Spotlight on Booker White, Board Member

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Meet BOOKER WHITE, ETM-LA Board Member (ETM-LA caught up with him for a brief moment on February 22nd, as Booker was in the midst of several projects including the Oscars)

What is your job at Disney?
I wear several hats for Disney Pictures.  As head of music preparation I work with the film composers and orchestrators to get music in front of the orchestra for the recording sessions where we marry music to the film. I also maintain the library of original Film music for Disney studios which goes all the way back to Steamboat Willie and Plane Crazy in the late 1920's.

What projects are you working on now?
Besides finishing "Race to Witch Mountain", I'm in the midst of scoring on "Wolverine, Angels and Demons, Pixar's "UP", and the mini series "The Pacific". I'm literally mired in the Oscars right now, which fell into my lap because my friend - composer Michael Giacchino - is the musical director for the show this year.

We followed up with Booker briefly on March 4th about his Oscars experience...
The Oscars this year were a little different. Michael Giacchino was brought in to give a fresh new perspective to the music as the show was being reinvented. He gave all the old and new movie themes different treatment as we used more of a big band with strings style. Because of this we had two weeks to create 158 cues for the show. No library music was used from previous shows. Michael's great to work with because he's very focused which allows you to get quite a bit done in a short period of time. His knowledge of the big band genre made the music very entertaining for the players and audience.

What inspired you to pursue music?
Let's see.  I've always been a musician from a very young age.  I never really had another plan.

What inspired you to join as a board member for ETM-LA?
Michael Giacchino introduced me to Victoria (Exec. Dir.) because I had mentioned to him that the Principal of an underserved school I knew, Nativity School, was trying to provide music lessons for her students. As a musician, I have lamented the decline of music programs in our schools as it directly correlates to the simplicity that the general public requires in their music these days. We're losing part of our culture and our community orchestras at an alarming rate because young people are unable to appreciate complex ideas in music.

Why is ETM-LA important?
ETM-LA is critical in exposing as many children as possible to a higher level of musical understanding and enjoyment.  It gives them a foundation for learning higher concepts and skills.