Richard Smith is a full professor of the studio/jazz guitar department at USC’s Thornton School of Music. His 10 solo recordings have established him as a veteran of contemporary jazz. His latest recording, ‘L.A. Chillharmonic’ features Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Lorber, Alex Acuna, Eric Marienthal, Greg Adams, and members of the Tower of Power horn section. Smith has performed masterclasses at the Institute for Contemporary Music Performance, London, The Academy of Contemporary Music, Guildford, The Leeds College of Music, The London College of Contemporary Music, the Academy of Popular Culture, Leeuwarden, Holland, The Rotterdam Conservatorium, The Utrecht Conservatorium and The Universtate d'Roma.
Edgardo Simone has an exhaustive list of film scores credited as composer or orchestrator. He has worked on numerous film scores with composers Danny Elfman, Steve Bartek, and Ernest Gold. His film scores in recent years include: Alice in Wonderland (2010), The Other Guys (2010), The Wolfman (2010), Notorious (2009), Terminator Salvation (2009), Milk (2008), Wanted (2008), Meet the Robinsons (2007),The Kingdom (2007), Charlotte s Web (2006), Nacho Libre (2006),Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
Three-time Grammy winner Cassandra Ewer readily admits the “coolness” of winning the coveted golden award. “It is very exciting; in fact, it’s almost overwhelming,” she says. Ewer is a featured soloist on the 2009 Grammy-winning CD Spotless Rose: Hymns to the Virgin Mary. She was also featured on 2007 winner Grechaninov: Passion Week, and sang with the Oregon Bach Festival chorus on the 2000 Grammy-winner Penderecki: Credo. Ewer says the benefits of working as a professional musician extend far beyond big-time awards and recognition, and that her degree from the UO's School of Music and Dance have made her career path possible.
