On the third and final night of the inaugural concert gala heralding the Walt Disney Concert Hall as the new home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the program was “Soundstage L.A.,” a stunning celebration of the distinguished history of music for motion pictures. Of course, Elmer Bernstein was in attendance.

It was after the intermission that the audience of 2,200 was treated to the famed The Magnificent Seven theme, as conducted by fellow maestro John Williams. Then, as one of two encores conducted by the L.A. Philharmonic’s own Esa-Pekka Salonen, the touching and melodic To Kill a Mockingbird was met with a standing ovation. A thrilled Mr. Bernstein later commented that it was the best performance of Mockingbird he had ever heard.

The Elmer Bernstein award for Best Film Score was presented by the maestro to “Love Object” composer Nicholas Pike as part of the festival’s closing evening festivities. This marked the third year Mr. Bernstein has been present to award the prize to a promising composer. The 2003 Woodstock Film Festival celebrated its fourth year with a collection of more than 130 films, panels and workshops, Wednesday, September 17 through Sunday, September 21. Screenings and events took place this year in a variety of venues in the town of Woodstock and nearby communities of Rhinebeck, Hunter and Mt. Tremper.

Although only four years old, the Woodstock Film Festival has garnered a reputation among filmmakers and industry insiders as one of the best regional festivals in the country. The expansion of programs and venues is a direct result of the festival’s successful track record over the past three years, according to festival director Meira Blaustein.

One of Elmer Bernstein’s most lush, melodic scores is now a 2-CD deluxe edition: CD One features almost the entire score in mono, and CD Two features the original soundtrack, in its entirety, in stereo. Expanded liner notes and story synopsis of this epic saga, adapted from James A. Michener’s historical novel, are included with the CDs. A special-edition, autographed version will be available for a limited time.

LOS ANGELES (Film Music Magazine)—ASCAP announced today [March 20, 2003] that film and television composers Elmer Bernstein and Bruce Broughton have been elected to the ASCAP Board of Directors. With the election of these composers, the ASCAP Board now includes two full time working film and television composers, a level of representation not seen in many years.

Walnut, California, February 21, 2002—The City of Walnut issued a special mayoral proclamation to Elmer Bernstein for his continuing work with young musicians. He received the citation at the winter music program held annually every February at Walnut High School. […]

I’ll never forget the day my aging brain finally made the obvious deduction that Elmer Bernstein had written the National Geographic theme — about 20 years after I should have figured it out. […]

Elmer Bernstein’s career and family life were portrayed Thursday, February 6th, 2003 at 7:00 PM on BBC1, emanating from London Studios. The Maestro was surprised by host Michael Aspel and his BBC crew at the conclusion of Mr. Bernstein’s 80th birthday celebration concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in October, 2002. […]

Walnut, California, January 28, 2003—Film composer Elmer Bernstein returned to Walnut High School for their annual “The Magic of Movies & Music” concert at the Walnut Performing Arts Center on Thursday, February 13th, at 7:00 PM. […]

The Florida West Coast Symphony and the Sarasota Film Festival celebrated the first-time collaboration of CineSymphony!” a multimedia performance event featuring renowned film composer Elmer Bernstein. The one-time event was held January 25, 2003, at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, and was a fundraiser for both organizations. […]

Jamie Gangel, national correspondent for NBC Network’s “Today” show, hosts a profile of Elmer Bernstein, which broadcast Friday, January 17th. The segment chronicled his career of 50+ years as a composer and highlights the maestro’s “Far From Heaven” score in advance of the Golden Globe Awards show that also airs on NBC Sunday, January 19th. Stay tuned!

NEW YORK — Composer Elmer Bernstein was presented the Career Achievement award by Eli Wallach when the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures held its annual gala January 14th, 2003 at Manhattan’s Tavern on the Green. […]

Turner Classic Movies and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art celebrate classic film and the impact of movie music by bringing cinephiles a unique public viewing of one of Lon Chaney’s great performances as Tito Beppi in LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH (1929) on Thursday, Jan. 30, at 7:30 p.m. The silent film has not been seen in public for decades because its original score was lost, but thanks to TCM’s annual Young Film Composers Competition, it has received a new score and a new life. The Jan. 30 screening will be the first and only public presentation of the film with its new score before it premieres on TCM Feb. 25 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. […]

“Far From Heaven,” featuring a score by Elmer Bernstein, opened in the US November 8th. The film stars Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid and Dennis Haysbert and co-stars Patricia Clarkson. It is set in the 1950s and depicts the beautiful, yet oppressive surfaces of middle-class, mid-century America. The film is reminiscent of the films of Douglas Sirk, a popular director during that era, whose films were renowned for their rich look and empathetic characters, particularly women.

“More than anything, ‘Far From Heaven’ is a film about love,” states Bernstein. “It is a film about love within the conventional mores of the fifties. While it was Todd Haynes’ idea to treat this film to look like fifties film, he also took the opportunity to deal with issues that were taboo in the fifties. Issues like homosexuality and racism were always lurking just below the surface, but in this film those issues are met head on. The score is about love and frustration.”

Pianist-Host Mona Golabek invites the the public to hear the Maestro’s favorite classical pieces and read selections of his favorite poetry. See playlist for this week’s showtimes and stations (December 7—Los Angeles, KMZT – 105.1 FM 10:00PM and flagship station WQXR 96.3 FM, New York, at Midnight)