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 silent film scoring. 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, which requires the performer to be constantly "on and present" at every moment.

The Pickford Composers

Through a juried process, the music composition faculty at Pepperdine and the composer-in-residence select three students from the composition program to compose new silent film scores.

The Pickford student composers receive special funding at the beginning of the fall semester as they begin work with the understanding that they would complete their scores in a timely fashion and in good form. Films are selected from the archives of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and N. Lincoln Hanks, Director of Music Composition at Pepperdine University, guides these three students through the creative process in private weekly lessons.

In addition to their weekly lessons, a guest professional composer conducts a residency on the Pepperdine campus in the fall semester, working with our student composers in the Pickford program. This composer helps to add a "finishing touch" to our students' efforts.

The Pickford Ensemble

Under the direction of Professor Hanks, this new music ensemble is dedicated to performing this special music. Selected by audition, The Pickford Ensemble represents Pepperdine's finest student performers. Each member receives special funding to participate in the group as they rehearse and perform these original film scores.