Conrad Pope

CONRAD POPE

Conrad Pope is one of the most respected and in demand musicians working in today’s Hollywood.

Film composers John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Alexandre Desplat, Alan Silvestri, Jerry Goldsmith, Danny Elfman, James Horner and Howard Shore have all called upon his expertise as a one of the industry’s top orchestrators as well as upon his abilities as a conductor and score producer, making him one of the most "in demand" scoring professionals.

Over his career in Hollywood, Conrad has contributed to the music of more than a hundred films. The list of the many iconic films to which he has contributed includes the Star Wars Episodes I-III, the Harry Potter series, Jurassic Park: The Lost World, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Matrix films, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Moonrise Kingdom, Godzilla, the last two Hobbit films and Clint Eastwood’s Sully.

Most recently Conrad orchestrated and conducted the score to Wes Anderson’s Oscar nominated Isle of Dogs as well as conducting the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in Tom Holkenborg’s (aka Junkie XL) score to the Peter Jackson production of Mortal Engines.

The cue “Love” that Conrad composed for Han Zimmer’s and Steve Mazzaro’s score to Dreamworks Animation’s Boss Baby was recognized by the International Film Music Critics Association with the nomination for “Best Composition of 2017”.

For their iconic advertising campaign utilizing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, with the blessing of the Gershwin Foundation, United Airlines commissioned Pope to create a new arrangement of “Rhapsody in Blue” that he conducted and recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road.

Pope has worked side by side with many of today’s finest directors, including Peter Jackson, Clint Eastwood, David Fincher, Mark Romanek, Walter Murch, Joe Johnston, and Wes Anderson. His ability to work effectively with filmmakers and concretely translate their vision into music has made him a valued collaborator.

As such, he has scored numerous independent films. His original score to Penn &Teller’s documentary TIM’S VERMEER garnered attention and praise from directors and critics alike. Awarded the International Film Critics Award for Best Score to a Documentary in 2014 the score has won fans in the worlds of art, art music, and filmmakers. The soundtrack is available on Milan Records.

Pope composed the music to the critically acclaimed production of Simon Curtis’ film MY WEEK WITH MARILYN starring Michele Williams and Eddie Redmayne. The soundtrack, featuring the internationally celebrated pianist Lang Lang, is available on Sony Classics.

Among the other scores and film music available on CD are his scores to Allen Wolf’s thriller IN MY SLEEP, Tom Provost’s THE PRESENCE and his instrumental composition “No Reservations” which was composed for Scott Hick’s film NO RESERVATIONS.

The American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers in 2015 recognized Conrad’s career with their prestigious GOLDEN SCORE AWARD for his work as composer, arranger, orchestrator, and conductor for music in film. In addition Pope has been recognized with the GoldSpirit Award as “Revelation Composer of the Year” in 2001 for his score to “PAVILION OF WOMEN”, the Moxie! Award at the Santa Monica Film Festival as Best Composer for his score to Tom Rice’s “THE RISING PLACE”. The score to “THE RISING PLACE”, featuring Jennifer Hudson, is available from Lakeshore Records and on iTunes. Conrad is also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Park City Film Music Festival.
In 2015, Pope inaugurated the resumption of recordings at the famed “Rosenhuegl Studio” in Vienna. The historic studio was newly purchased and renovated by the world famous Vienna Symphonic Library. The VSL transformed this treasured, yet neglected landmark into the most advanced and forward looking recording stage in the world. It has been rechristened the SYNCHRON STAGE. There Pope conducted and recorded the newly reconstructed score to Anton Profes’ classic score to “Sissi”, an icon of postwar German language cinema. The CD of historic score is now available with the sound of today thanks to the Vienna Symphonic Library’s Herb Tuchmandl and their SYNCHRON STAGE.

Pope's works for the concert stage includes "Summer Sketches," commissioned by Hartt School of Music, Hartford, Connecticut, “Purple Prose” commissioned by the Spokane Symphony Orchestra and Eckart Preu, conductor and “Truth and Error” commissioned by the Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute at their festival in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

In addition to his professional work, Mr. Pope has recently made time to teach and share his experience with young composers from all over the world. He holds a yearly Master Class at the Hollywood Music Workshop in Baden, Lower Austria sponsored by the government of Nierderoestrriech. Mr. Pope also serves on the faculty of the Los Angeles Film Conducting Intensive as well as lecturing at universities through out the United States. In 2015, he held the prestigious William Bolcom Residency at the University of Michigan.

Pope attended Munich’s Hochscule fuer Musik holds degrees from the New England Conservatory and Princeton University. Graduating at the top of his class, the New England Conservatory of Music awarded Conrad their GEORGE CHADWICK MEDAL. Pope has receives grants and scholarships from the Fulbright Foundation, a Leonard Bernstein Fellowship, the Massachusetts Arts Council, the New York State Arts Council and the Whiting Foundation.

He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has served on the Music Branch Executive Committee, and is a member of the American Association of Music Arrangers and Composers.

Conrad Pope resides in Los Angeles with his wife composer and arranger Nan Schwartz, multiple Grammy and Emmy nominee and Grammy winner for her work with Natalie Cole, and their four children.