LACO Receives $2 Million to Fund New Orchestral Works by Film Composers

November 5, 2024, 12:10 PM · The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) has received a $2 million gift from Joan and Jeff Beal to commission new orchestral works from composers working in the film, television and gaming industry.

Musicians themselves, the Beals met as students at the Eastman School of Music and have both achieved great success working in Los Angeles. Jeff Beal is a five-time Emmy-winning composer whose violin concerto "Body in Motion" was premiered just last week by LACO and violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins, for whom it was written.

Kelly Hall Tompkins performing Jeff Beal's "Body in Motion" with LACO and Music Director Jaime Martín. Photo by Brian Feinzimer, courtesy LACO.

Beal has scored numerous movies, documentaries and televisions series ("House of Cards," among many others), and in addition he has written many works for concert orchestra. Joan Beal spent 30 years as a SAG-AFTRA studio singer and vocal contractor, singing on scores for John Williams, Danny Elfman, John Powell, Mark Isham, James Newton Howard, and James Horner, as well as singing on many of Jeff’s scores. In 2016 the couple established the Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media at their alma mater, Eastman.

Joan and Jeff Beal. Photo by Brian Feinzimer, courtesy LACO.

"Having spent 30 years living and working in LA, we recognize the musicians of LACO are among the world’s finest - playing for blockbusters, games, and series by day, Vivaldi and Beethoven at night," said the couple in a joint statement. "Los Angeles is also home to many of the world's most brilliant and prolific composers, whose music reaches audiences worldwide. Only in Los Angeles could a meaningful bridge of these two worlds happen in such a dynamic way. We hope our gift will inspire many wonderful collaborations and concert experiences, which will enrich, sustain, and expand LACO as a pioneer in a new era of music for the concert stage.”

The Joan and Jeff Beal Fund for Living Composers has already named its first two commissioned composers: Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Abels, whose work will be premiered during LACO's 2025/26 season; and video game Irish composer and conductor Eímear Noone, whose work will be performed during LACO's 2026/27 season.

“On behalf of the entire LACO organization, we are deeply grateful and inspired by this incredibly generous and unique gift from Joan and Jeff Beal," said LACO Executive Director Ben Cadwallader. "The Joan and Jeff Beal Fund for Living Composers will not only provide LACO patrons in Los Angeles with the thrill of being among the first to discover the classical works from established and emerging composers actively working in the entertainment industry, but these newly commissioned pieces will then become available for chamber orchestras and audiences across the globe to experience for generations to come, as well."

"The Beal’s gift also reflects LACO’s deep roots within the Hollywood community," Cadwallader said "LACO was founded in 1968 as an artistic outlet for the recording industry’s most gifted musicians, enabling conservatory-trained players to balance studio work and teaching with pure artistic collaboration at the highest level."

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LACO Receives $2 Million to Fund New Orchestral Works by Film Composers

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