Music to the Ears

February 12, 2013

Emmy award-winning composer and educator Laura Karpman shared her thoughts on “Defying Boundaries: Being/Becoming a 21st Century Artist” during the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences Spring Dean’s Lecture at Columbia College Chicago on Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m.. The lecture focused on why it is important for artists creating with modern technology to remain mindful of our analog past and how artists can engage with the world to create work that reflects the shifts in culture and media consumption.

Karpman’s musical work spans the mediums, as she has composed music for film, TV and video games, winning four Emmy awards. Her music spans genres, as she composed for Steve Spielberg’s science fiction show “Taken,” the 2002 horror remake of “Carrie,” documentaries, children’s shows, and video games such as “Guardians of Middle-Earth” and “EverQuest.” Additionally, she has received commissions from The Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, The Juilliard School, The Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall and other institutions.

Karpman currently teaches at the UCLA in the School of Theater, Film, and Television, teaching about film music, mentoring the collaboration between filmmaker and composer, and about interdisciplinary multimedia performance. She has previously lectured at The Juilliard School, USC, UCLA, Mills College, Berklee College of Music, and The Tides Momentum Leadership Conference, and is a fellow of The Los Angeles Institute for the Humanities. She also has served on the boards of the American Music Center, the Society of Composers and Lyricists and currently is on the Artist's Council for New Music USA.

Dean Deborah H. Holdstein initiated the LAS Dean’s Lecture as a forum for scholarly and intellectual voices both from within and outside of the Columbia College community in 2009.

A Q&A followed Karpman’s lecture, followed by a reception with food, music and refreshments. The event took place at the Music Center Concert Hall and was free and open to the public.