Kathryn Bostic
| Kathryn Bostic | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Film score, orchestral |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, Pianist, Singer/Songwriter |
| Years active | 2001–present |
Kathryn Bostic is an American composer, pianist, vocalist and producer. She is known for her work on film, TV and live theater. Kathryn is a recipient of numerous fellowships and awards for her work.
Bostic is the first female African American score composer to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[1] She is also a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Bostic is known for her work on films Dear White People, American Masters - August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand, Middle of Nowhere and Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le. Kathryn was also a frequent collaborator writing music for plays including Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo and several August Wilson plays.[2]
Film
Bostic’s scores can be found on several award winning films including Dear White People and Middle of Nowhere. Dear White People, which premiered in the Sundance 2014 Film Festival, earned the Best Breakout Talent Award.[3] She was awarded Best Music in a Film by the African American Film Critics Association for her work on the film Middle of Nowhere,[4] from award-winning director Ava DuVernay. She also created the score for Ava’s previous films Venus Vs. and I Will Follow.
Kirsten Johnson’s critically acclaimed documentary, Cameraperson, showcased Bostic’s vocal as well as her writing talents as she sang the end-title, Bloodline Chant.[5]
TV
Bostic recently composed the music for Michel’le biopic Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le. She has written music for several PBS series including Independent Lens, P.O.V. and the American Experience.
Due to her previous collaboration with award-winning playwright, August Wilson, on a number of his productions, including Gem of the Ocean and Radio Golf.[6] Bostic was asked by award-winning director Sam Pollard to compose the score for American Masters: August Wilson- The Ground on Which I Stand.[7] Bostic would go on to write The August Wilson Symphony, which the Grammy Award Winning Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra premiered in January 2018. The performance featured narration of Wilson's text by Tony Award winning actor, Phylicia Rashad,[2] and was helmed by Grammy Award winning conductor and composer, Lucas Richman.[8]
Theater
Bostic worked with the renowned playwright August Wilson, having collaborated on Gem of the Ocean and various productions of his last play, Radio Golf. In addition to August Wilson’s works, Bostic has composed music for several other plays, including the Mark Taper production of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone directed by Phylicia Rashad[9] and Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo with Robin Williams written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph.
The Drama Desk nominated her Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo score for “Outstanding Music in a Play”.[10] The production won the Sound Design category. Bostic has been nominated for several additional awards including the Ovation Award and NAACP Theatre Award.[11]
Artist
Bostic toured extensively in festivals and venues including The Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, Birdland, Tokyo and Osaka Blue Note, and The Pori Jazz Festival.[12] She has also recorded and performed with many renowned artists including Nas, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and David Byrne.[13]
Fellowships
Bostic is a recipient of numerous fellowships including the prestigious Sundance Institute Time Warner Fellowship,[14] Sundance Fellowship for Feature Film Scoring, Sundance/Skywalker Documentary Film Scoring[15] and BMI Conducting Fellowship.[13]
In 2016, she became the first female African-American member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Music Branch.[16] She is also a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Works
Film
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bias | 2018 | Post-Prod |
| Badger Creek | 2018 | Post-Prod |
| Roller Dreams | 2017 | |
| Purple Dreams | 2017 | |
| Cents | 2016 | |
| Equal Means Equal | 2016 | |
| In a Perfect World | 2015 | |
| Little White Lie | 2014 | |
| The Cooler Bandits | 2014 | |
| Dear White People | 2014 | |
| The New Black | 2013 | |
| Unschooled: Save Our Future | 2013 | |
| Middle of Nowhere | 2012 | |
| The Thick Dark Fog | 2011 | |
| I Will Follow | 2010 | |
| 22 lbs. | 2009 | Short |
| Contradictions of the Heart | 2009 | Video |
| Dawnland | 2009 | |
| Promised Land | 2009 | |
| It Takes a Village | 2008 | |
