Nominated Songs & Songs to Be Featured in Live 'Pre-OSCAR' Concert

Deadline has learned exclusively that an email was sent to members of the Academy's Music Branch yesterday announcing the news that beginning in 2014, Oscar-nominated songs and scores will be featured in a live concert. The event, which will not be televised event will take place on February 27 at UCLA's Royce Hall, three days prior to the 86th annual Academy Awards ceremony.

Music Branch governors Charles Fox, Arthur Hamilton and David Newman said in the email, "A symphony orchestra of Los Angeles studio musicians will perform a suite from each score of up to 10 minutes in length."

The governors went on to describe the concert as a "milestone in Oscar music history" and something that would "hopefully become an annual event".

The email appears in its entirety below:

Dear friends and colleagues,

We're very excited to announce to the music branch members that the Academy, for the first time, will present a special concert featuring performances of the Oscar-nominated original scores and songs during Oscar Week, on Thursday, February 27, 2014, at UCLA's Royce Hall.

As you well know, great scores from motion pictures have been performed and recorded by orchestras and cherished by audiences around the world for many years. Similarly, some of the most memorable songs ever written came from motion pictures and have found their way into the public's hearts and minds.

This past Oscar show featured all five of the nominated songs for the first time in a number of years. That was a welcome return for the importance that original songs have always had in films. The musical scores, however, have not been performed on the Oscars in a fully realized way because of the length of the show.

This concert is truly a milestone in Oscar music history; placing Oscar-nominated music center stage in what will hopefully become an annual event.

A symphony orchestra of Los Angeles studio musicians will perform a suite from each score of up to 10 minutes in length. Subject to availability, each original composer will conduct his/her own work. We're planning for brief onstage conversation with composers and their directors about the process of creating music for motion pictures.

Regarding the performance of songs, it is our hope that either the original artists or the songwriter(s) will perform their own songs live.

We've been working hard to realize this special concert, and we are thankful to our fellow Governors for their dedicated support on this project.

We'll keep you updated as we progress, and welcome any thoughts that you may have.

Warmest regards,

Charles Fox
Arthur Hamilton
David Newman

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