Up Against the Screen and the Pickford Ensemble
The educational mission of Up Against the Screen is to train young composers and performing musicians in the art and presentation of composition for multimedia. Composing for a select chamber ensemble comprised entirely of collegiate instrumentalists, our student composers selected to participate in this project learn to develop an effective music score for live players that supports the visual drama on the screen. The Pepperdine student instrumentalists in The Pickford Ensemble perform this music and learn the special and valuable discipline of performance with another linear artistic medium such as silent film and animation, which requires the performer to be constantly "on and present" at every moment.
The Pickford Ensemble
Under the direction of Dr. Hanks, this new music ensemble is dedicated to performing the music of contemporary composers, including our own composition students. Selected by audition, the Pickford Ensemble represents Pepperdine's finest student instrumentalists and singers.
Past Projects
Up Against the Screen I (2013-2014)
Up Against the Screen I (2013-2014) -funding provided by The Mary Pickford Foundation
The Pickford Composers (2013-2014) Matthew Aune, Thomas Yee, and Andy Gladbach.
The Pickford Ensemble (2013-2014): Stephanie Yoon, flute; Mandy Williams, oboe; Scott Woods, saxophone; Jared Chumsae, horn; Max Ginnell, percussion; Alex Park, guitar; Andrew Gladbach, piano;Niki Fukada, violin; Hannah Samson, viola; Edward Kang, violoncello; Kai de Becker, contrabass.
Composer-in Residence, Jonathan Newman (2013-2014)
Up Against the Screen II (2015-2016)
Up Against the Screen II (2015-2016) -funding provided by The Mary Pickford Foundation
The Pickford Composers (2015-2016): Jens Ibsen, Max Ginnell, and Jared Taylor with Professor N. Lincoln Hanks, and Elaina Archer (Director of Legacy and Archiving), and Henry Sotsenberg (Chairman and CEO) from the Mary Pickford Foundation.
The Pickford Ensemble (2015-2016): Stephanie Yoon, flute; David Oh, clarinet; Max Ginnell, percussion and keyboard; Marco Leong, percussion; Alexis Raymond, soprano; Rebecca Calis, mezzo-soprano; Jon Gibson, tenor; Andrew Leidenthall, baritone; Sergio Gallardo, guitar; Andrew Urias, guitar and elec. guitar; Dyer Bowers, violin; Meriel Peterson, violin; Pierre Viallant, cello; Kai de Becker, double bass; Alex Park, guitar (not pictured).
Composer-in Residence, Missy Mazzoli (2015-2016)
Up Against the Screen III (2017-2018)
Up Against the Screen III (2017-2018) funding provided by David Ferguson
The Pickford Composers (2017-2018): Joshua Edward, Wynn Nordlund, Jeremy Zerbe
The Pickford Ensemble (2017-2018):
Rebecca Franklin, flute; Stephanie Burris, clarinet; David Fraley, piano (Yamaha Motif); Wynn Nordlund, synthesizer (Laptop with Omnisphere 2); Abigail Gast, percussion and mezzo-soprano; Emma Ujifusa, soprano; Danielle Adair, mezzo-soprano; Alexa Birt, violin; Rachel Miner, viola; William Castro, cello. N. Lincoln Hanks, conductor; Joshua Edward, assistant.
Don Freund, composer-in-residence (2017-2018)