BMI composer Harry Gregson-Williams will receive the 2006 Richard Kirk Award for Outstanding Career Achievement at the performing right organization’s Film & Television Awards slated for Wednesday, May 17 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. The black-tie, invitation-only dinner will also honor the composers of the past year’s top-grossing films, top-rated prime-time network television series and highest-ranking cable network programs.
The award for Outstanding Career Achievement is named after past BMI Vice President Richard Kirk and is given annually to a composer who has made significant contributions to the field of film and television music. Past honorees include Jerry Goldsmith, Thomas Newman, Michael Kamen, Mark Mothersbaugh, Danny Elfman, Alan Menken, Mike Post, Lalo Schifrin and John Williams.
One of Hollywood’s most sought-after composers, Golden Globe nominee Harry Gregson-Williams has infused his unique musical talent into the scores of such diverse films as The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, Man on Fire, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, Spy Game, Shrek, Shrek 2, Chicken Run, Kingdom of Heaven, Antz and Domino. The British-born composer, who was named Composer of the Year at the 2005 Hollywood Film Festival, is currently working on the music to Shrek the Third, Déjà Vu and the Narnia sequel, Prince Caspian.
The gala ceremony, which will also salute BMI’s Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy-winning composers, will feature an award for the most performed song from a motion picture, as well as the Classic Contribution Award to past Richard Kirk honoree Earle Hagen. The 2006 BMI Film & Television Awards will be hosted by Del Bryant, President & CEO, along with Doreen Ringer Ross, Vice President of Film/TV Relations.
Now celebrating more than 65 years in business, BMI is an American performing rights organization that represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in all genres of music. With a repertoire of more than 6.5 million musical works from around the world, the non-profit-making corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.