Sharon Farber, born in Bat-Yam, Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

, has received critical acclaim as a composer in the Concert world as well as that of Film and TV. She brings to her music influences from her Middle Eastern heritage as well as her extensive knowledge of Classical and Western music.

Early career

Sharon began her musical career at the age of seven, as a classical pianist. After graduating from Thelma-Yelin High School for the Arts, she served in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces

Israel Defense Forces

The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...

) and later worked as a theater composer and musical director in Israel. She won the first prize in Colors in Dance in 1992 for her music for choreography. In 1994, she moved to Boston upon receiving a scholarship from Berklee College Of Music

Berklee College of Music

Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...

. During her studies, she won the first prize in the yearly Professional Writing Division Concert with her first string quartet. After graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1997 (majoring in both Classical Composition and Film Scoring) she moved to Los Angeles

Los Ángeles

Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

 to begin her professional career. Miss Farber was the recipient of the prestigious Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was founded in 1946, just one month after network television was born. It is a nonprofit organization devoted to the advancement of telecommunications arts and sciences and to fostering creative leadership in the telecommunications industry...

 Internship in Film Scoring, as well as the Mentorship program of the Society of Composers and Lyricists, on which she currently serves as a board member. Her first professional work in Los Angeles was orchestrating and writing additional music for acclaimed composer Shirley Walker

Shirley Walker

Shirley Walker was an American television and film composer and conductor. She was one of the few female film score composers working in Hollywood...

 (1945–2006).

Film and Television Music

In the Film and TV industry, Sharon has been working with such prestigious companies as NBC

NBC

The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...

 (EMMY Award Winning TV series "Starting Over" and "Passions"), Showtime ("In A Class Of His Own", starring Lou Diamond Phillips

Lou Diamond Phillips

Lou Diamond Phillips is an American film, television, and stage actor and director. His breakthrough came when he starred in the film La Bamba. He earned a supporting actor Golden Globe Award nomination for his role in Stand and Deliver and a Tony Award nomination for his role in The King and I...

) "Call Me Sirr", starring Michael Clarke Duncan

Michael Clarke Duncan

Michael Clarke Duncan is an American actor, best known for his breakout role as John Coffey in The Green Mile, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.- Early life :...

 ("The Green Mile") and WB ("Superman & Batman"), as well as writing music for independent features and other projects. She won the Telly Award in 1998 for best score for the docu-drama series "California 2000" and her work can also be heard at the Museum of Sacramento, as part of the Museum's permanent exhibition. Her orchestral score for "When Nietzsche Wept

When Nietzsche Wept

When Nietzsche Wept is an independent film released in 2007, starring Armand Assante, Ben Cross and Katheryn Winnick. The movie is based on a book of the same name by Irvin D. Yalom and was directed by Pinchas Perry....

", starring Armand Assante

Armand Assante

-Personal life:Assante was born in New York City and raised in Cornwall, New York, the son of Katherine , a music teacher and poet, and Armand Anthony Assante, Sr., a painter and artist. His father was Italian and his mother was Irish, and was raised in a devoutly Roman Catholic family...

 and Ben Cross

Ben Cross

Ben Cross is a British actor of the stage and screen, best known for his portrayal of the British Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.-Early life:...

 (Millennium Films) was released October 2008, and she has recently completed the score for "Folie a Deux" for director Sean Martin

Sean Martin

Sean Martin is an Anglo-Irish writer and film director. He has written popular books on the Knights Templar and the Cathars, and appeared on History Channel documentaries such as Decoding the Past: The Templar Code and in Channel 5's Secrets of the Cross: The Trial of the Knights Templar.Martin...

 (UK).

Concert Music

Ms. Farber has been writing concert and choir music in parallel to her film-scoring career, and has many international premieres and performances to her credit. To name a few: The Third Mother/Mothers’ Lament, in memory of slain reporter Daniel Pearl

Daniel Pearl

Daniel Pearl was an American journalist who was kidnapped and killed by Al-Qaeda.At the time of his kidnapping, Pearl served as the South Asia Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal, and was based in Mumbai, India. He went to Pakistan as part of an investigation into the alleged links between...

, which was world premiered by the distinguished Los Angeles Master Chorale

Los Angeles Master Chorale

The Los Angeles Master Chorale is a professional chorus in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1964 by Roger Wagner to be one of the three original resident companies of the Music Center of Los Angeles County...

, under the direction of Maestro Grant Gershon

Grant Gershon

Grant Gershon is an American conductor and pianist. He is Music Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Associate Conductor/Chorus Master of the Los Angeles Opera, member of the Board of Councillors for the USC Thornton School of Music and a member of the Chorus America Board of...

