Mark Watters on Orchestrating Storytelling Through Music

The Rough Draft

Today on The Rough Draft, we're joined by Mark Watters, a six-time Emmy Award-winning composer and conductor renowned for his work in film, television, video games, global tours such as Star Wars in Concert, and major events like the Olympics. Mark's career spans iconic Disney classics and collaborations with artists like John Legend, Mary Jo Blige, and Beyoncé. In addition, Mark serves as the Associate Professor of Contemporary Media & Film Composition and Director of the Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media at the prestigious Eastman University in New York. Join us today as we discuss his creative process, how to embrace technology while guarding authenticity, and the deeply emotional resonance of music across all content mediums.

Guest Bio

Mark Watters is a six-time Emmy Award winning composer and conductor whose diverse career spans over 400 television episodes, feature films, DVDs, video games, concert works and music for the theater.

He holds the distinct honor of having served as music director and featured composer for two Olympics. First, in 1996 for the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta and again in 2002 for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. For the ’96 games, Mark composed the Emmy nominated song, "Faster, Higher, Stronger." Performed by opera legend, Jessye Norman and featuring lyrics by Grammy-nominated lyricist, Lorraine Feather, the song was the triumphant finale to the Opening Ceremonies. He has served as guest conductor for such orchestras as The Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Tokyo Philharmonic, The London Symphony, The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, The Detroit Symphony, The New York City Pops, The Baltimore Symphony and The Atlanta Symphony. In 2002, film score legend John Williams asked Mark to co-conduct the 74th Academy Awards. He has worked with such artists as Beyonce, Sting, Carrie Underwood, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Trisha Yearwood, Yo Yo Ma and Broadway star, Brian Stokes Mitchell.

In addition to his composing and conducting career, Mark is an associate professor at the famed Eastman School of Music where he heads the Media Composition curriculum and is the director of the Beal Institute for Film Music and Contemporary Media.

Additional Resources

• markwatters.com
• esm.rochester.edu/directory/watters-mark/

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