Joan and Jeff Beal have donated $2 million to the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to support commissions for composers working in film and other media. Photo by Brian Feinzimer.
In Monday’s (11/4) Variety (Los Angeles), Jon Burlingame writes, “Emmy-winning composer Jeff Beal (‘House of Cards’) and his wife Joan have donated $2 million to the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to fund original works for the concert hall by film, TV and game composers. LACO executive director Ben Cadwallader announced the gift [on] Sunday at the Steinway Piano Gallery in Beverly Hills attended by LACO executives, music director Jaime Martín, and members of the L.A. music community. Cadwallader said that they are hoping to match the Beal gift with other donations to create a $4 million endowment fund … ‘There is an awkward, odd disconnect between the concert stage and the composers of Hollywood, and the music they create,’ Beal said. “This is an effort to give back, to support a wonderful orchestra of folks who’ve played on our scores for years, and try and influence the conversation around the concert stage and the deep pool of brilliant composers in Los Angeles and beyond.’… The initial three composers commissioned by the ‘Joan and Jeff Beal Fund for Living Composers’ are Michael Abels (‘Get Out’) …; Irish conductor-composer Eímear Noone (‘World of Warcraft’ video game) …; and Austin Wintory (‘Journey’ video game).”
