2007

Film Scoring: Past and Present

Hollywood film composer and orchestrator, Jeff Atmajian will discuss the styles and processes of film scoring from the 1940s to the present day and will focus on the role of the film composer.

Mr. Atmajian has orchestrated, arranged and composed music for over 140 films, 12 film scores of which have been nominated for the Oscar.

Jeff Atmajian was born and raised in Fresno, CA. He began classical piano lessons at the age of 8 with Esther Frankian. At 15, he took on additional study of traditional jazz piano with Robert Lloyd and then later added studies in progressive (modern) jazz piano with Rick Helzer (3 teachers simultaneously!). He later continued his classical studies with Alan Rea.

Jeff began writing music at the age of 14 as he gained an interest in popular music. In addition to studies in mathematics and computers Jeff pursued a music degree with emphasis in composition California State University of Fresno. It was at this point that his love for symphonic and chamber music began to flourish. During these years he played piano for vocal groups and ballet classes, local theatre productions and the University Jazz band. He was a choir member and pianist at Northwest church 1979 - 1984. It was here that he found many opportunities to play, write and arrange for their vibrant music programs including the children's groups, the volunteer orchestra and significant holiday productions.

After completing his bachelor's degree from Fresno State, Jeff was accepted into the first year of a special studies program at USC for film music. He moved to Los Angeles (Glendale) and supported himself by doing music copying, arranging, playing for dance classes and as pianist for two churches in Orange county.

In 1986 he met English orchestrator Christopher Palmer at a film scoring seesion in Los Angeles and from that contact came the start of what would be a dual life of living and working in L.A. and London.

Jeff has had the pleasure of workign on many projects through which he has met Elmer Bernstein, Andre Previn, Sir Neville marriner, Sir Christopher Plummer, Lord Richard Attenborough, Al Pacino, Rob Reiner Nora Ephron, Barbra Streisand andmany other noted names in the classical and film world. He has worked with all the London Orchestras on classical, popular and film recordings as well as film recordings with the excellent studio orchestras in Los Angeles and New York. After several years of steady work with marc Shaiman, James Newton Howard and Rachel Portman as their orchestrator. Recently he has also enjoyed a working relationship with Gabriel Yared which has brought him the opportunity to do more film score conducting.

Jeff has done projects for Sparrow records such as "The Majesty and Glory of the Ressurection", "The Redeemer" and "Blessed Assurance" all of which he orchestrated and conducted. In 2005 he composed the music for the large production "Creation" at the Crystal Cathedral. In 2006 he composed the score for the documentary "Screamers" about the Armenian genocide. To date it has won several awards and appeared in many prestigious festivals.

Jeff has worked on over 140 films as orchestrator and is pursuing more and more projects as composer and conductor.

More recently, Jeff has played piano and arranged strings for a track on the new album by "Jem" and also lectures at the Rotal College of Music in London and USC.

He divides his life between his homes in Venice Beach and London.

Visit: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0040873

by Jeff Atmajian
B.A. Music 1984
Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator and Conductor of Film Music