William Ross (composer)

William Ross
Also known asBill Ross
Born (1948-07-20) July 20, 1948 (age 75)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Occupation(s)Composer, conductor
Years active1983–present
Websitewilliamrossmusic.com

William Ross (born July 20, 1948) is an American composer, orchestrator, arranger, conductor and music director. Ross is the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards (in 2007 and 2009), one Daytime Emmy Award (in 1991), and has been nominated for one Annie Award (in 2008).[1][2] He has been nominated twice for the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).[3]

Ross is the arranger for Andrea Bocelli's version of "Amazing Grace" performed during his concert Andrea Bocelli: Music for Hope - Live From Duomo di Milano, broadcast live on YouTube to over 25 million viewers on April 12, 2020.[4][5]

Career[edit]

Ross has worked with artists and musicians ranging from Hollywood composers John Williams, Alan Silvestri, John Powell, Michael Giacchino, Klaus Badelt and Michael Kamen, to pop music artists including Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Laura Pausini, Whitney Houston, Kenny G, Michael Jackson, David Foster, Quincy Jones, Babyface and Sting.[6][7][8][9] He has arranged the music for multiple Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies from 1998 to 2010.[10]

Ross composed the soundtrack for assorted films, including Tuck Everlasting, My Dog Skip, The Young Black Stallion and Ladder 49.[11][12][13][14] He adapted and conducted John Williams' themes for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In 2008, he scored the CGI-film The Tale of Despereaux, from Universal Studios.[6][15]

Ross is the Music Director for many shows and artists,[16] including Barbra Streisand's 2006 US tour and 2007 European tour,[17] as well as the 79th, 83rd, 85th and 86th Academy Awards. Ross regularly arranges and conducts the Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre, overseeing all music cues throughout the broadcast.[18][19][20]

Ross is credited on the soundtrack of Star Wars: The Last Jedi as an additional conductor.[21][22][23][24] His work is featured on the Universal Orlando theme park ride Skull Island: Reign of Kong.[25] He also adapted Williams' iconic theme for the end credits of the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Director(s) Composer Conductor Orchestrator Notes
1983 The Hasty Heart Martin M. Speer Yes No No
1987 The Return of Sherlock Holmes Kevin Connor Yes No No
1989 Beauty and the Beast Ron Koslow (creator) Yes No No TV series
1990 MacGyver Lee David Zlotoff (creator) Yes No No
Matlock Dean Hargrove (creator) Yes No No
Tiny Toon Adventures Steven Spielberg (executive producer) Yes No No
1991 One Good Cop Heywood Gould Yes No Yes
1993 Look Who's Talking Now Tom Ropelewski Yes No No
1994 Cops & Robbersons Michael Ritchie Yes No No
The Little Rascals Penelope Spheeris Yes No No
Thumbelina Don Bluth
Gary Goldman 		Yes Yes Yes
1995 The Amazing Panda Adventure Christopher Cain Yes No No
1996 Black Sheep Penelope Spheeris Yes Yes Yes
The Evening Star Robert Harling Yes No No
My Fellow Americans Peter Segal Yes No No
Tin Cup Ron Shelton Yes No No
1997 A Smile Like Yours Keith Samples Yes No No
1998 T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous Brett Leonard Yes No No
2000 My Dog Skip Jay Russell Yes Yes Yes
2001 Her Majesty Mark J. Gordon Yes No No
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows Robert Allan Ackerman Yes No No
2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Chris Columbus No Yes No also Score Adaptation
Tuck Everlasting Jay Russell Yes No No
2003 The Young Black Stallion Simon Wincer Yes No No
2004 Ladder 49 Jay Russell Yes No No
2005 The Game of Their Lives David Anspaugh Yes No No
2006 Driftwood Tim Sullivan Yes Yes No
2007 September Dawn Christopher Cain Yes No No
2008 The Tale of Despereaux Sam Fell
Robert Stevenhagen 		Yes No No
2009 The Mighty Macs Tim Chambers Yes No No
2011 Balls to the Wall Penelope Spheeris Yes No No
Touchback Don Handfield Yes No Yes
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Todd Strauss-Schulson Yes No No
2012 Steel Magnolias Kenny Leon Yes No No
2013 Alone yet Not Alone Ray Bengston
George D. Escobar 		Yes No No also Producer
2014 50 to 1 Jim Wilson Yes No No
In My Dreams Kenny Leon Yes No No
Operation Change Yes No No TV series
2015 Away and Back Jeff Bleckner Yes No No
To Have and to Hold Yes No No
2016 I'll Be Home for Christmas Yes No No
2018 Destination Wedding Victor Levin Yes No No

