Sigma Alpha Iota

Composing for the Film Industry SAI Composer Reaches Out to Youth Through Film Music M any SAIs have felt the gratification of making music in front of a group of children, experiencing the wonder in their eyes. Iota Chi initiate Beth Caucci doesn't get to see her young fans' immediate reactions, but she touches millions of children through her music, by helping to shape the soundtracks of many recent popular animated films. Her music has been performed live by the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), the New Millennium Orchestra, and musicians from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Beth is also co-founder of Alula Studios, a music production house in Los Angeles featuring collaborations with film and television composer John Fee. Some of Beth's recent work in percussion and orchestral arranging includes the film How to Train Your Dragon, for which the composer, John Powell, was nominated for an Academy Award. Beth describes her experiences and influences in an interview with PAN PIPES. PAN PIPES: How were you involved in the making of How to Train Your Dragon? Beth: I have worked with the composer, John Powell, for a few years in Los Angeles. I'm involved with various aspects of the music production on his films, including doing orchestral arrangements, playing percussion, recording musicians, building custom sample 18 PAN PIPES SPRING 2011 sai-national.org Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Iota Chi initiate Beth Caucci has contributed to the scores for many films including Mars Needs Moms (above) and Rio (left). Twentieth Century Fox Animation libraries, and addressing technical needs around the studio. For How to Train Your Dragon, we sampled a massive chorus of bagpipes, as well as two rare marimbas with glass and slate bars.   PP: How long have you played marimba, and what other instruments did you play?  Where did you study?   Beth: I began studying percussion as a child, and I started playing marimba literature as a part of those studies. My focus has mostly been orchestral percussion, and I also spent some time doing drumline arranging and instruction. I performed all the major concertos for marimba in college and played several of my own arrangements in recitals. I have Bachelor's degrees in music education and percussion performance from Ball State University, where I studied with [Friend of the Arts] Dr. Erwin Mueller. I did my Master's in performance at the University of Arizona under Dr. Norman Weinberg. I also attended the Aspen Music Festival and School with the help of an SAI Summer Scholarship. After a trip to New York for a film scoring workshop, I enrolled in a new Master's program for film music composition at Columbia College Chicago under Prof. Andy Hill. It's amazing how all those skills contribute to the work I do today.   PP: How did you feel when you heard the score you worked on was nominated for an Academy Award? Beth: I was very excited to hear John was nominated for an Academy Award. He's such a talented and versatile composer, and his work on How to Train Your Dragon is without a doubt among his best. I'm very honored to have been able to work with him on this project.   PP: How does your family feel about your work?

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