Hollywood’s Music Man Visits Tri-C

Composer James Newton Howard featured in Oct. 10 program at Metro Campus

Composer and eight-time Oscar nominee James Newton Howard will discuss his work in film and music at Metropolitan Campus as part of the Tri-C Performing Arts season presented Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®).

The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, in the Fran and Jules Belkin Theatre at the Gill and Tommy LiPuma Center for Creative Arts, 2809 Woodland Ave. in Cleveland. Howard will tell stories and share clips from several films he scored.

His storied career includes credits for more than 130 motion picture and television soundtracks.

“Mr. Howard has been quoted as saying music is the final edit of a film,” said Terri Pontremoli, director of Tri-C Performing Arts and Tri-C JazzFest. “His presentation will give us an inside look at the highly complicated process that ultimately makes movie music so compelling and enduring.”

Howard has received eight Oscar nominations for his work in film, including six for Best Original Score (Defiance, Michael Clayton, The Village, My Best Friend's Wedding, The Fugitive and The Prince of Tides) and two for Best Original Song (Junior and One Fine Day).

His long list of movie credits also includes all four installments of The Hunger Games; The Dark Knight (for which he won a 2009 Grammy Award along with Hans Zimmer); I Am Legend; Maleficent; Snow White and The Huntsman; Signs; The Sixth Sense; and Pretty Woman.

Howard’s success reflects the experiences of a rich musical past. Inspired by his grandmother, a classical violinist who played in the Pittsburgh Symphony in the ’30s and ’40s, he began his studies on the piano at age 4.  

Though his training was classical, it was his time in the pop/rock arena that allowed him to hone his talents as a musician, arranger, songwriter and producer. He worked with some of music’s  biggest names, including Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Bob Seger, Chicago and Chaka Khan.

But when he was offered his first film, Head Office, in 1985, he knew he had found his calling.

Tickets for the event are $10 and can be purchased at www.tri-c.edu/jameshoward. Students receive free admission with valid identification but must register in advance. Tickets can also be bought at the door on the night of the event.

Tri-C’s 2018-2019 Performing Arts season features 10 productions showcasing classical piano, jazz and dance. It is designed to bring a world-class artistic experience to the Greater Cleveland community. To learn more, visit www.tri-c.edu/performingarts.

September 20, 2018

John Horton, 216-987-4281 john.horton@tri-c.edu