Accolades[edit]

Emmy Awards[edit]

Year Nominated work Category Result
2015 Away and Back Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or a Special (Original Dramatic Score) Nominated
2014 Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn Outstanding Music Direction Nominated
86th Academy Awards Nominated
2013 85th Academy Awards Nominated
2011 83rd Annual Academy Awards Nominated
2009 81st Academy Awards: Hugh Jackman Opening Number Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics Won
Streisand: The Concert Outstanding Music Direction Won
2007 79th Academy Awards Won
1991 Tiny Toon Adventures: "Fields of Honey" Outstanding Music Direction and Composition Won

Grammy Awards[edit]

Year Title Artist Category Result
2012 "The Windmills of Your Mind" Sting Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) Nominated
2000 "The Prayer" Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli Nominated

BMI Film & TV Awards[edit]

Year Nominated work Category Result
2005 Ladder 49 BMI Film Music Award Won
1995 The Little Rascals Won

Online Film & Television Association Awards[edit]

Year Nominated work Category Result
2014 86th Academy Awards Best Music in a Non-Series Nominated
2001 Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best New Theme Song in a Motion Picture of Miniseries Nominated

International Film Music Critics Awards[edit]

Ross was nominated in 2012 for "Best Original Score for a Comedy Film" at the IFMCA Awards for his scoring work on A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.[26]

Annie Awards[edit]

Ross was nominated in 2009 for "Best Music in an Animated Feature Production" at the Annie Awards for his scoring work on The Tale of Despereaux.[2]

Gemini Awards[edit]

Ross was nominated in 1993 for "Best Original Music Score for a Program or Mini-Series" at the Gemini Awards for his scoring work on Golden Fiddles.[27]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "William Ross". Television Academy. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  2. ^ a b "47th Annual Annie Awards". annieawards.org. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  3. ^ "William Ross". GRAMMY.com. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  4. ^ Newton: Amazing Grace (Arr. William Ross), archived from the original on 2021-12-15, retrieved 2020-04-14
  5. ^ "Andrea Bocelli's Easter concert draws praise and tears from celebrities". The Independent. 2020-04-13. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  6. ^ a b "William Ross | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  7. ^ Ginell, Richard S. (2006-11-21). "Barbra Streisand". Variety. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  8. ^ "BMI Composer William Ross Honored With 2016 Golden Score Award". BMI.com. 2016-11-16. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  9. ^ "William Ross Wins Creative Arts Emmy Award for 'Streisand: The Concert'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  10. ^ "Exclusive: Interview…Film Composer William Ross Talks Career Experiences as Music Director for the Academy Awards – GoSeeTalk.com". goseetalk.com. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  11. ^ "ASMAC Announces William Ross Master Class May 1 :: Film Music Magazine". Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  12. ^ "The Young Black Stallion". The Kennedy/Marshall Company. 25 December 2003. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  13. ^ "Tamimi, Biana - BORN TO RIDE Biana Tamimi". www.boosey.com. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  14. ^ William, Ross; Roxanne, Seeman; Gavin, Greenaway; Biana, Tamimi (2004-05-03). "Born To Ride". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  15. ^ "FMS FEATURE [William Ross, Alf Clausen honored by ASMAC - by Jon Burlingame]". www.filmmusicsociety.org. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  16. ^ "Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn | WXXI". www.wxxi.org. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  17. ^ "William Ross Awarded 'Creative Emmy' For His Work On Streisand: Live In Concert 2006". Barbra Streisand. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  18. ^ "William Ross to Conduct Oscars This Year". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  19. ^ "William Ross to conduct the Oscar Orchestra | HollywoodNews.com". www.hollywoodnews.com. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  20. ^ "Oscars Music: William Ross to Conduct, Dame Shirley Bassey to Appear". The Hollywood Reporter. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  21. ^ "Star Wars: The Last Jedi [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - John Williams | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  22. ^ "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge needed a musical score. Cue John 'Obi-wan' Williams". Los Angeles Times. 2019-06-12. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  23. ^ "John Williams wins his 25th Grammy, for 'Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Symphonic Suite'". Classic FM. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  24. ^ Burlingame, Jon (2019-11-21). "'Star Wars' Composer John Williams Nabs 71st Grammy Nom 58 Years After His First". Variety. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  25. ^ "Skull Island: Reign of Kong Ride at Islands of Adventure Preview". ScreenRant. 2016-07-13. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  26. ^ "2011 IFMCA Awards". IFMCA: International Film Music Critics Association. 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  27. ^ "Gemini Awards (1993)". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-04-13.

External links[edit]


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