Bios
Angel Velez, Co-founder/Director
Angel Velez is an internationally acclaimed conductor known for seamlessly bridging the worlds of film music and classical performance. He has conducted orchestras across North and South America, Europe, and Asia, bringing cinematic scores to the concert stage with both artistry and impact.
Velez has led world premiere performances of major film and television scores, including Captain Marvel, Green Book, and The Book of Boba Fett, and worked on projects such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels, and Family Guy. He has appeared with numerous orchestras in pops programs that combine Hollywood storytelling with symphonic depth.
David Newman, Co-founder
David Newman is one of today’s most accomplished creators of music for film. In his 25-year career, he has scored over 100 films, ranging from War of the Roses, Matilda, Bowfinger and Heathers, to the more recent The Spirit, and Serenity, Behaving Badly and Tarzan. Newman’s music has brought to life the critically acclaimed dramas Brokedown Palace and Hoffa; top-grossing comedies Norbit, Scooby-Doo, Galaxy Quest, The Nutty Professor, The Flintstones, Throw Mama From the Train; and award- winning animated films Ice Age, The Brave Little Toaster and Anastasia.
Conrad Pope, Faculty
Award-winning composer Conrad Pope is making waves in Hollywood. "Fresh and top flight," raves Variety about his music. Pope's scores range over the entire cinematic spectrum. "Emotionally evocative", his music expertly creates for each film what The Hollywood Reporter called "sub-textural punch". His most recent score as composer is Harvey Weinstein’s production of Simon Curtis’ film “My Week with Marilyn”, starring Michelle Williams and Kenneth Brannagh. The soundtrack, featuring Lang Lang on piano, is available on Sony Classics.
William Ross, Faculty
William Ross is a prolific award-winning composer and arranger whose work has spanned feature films, the recording industry and television. He has composed music for such films as The Tale of Despereaux, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, 50 To 1, Ladder 49, Tuck Everlasting, and My Dog Skip. He also adapted and conducted the score to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. His work in television includes the score to Hallmark Hall of Fame’s In My Dreams, Lifetime’s Steel Magnolias, the critically acclaimed mini series Me and My Shadows, Life with Judy Garland, as well as the Emmy-winning music for the Tiny Toon Adventures’ episode “Fields of Honey.”