, and won her the First Prize in the Cincinnati Camerata Composition Competition, in 2007. ASHKINA, featuring Omar Faruk Tekbilek

Omar Faruk Tekbilek

Ömer Faruk Tekbilek , also known as Omar Faruk Tekbilek, is a Turkish flautist. He is known for his performances with the ney in a Sufi style...

, premiered in New York, October 2004, and has had many performances since. Her recent commissioned piece, Translucent Rocks, was premiered by prestigious Israeli Chamber Orchestra in October 2007 to rave reviews. She has recently been announced Composer in Residence of the 2009 Beverly Hills International Music Festival, and her film music has been featured time and again on "From Stage To Cinema" concerts.

Full List

• Mothers’ Lament/ The Third Mother - A Capella work, which was world premiered by the prestigious Los Angeles Master Chorale on their Opening Season Concert, September 2002, at the Dorothy Chandler pavilion, Los Angeles. Published by Roger Dean Music Publishing.

• 'Beverly Hills International Music Festival' - Composer in Residence for this prestigious International Festival, August 2009

• My Beloved - Commission for a new work for women’s choir and chamber ensemble, premiered in Israel, December 2004. American premiere: Sunday, April 26 , Ford Hall in the Whalen Center for Music on the Ithaca College Campus. The Ithaca College Women's Chorale, Janet Galván, conductor

• From Stage to Cinema concert #1 & 2 - Featured composer at a concert series of Film Music arranged for Oboe Quartet, with Tom Boyd, Oboe, and Marcelo Secena, piano

Israel Chamber Orcehstra commission: "Translucent Rocks", which opened up the 2007-20088 Orchestra’s Season, October 2007

• Piano Ballad - Commissioned by pianist Hagai Yodan, Premiered in Israel, June 2007

• To Always Remember - A song cycle for Soprano & piano, Premiered 2005 in Berlin, Germany, and had its Los Angeles soprano and Chamber Ensemble version premier May 29, 2007. To be recorded by International Soprano Sharon Rostorf-Zamir, May 9, 2009

• Foundation for Universal Sacred Music - Commission for a Chamber orchestra and Choir work, premiered in New York, October 2004, with repeated performance in NY and Boston

• Keshet Chaim (Rainbow of Life) Dance Ensemble - Composed and produced music for the ensemble’s event

• The Jewish Symphony Orchestra - Commission to compose a new work for the orchestra. Premiered at the "Women Composers Concert", 2004, Los Angeles

• Time - A song cycle for Soprano & piano, Premiered on May 2004 in Beverly Hills, CA

Filmography

• 2008
• Folie a Deux
• Filmhouse productions
• A dramatic Feature film by director Sean Martin (England)
• 2007
• In Twilight's Shadow
• Liquidfilmworks Productions
• A vampire’s thriller story of love and revenge.
• When Nietzsche Wept
  When Nietzsche Wept
  When Nietzsche Wept is an independent film released in 2007, starring Armand Assante, Ben Cross and Katheryn Winnick. The movie is based on a book of the same name by Irvin D. Yalom and was directed by Pinchas Perry....
  
  Millennium Films
• A dramatic Feature film by director Pinchas Perry, based on
• Irvin Yalom’s bestseller book. Soundtrack available on AMAZON.COM and ITUNES.COM
• 2004-2006
• NBC/UNIVERSAL
• "Starting Over", EMMY Award winning TV Series
• NBC/UNIVERSAL
• "Passions" TV series (additional music)

• 2004
• Father’s Day
• Independent documentary film by director Jody Arensberg.
• Official selection at the Seattle Film Festival 2005.
• 2003
• Final Draft
• Independent feature by directors Oren Goldman and Yariv Ozdobe.
• Producer: Scott Rosenfelt. ("Home Alone", "Mystic Pizza")
• 2002
• Runnin’ at Midnite
• Independent feature by director Pablo Toledo.
• 2001
• The Brother’s Grim
• Independent feature by director Adam Consolo.
• 2000
• Call Me Sirr
• Showtime Network
• A drama made for TV starring Michael Clarke Duncan. ("The Green Mile")
• Director: Robert Munic Nomination for DGA Award, Chicago International Children Film festival Certificate of Merit Award, DGA Award for Best Director, Young Artists Award
• 1999
• In A Class of His Own
• Showtime Network
• A drama made for TV starring Lou Diamond Phillips and Joan Chen.
• Director: Robert Munic National Television Review Board Angel Award for Excellence in a Television Movie, the Gabriel Award, the Cine Golden Eagle Award of Excellence and the Film Advisory Board Award for Excellence.
• Starting Over
• Alameda Productions
• Independent drama about the life story of Businesswoman Galia Albin.
• Director: Yohanan Weller
• Nominated for Israeli Academy Award

• The Yup - Yup Man
• United Independence Productions
• Independent feature film, starring William Bumiller and Jocelyn Seagave.
• Director: Glen Klinker.