| Beyond the Ring | 2008 | |
| Premonition | 2007 | Short |
| Dear Beloved... | 2007 | Short |
| Make A Wish | 2006 | Short |
| Fronterz | 2004 | |
| A Place of Our Own | 2004 | |
| Hope | 2003 | Short |
Television
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving Compton: Dre, Suge & Michel'le | 2016 | Movie |
| Badger Creek | 2016 | Short |
| Independent Lens | 2004-2015 | 6 episodes |
| American Masters | 2015 | "August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand" |
| Nine for IX | 2013 | "Venus vs." |
| P.O.V. | 2010 | "Promised Land" |
| American Experience | 2001 | "Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind" |
Theater
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Turner's Come and Gone | 2013 | |
| Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo | 2011 | |
| Gem of the Ocean | 2004-2005 | |
| Radio Golf |
Vocals
| Album | Track | Artist | Label | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sex and the City 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | I Am Woman | Various | Sony Music | 2010 |
| Watchmen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Tyler Bates | Warner Sunset Records | 2009 | |
| Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | John Powell | Varèse Sarabande | 2009 | |
| The Day The Earth Stood Still (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Tyler Bates | Geneon | 2009 | |
| Greatest Hits | Less Than An Hour (Theme from Rush Hour 3) | Nas | Columbia | 2007 |
| King Kong (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | James Newton Howard | Decca | 2005 | |
| Street's Disciple | Suicide Bounce | Nas | Columbia | 2004 |
| The Final Cut (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Enchanted Days | Brian Tyler | Varèse Sarabande | 2004 |
Other Appearances
| Title | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Cameraperson | 2016 | "Bloodlines Chant" Performer/Writer |
| Castle | 2011 | Pianist |
| Brother & Sisters | 2010 | Pianist (uncredited) |
| Norbit | 2007 | Choir Member |
| Along Came Polly | 2004 | Wedding Singer (uncredited) |
| Las Vegas | 2003 | Background Singer (uncredited) |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Black Reel Outstanding Score Award | Dear White People | Nominated |
| 2013 | Black Reel Best Original Score Award | Middle of Nowhere | Nominated |
| 2012 | African-American Film Critics Best Music Award | Middle of Nowhere | Won |
| 2011 | Drama Desk | Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo | Nominated |
References
- ↑ "NEW MEMBERS 2016: ACADEMY INVITES 683 TO MEMBERSHIP". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
- 1 2 Desk, BWW News. "Kathryn Bostic's AUGUST WILSON SYMPHONY, Narrated by Phylicia Rashad, to Premiere in Pittsburgh". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2018-01-31.
- ↑ "Sundance Darling 'Dear White People' Tackles Race Relations". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ↑ Tiggett, Jai (2013-02-09). "African American Film Critics Association & PAFF Awards Highlights". IndieWire. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ↑ Bloodline Chant KBvoc, retrieved 2018-02-20
- ↑ "BMI Composer Kathryn Bostic's 'The August Wilson Symphony' Heralded by PSO". BMI.com. 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ↑ "August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand | Music in August Wilson's Work | American Masters | PBS". American Masters. 2015-02-12. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ↑ "World premiere of The August Wilson Symphony featuring Phylicia Rashad". NEXTpittsburgh. 2018-01-15. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ↑ Hofler, Robert (2013-05-09). "Legit Review: 'Joe Turner's Come and Gone'". Variety. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ↑ Healy, Patrick. "'Book of Mormon' Leads Drama Desk Nominations With 12". ArtsBeat. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ↑ "Kathryn Bostic". www.pittsburghsymphony.org. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ↑ "Kathryn Bostic | Goodman Theatre". www.goodmantheatre.org. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- 1 2 "Kathryn Bostic composer of music for movie about Hip-Hop Artist Michel'le". Behind The Audio. 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ↑ "Sundance Institute and Time Warner Foundation Select Ten Fellows for 2015 Artist Support Grants". www.sundance.org. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ↑ "Sundance Institute and Skywalker Sound Announce New Collaboration to Support Independent Filmmakers and Film Composers". www.sundance.org. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
- ↑ "NEW MEMBERS 2016: ACADEMY INVITES 683 TO MEMBERSHIP". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2018-02-20.