Photograph by Felicia Caldwell. UCLA Luskin Conference Center, 2019.
Ever since I was a small child, music has been a part of my life. When I was very little, my parents would play Mozart in the house, and turn on the local classical music radio station during long car rides. I loved Bach, Debussy, Ravel, Rachmaninov, danced to many of them in ballet class - but I especially loved programme music: Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet, Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. And programme music is what drew me to film scoring.
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The power of music in storytelling enchants me to this day. It's amazing to me that an ostinato can paint the scene of soft snowfall becoming a whirling blizzard or an arpeggio of stormy seas rocking a lone boat; that a simple melody on a violin can convey all the loss and tragedy in the world (Schindler's List) or all the joy and freedom of flying (How to Train Your Dragon).
When I found myself at UCLA, in the heart of the film world, my love of film scoring drew me to continue to pursue music alongside my engineering studies. I'd thought I might put it on the back burner, but I was surrounded by concerts of film music at the LA Phil, John Williams' annual Maestro of the Movies concert at the Hollywood Bowl, and film scoring giants such as Howard Shore visiting UCLA's own dining halls. So I continued to chase the dream.
I inerned with John Swihart (Sonic Gravy, Inc.; "How I Met Your Mother," "Switched At Birth"); studied briefly with Professor Peter Golub, director for the Sundance Film Music Program; joined UCLA's Bruin Film Society and FPS (Film and Photography Society) Productions, sat in on classes in orchestration, met James Horner's wife (Horner scored films such as Titanic, Avatar, and Braveheart), Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings, Silence of the Lambs) and Snuffy Walden ("The West Wing," "The Wonder Years").
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I also had the honor of being asked by the UCLA Luskin Center to be the inaugural pianist for their student pianist initiative. Although those years are behind me now, it was such a joy and a great experience to be able to perform my own compositions at the Luskin. I'll never forget the kindness I was shown by so many people who came by when I was playing. I'll also never forget the day I had to enter through barricades, with my name on a special list, and the building practically empty except for a squad of secret service...huh!
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Though I am at peace with my music now being a hobbyist creative outlet rather than a career choice, all these experiences enriched my musical journey. I am insanely grateful for all of the opportunities I had, and look forward to continuing to create, enjoy, and share music with everyone in my life.
Photograph by Benjamin Nieves. The Recording Place in Rocklin, California - 2019.