‘Harry Potter’ composer to visit SU campus for free screening, Q&A on music composing for film

Thursday, January 29, 2009, By News Staff

David Rezak
(315) 443-3280

The Bandier Program for Music and the Entertainment Industries at Syracuse University, in conjunction with the Syracuse International Film Festival, will welcome film composer Patrick Doyle to campus on Tuesday, Feb. 10, for a free public screening of “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” and a post-screening question- and-answer session. This family-friendly event promises to be enlightening and engaging for music and film lovers of all ages.

The screening will begin at 4 p.m. in Grant Auditorium in the Syracuse University College of Law complex. Doors open at 3:45 p.m.

In addition to scoring the fourth “Harry Potter” film, Doyle has written original scores for acclaimed films such as “Gosford Park,” “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Indochine.” He is also a longtime collaborator of Kenneth Branagh, composing scores for the director’s “Henry V,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamlet,” “As You Like It” and “Sleuth.”

A native of Glasgow, Scotland, Doyle studied music at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He wrote his first score in 1978 and has been writing original music for film, television, theater and radio ever since.

After the film screening, Doyle will take questions from the audience on the process of scoring a film, the business of film music and any other topic of interest.

“Patrick Doyle has proven himself to be an exceptionally creative film composer- particularly for historical period films,” says David Rezak, director of the Bandier Program. “He will be able to provide our students, and all in attendance, with deep insights into the process of writing music for film.”

Free parking is available at Irving Garage. Drivers must tell the attendant that they are going to the “Harry Potter film screening.” Those attending should take the elevator to the bridge across Irving Avenue to the College of Law/Grant Auditorium.

While admission and parking are free, donations to the Syracuse International Film Festival are encouraged.