james peterson
james peterson
bio//
educated at the ucla school of music, and an adjunct faculty member at santa monica college-emeritus college since 2002, james peterson has an extensive background in composing music for media. he has composed music for more than eighty television commercials, seventy-two episodes of abc's ron hazleton's house calls as well as fifteen motion pictures including the red canvas, margarine wars as well as additional music for the goya-nominated film and score tad, the lost explorer. his concert work moving images suite was recorded by the prague filmharmonic orchestra and was featured at the 82nd annual academy awards. james was named breakout composer of the year by the international film music critics association (ifmca) and won best action adventure score for the red canvas the same year. recently he has turned his attention to the concert stage. in 2016 he received the pittsburgh symphony orchestra's heinz audience of the future award and they premiered his work americana at the heinz hall. he lives in santa monica with his wife kathy, his son keanu and their cats, dragon, lola and chewie.
“you must hear this! it’s been a while since i’ve met a composer whose talent is exploding to greatness, and just waiting to be discovered. james peterson is he. listen and i know you will agree.”
-christopher young
composer
spiderman 3, ghost rider, the hurricane
awards/nominations
pittsburgh symphony orchestra
audience of the future award for "americana" (2016)
salford international composition competition
finalist - 3rd place
international film music critics association (ifmca)
breakout composer of the year
international film music critics association (ifmca)
best action adventure score "the red canvas"
international film music critics association (ifmca)
nomination film music composition of the year "ballet for brawlers"
movie music uk
newcomer of the year
bso goldspirit
jerry goldsmith breakout composer of the year
goya nomination
best score "tad, the lost explorer”
works
electronic//
entropy wins
identity chemicals
orchestra//
wind ensemble//
chamber//
film music//
fleur
actor? a documentary
step 16
money fight aka the red canvas
tad, the lost explorer
margarine wars
zombies and assholes
the hunted
on one night
palms
screed
quietus: to the new world
zombie rights!
the babysitter
the great bazaars
empires of steam
shattered
for billy
ron hazelton's house calls
“i have been very pleased to meet james peterson personally after having thoroughly listened to his music. james is an accomplished composer per se, he knows how to harmonize, to develop, to orchestrate, he has got all the skills and the taste which make a perfect composer. in addition to his talent, he has a great understanding of the pictures and how the music could marry it in the best way possible. it's very refreshing to hear a new, talented and bold composer arriving in the film music space.”
-gabriel yared
academy award winning composer
"the english patient," "the talented mr. ripley," "the lives of others,” "cold mountain"
"james peterson's raucous yet delicately balanced score for the red canvas is like a dozen hypodermic shots of vitamin B injected straight into your bloodstream. the rush of awe that sweeps through you upon your maiden listen is both immediate and impressive."
-scorekeeper
ain't it cool news
discography
"the red canvas must be embraced and celebrated, and why young, massively talented composers like james peterson need to be lauded; debuts as good as this don’t come along very often."
-jonathan broxton
movie music uk
"when i first heard james peterson's score for 'red canvas' i was blown away by the sheer enthusiasm and distinct voice of his orchestral writing. a lot of film music is criticized for sounding like all other film music - but here is a fresh voice who writes for big orchestra like few others in his generation."
-mikael carlsson
executive producer movie score media
"the red canvas soundtrack delivers powerful blows and a knock out punch that packs quite a wallop. if rosza, herrmann, north and all of the other film score heavyweights were still with us, they would be on their feet cheering with delight at this score."
-david coscina
film score monthly
orchestra music
redshift (2015)
3.3.3.2. - 4.3.3.1. - timp; 3 perc; hp; str (9 min) //
americana (2009/2016 version)
3.3.3.2. - 4.3.3.1. - timp; 3 perc; hp; str (4 min) / premiere pittsburgh symphony orchestra /
winner of pittsburgh symphony orchestra heinz audience of the future award (2016)//
moving images suite (2009)
3.3.3.2. - 4.3.3.1. - timp; 3 perc; hp; str (22 min) / prague filmharmonic orchestra / featured at the 82nd annual academy awards //
electronic music
wind ensemble music
molecular machines (2016)
2fl.2ob.2bsn.3bbcl.1bscl.2asx.2tsx.1bsx.3tpt.4hrn.3tbn.1btbn.1euph.1tuba.timp. + 4perc / (4 min) //
chamber music
tetrahedron (2015)
fl.ob.cl.bsn. // (3 min) // premiere chamber music palisades
james peterson studio
contact