City Proclamation and Honor Presented in Conjunction with The Newport Beach Film Festival’s Composer Symposium and “To Kill A Mockingbird” Screening

Elmer Bernstein Day was officially declared by Newport Beach Mayor Tod W. Ridgeway on Sunday, April 14, 2002. In a mayoral proclamation read at the conclusion of the screening of “To Kill A Mockingbird,” Bernstein’s legacy to the film industry, music and music education was cited. Three surprise visitors paying tribute to Bernstein were actors Mary (“Scout”) Badham, Phillip (“Jem”) Alford and the Academy Award^®-winning art director of the film, Henry Bumstead.

The evening was also celebrated with a dinner at Big Canyon Country Club, hosted by Cece DeMille Presley, granddaughter of the legendary Cecil B. DeMille. Mr. DeMille, defying a tacit “graylist,” hired the Maestro to compose the score for “The Ten Commandments.”