Some of the greatest action-packed, romantic and thrilling film scenes of our time wouldn’t have you on the edge of your seat without carefully crafted music moving the story along. In Biola’s new media composition program, music students focus on learning the ins and outs of composing captivating scores for film, television and video games. Partnering with Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts, conservatory and film students get the opportunity to collaborate and make engaging music for compelling films. Once every year, conservatory students in the new media concentration get together to host a Film Composer’s Concert, presenting their own film scores with stunning visuals from nature scenes, film clips and artwork.
A TRADITION OF TUNES
Jason Liang, the composer concert’s emcee for the last two years, is a fifth year new media concentration who hosted rows of conservatory students and inspired guests in the Crowell School of Business building’s Moats Lecture Hall on Oct. 4. The audience watched students present their charming orchestral and contemporary film scores. The scores played alongside scenes of student films, speed-drawings and photos of medieval scenes to depict what kind of film the score might be used for.
Liang has continued coordinating and hosting the concert, which has been a campus tradition for several years since the Film Music Guild began, as a way to connect composers with film students.
“Being in the midst of the creative process really is the best part, so being able to show that off, connect with other people and get that recognition is really fulfilling,” Liang said.
After years of composer concerts, the event continues to be a lively time for composers to put themselves out there and bring their vibrant works from the studio to the screen.
“It really is a joy to meet people of all walks of life and all perspectives, bringing their visions into whatever work they’re doing, whether it be their original pieces … or filmmakers who put hours of time into planning films,” Liang said.
