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The Movie Music of James Horner

There is no mystery what attracted conductor Aaron Collins to orchestral music.

"I grew up loving the movies and soon realized the music by amazing composers like James Horner was the key to the emotional tone and impact of film," Collins explained. "Our next concert is my personal tip of the hat to his genius for musical expression."

The film credits for movie music composer Horner include the titles from some of the industry's biggest blockbusters. He composed music for over 100 films, including "Titanic," the best-selling orchestral film soundtrack of all time. 

Maestro Aaron Collins leads the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra in a multi-media concert event inspired by the work of one of Hollywood's greatest composers, when they present "Titanic: The Movie Music of James Horner" at the Scott Center for Performing Arts  October 29 and the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center on Saturday October 30.  Many of the highlighted selections will be accompanied by movie clips on screen. 

Through the 1990s, Horner continued to work on an increasing number of epic productions, from  Legends of the Fall to Apollo 13 to Braveheart. Horner finally won an Oscar in 1997 for his score to director James Cameron's blockbuster Titanic. Its theme song, My Heart Will Go On, became an international hit for Celine Dion. From Willow to The Rocketeer, The Perfect Storm to A Beautiful Mind The Legend of Zorro to Avatar and The Amazing Spider-Man, Horner was up to whatever challenge that Hollywood presented him.

An avid pilot, Horner, 61, was killed in a tragic turboprop aircraft crash near Santa Barbara, California on June 22, 2015, leaving behind a wife and two daughters and devastating the film music community. At the time of his death, Horner was set to work on Matt Damon’s The Great Wall and Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge. The Magnificent Seven, which opened in theaters last month, marked his last significant work.

Horner won two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, three Satellite Awards, three Saturn Awards, and was nominated for three British Academy Film Awards.  Instead of maintaining a career in the brilliant spotlight of Hollywood blockbusters, Horner opted in the 2010's to primarily work on international arthouse-style projects that piqued his interest.

In a 2009 interview with the Los Angeles Times Horner said: "My job is to make sure at every turn of the film it's something the audience can feel with their heart. When we lose a character, when somebody wins, when somebody loses, when someone disappears - at all times I'm keeping track, constantly, of what the heart is supposed to be feeling. That is my primary role."

Tickets for the Horner tribute performance are $20 for advance tickets, $25 for tickets at the door. The concert is free for those aged 18 and under or with a student ID.  For more information, call 855-252-7276 or visit http://www.spacecoastsymphony.org

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