Corky Hale to Judge Annual World Soundtrack Awards

Corky Hale, renowned Jazz pianist, harpist and vocalist, will be a judge for the 8th Annual World Soundtrack Awards, sponsored by the World Soundtrack Academy as the closing event of the 35th Annual Ghent Film Festival, to be held in Ghent, Belgium from October 7 – 18, 2008.  Legendary composer, Mike Stoller, will accompany his wife, Corky Hale, to attend the Film Festival.  A few years earlier, Mike Stoller, and his songwriting partner, Jerry Leiber, of Leiber & Stoller, were presented with the 2005 World Soundtrack Award by Sir Tim Rice for their prolific musical accomplishments.
 
 World-class composers Angelo Badalamenti ("Blue Heart," "Twin Peaks," "Wild at Heart," "Lost Highway," "The Straight Story," "Mulholland Drive") and Dario Marianelli ("The Brothers Grimm," "Pride & Prejudice," "V for Vendetta," "Atonement") will be guests of honor at this year's event.  The World Soundtrack Awards are considered a premiere event for soundtrack music fans.  After the prestigious awards ceremony, the international elite of film music composers will be on hand to present a live performance of their music by the Flemish Radio Orchestra, conducted by Dirk Brossé.

In addition to the works of Angelo Badalamenti and Dario Marianelli, the Flemish Radio Orchestra will also be performing music by Daniel Tarrab and Andrés Goldstein, winners of the World Soundtrack Discovery Award in 2007.  There will also be a forum for new Belgian music talent with the annual composition competition for young composers, where candidates are asked to compose music for a clip from Raoul Servais' "Atraksion."  Other concerts scheduled to take place during the Festival will include the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra performing a program dedicated to the works of composers, John Williams, Gabriel Yared, Clint Manselland and a retrospective on silent film legend, Harold Lloyd.

Corky Hale has played harp for such artists as Liberace, Tony Bennett, Judy Collins, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.  She has been the piano accompanist for such artists as Billie Holiday and Mel Tormé.  She has sung with the bands of Harry James, Ray Anthony, and Jerry Gray.  She has performed at The White House with Tony Bennett, soloed with Barbra Streisand in Central Park and at the Hollywood Bowl and performed with Björk on her MTV Special in London.  Hale has also appeared with George Michael at London's Royal Albert Hall and RFK Stadium.  In 2007 she appeared at Carnegie Hall as a Piano Soloist with the New York Pops Orchestra.
 
For further information about the World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony and Concert to be held on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. at the De Bijloke Music Centre in Ghent, please visit the website, www.filmfestival.be