• Paulie Charmed The Sleeping Woman
• AFI
• A drama based on a story by Harlan Allison. Director: Jorg Ihle

• No Regrets
• Rider Siphron Productions
• A drama, starring Dixie Carter, Jennifer Lien and Bruce La Bruce.
• Director: Rider Siphron
• 1998 - 1999
• Superman
• Warner Bros.
• Composed and orchestrated music for the animated TV series.
• 1998
• The Cowboy and the Movie Star
• FOX Family Channel
• A feature film made for TV starring Sean Young (Additional music & orchestration) Director: Mark Griffiths
• Silicon Towers
• Direct to Video, (HBO 2)

• Co - composed M.O.W.
• Starring Bryan Dennehy, Steve Baldwin, Robert Guilhomme. Director: Serge Rodnunsky
• 1997
• Alien Episode
• American Film Institute
• A short Sci - Fi film. Director: Jorg Ihle

• Meaner Than Sin
• American Film Institute
• A short Sci - Fi film. Director: Jorg Ihle
• The Golden - State Museum Project
• Cambria Productions
• A dramatic film about California, for the historic exhibition in the Museum of Sacramento. (permanent exhibit) The MUSE Bronze Award in recognition of the Highest Standards of Excellence in the use of Media & Technology. Director: Jim Kelty
• 1996 - 2000
• California 2000
• Cambria Productions
• A docudrama series about the history of California. Won the Telly Award for Best Score for the episode entitled "Mr. Bourn’s Gold." Director: Jim Kelty

Awards

Awards:

• 2007
• Cincinnati Camerata Composition Competition, First prize winner with "Mothers’ Lament/The Third Mother"
• American Music Center Grant, for "Translucent Rocks" - Israeli Chamber Orchestra commission, October 2007
• 2005
• ASCAP Standard Award
• 2004
• American Composers Forum Subito Award
• ASCAP Standard Award
• 2003
• ASCAP Standard Award
• 2002
• ASCAP Standard Award
• The John Lennon Songwriting Contest
  John Lennon Songwriting Contest
  The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, named for the former member of The Beatles, is a songwriting competition for songwriters, open to amateurs and professionals. The contest accepts instrumental pieces as well as songs with a vocal component. Though all entries must include a CD, cassette, or...
  
  : Arranged and produced the song "My Country" - A finalist in the World Music Category.
• 2000
• ASCAP Popular Award
• 1998
• Telly Award for original score for Mr. Bourn’s Gold ,
• episode of "California 2000" series.(Cambria Productions.)
• ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop Award.
• 1997
• Academy of TV Arts & Sciences Composition Internship with award winning composer Jonathan Wolff (Seinfeld) and Emmy award winning composer Alf Claussen. (The Simpsons)
• Society of Composers & Lyricists Fellowship program with award winning composers Jay Chattaway, ("Star Trek) Steve Bramson ,("Jag") and Dan Foliart. (7th Heaven", "Home Improvement")
• Berklee College of Music - Richard Levy Composition Award for outstanding contribution to the Professional Writing Division.
• Berklee College of Music - Certificate of Honor for outstanding achievement in Film Scoring.
• 1996
• Berklee College of Music - First prize for String Quartet #1 - representative of the Composition Department.
• 1995
• Berklee College of Music - Books and Materials Award for talented students.
• 1994
• Berklee College of Music - Outstanding Entering Students Scholarship.
• 1992
• Tel-Aviv, Israel - "Colors in Dance" - Music for choreography; First prize winner.

External links

• http://walker.filmmusic.com/
• http://www.newerascoring.com/Content/FilmMusicMag-New_Era.pdf
• http://www.musiconfilm.net/get_feature.php?id=8
• http://www.universalsacredmusic.org/sharon-farber/
• http://www.bhmusicfestival.org/sfarber.html
• http://www.artemismusic.com/page.php?id=28
• http://www.composersforum.org/member_profile.cfm?oid=2374
• http://www.jmwc.org/announcements/2007/06/sharon_farber_c.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Gershon
• http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=5408