Laura Anne Karpman (born March 1, 1959) is an American

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Def ...

, whose work has included music for

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This feedba ...

theater Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perfor ...

, and the

concert hall A concert hall is a cultural building with a stage that serves as a performance venue and an auditorium filled with seats. This list does not include other venues such as sports stadia, dramatic theatres or convention centres that ma ...

. She has won five

Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

for her work. Karpman was trained at

The Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

, where she played

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

, and honed her skills

scatting In vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with wordless vocables, nonsense syllables or without words at all. In scat singing, the singer improvises melodies and rhythms using the voice as an instrument rather than a speaking medium. ...

in bars.

Education

Born in Los Angeles, Karpman worked with

John Harbison John Harris Harbison (born December 20, 1938) is an American composer, known for his symphonies, operas, and large choral works. Life John Harris Harbison was born on December 20, 1938, in Orange, New Jersey, to the historian Elmore Harris Harbi ...

at the

Tanglewood Music Center The Tanglewood Music Center is an annual summer music academy in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States, in which emerging professional musicians participate in performances, master classes and workshops. The center operates as a part of the Tanglew ...

, and attended Aspen Music School and the Ecole des Arts Americaines, where she worked with

Nadia Boulanger Juliette Nadia Boulanger (; 16 September 188722 October 1979) was a French music teacher and conductor. She taught many of the leading composers and musicians of the 20th century, and also performed occasionally as a pianist and organist. From a ...

. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

, where she graduated

magna cum laude Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sou ...

, studying with

William Bolcom William Elden Bolcom (born May 26, 1938) is an American composer and pianist. He has received the Pulitzer Prize, the National Medal of Arts, a Grammy Award, the Detroit Music Award and was named 2007 Composer of the Year by Musical America. He ...

and Leslie Bassett. She received both her Doctorate and master's degree in Music Composition at

, where her principal teacher was

Milton Babbitt Milton Byron Babbitt (May 10, 1916 – January 29, 2011) was an American composer, music theorist, mathematician, and teacher. He is particularly noted for his serial and electronic music. Biography Babbitt was born in Philadelphia to Albert E ...

Career

Compositions by Karpman have been commissioned by

Tonya Pinkins Tonya Pinkins (born May 30, 1962) is an American actress and filmmaker. Her award-winning debut feature film ''RED PILL'' was an official selection at the 2021 Pan African Film Festival, won the Best Black Lives Matter Feature and Best First Fea ...

Los Angeles Opera The Los Angeles Opera is an American opera company in Los Angeles, California. It is the fourth-largest opera company in the United States. The company's home base is the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, part of the Los Angeles Music Center. Leader ...

American Composers Orchestra The American Composers Orchestra (ACO) is an American orchestra administratively based in New York City, specialising in contemporary American music. The ACO gives concerts at various concert venues in New York City, including: * Zankel Hall at ...

Czech Philharmonic The Česká filharmonie (Czech Philharmonic) is a symphony orchestra based in Prague. The orchestra's principal concert venue is the Rudolfinum. History The name "Czech Philharmonic Orchestra" appeared for the first time in 1894, as the titl ...

, The Juilliard Choral Union, Pacific Serenades, and percussionist

Evelyn Glennie Dame Evelyn Elizabeth Ann Glennie, (born 19 July 1965) is a Scottish percussionist. She was selected as one of the two laureates for the Polar Music Prize of 2015. Early life Glennie was born in Methlick, Aberdeenshire in Scotland. The in ...

. They have been performed internationally. Karpman's theater catalog includes three musicals for Los Angeles's "A Noise Within" theater company, as well as underscores for dozens of classic plays. Among her media music credits are

Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Sp ...

's Emmy-winning, 20-hour TV miniseries, '' Taken''; and PBS's series ''

The Living Edens ''The Living Edens'' was a Public Broadcasting Service series that aired from 1997 to 2003. Narrators included Peter Coyote and Linda Hunt. It was partially funded by ''Reader's Digest'' in exchange for various marketing rights. Episodes The seri ...

'' (for which she received nine

Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

nominations). She has scored numerous films, television programs and video games (including music for ''

Halo 3 ''Halo 3'' is a 2007 first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie for the Xbox 360 console. The third installment in the ''Halo'' franchise, the game concludes the story arc begun in 2001's '' Halo: Combat Evolved'' and continued in ...

'' and her award-winning score for '' EverQuest II''). Karpman received an

Annie Award The Annie Awards are accolades which the Los Angeles branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood, has presented each year since 1972 to recognize excellence in animation shown in cinema and television. Originally de ...

nomination for '' A Monkey's Tale'', a short film commissioned by the Chinese government, which later premiered in the US and was performed by the

Detroit Symphony The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its primary performance venue is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood. Jader Bignamini is the current music ...

. Karpman's Grammy-winning ''Ask Your Mama'' premiered at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th and 57th Streets. Designed by architect William Burnet Tuthill and built ...

on March 16, 2009, with performances by

Jessye Norman Jessye Mae Norman (September 15, 1945 – September 30, 2019) was an American opera singer and recitalist. She was able to perform dramatic soprano roles, but refused to be limited to that voice type. A commanding presence on operatic, concert ...

Cassandra Wilson Cassandra Wilson (born December 4, 1955) is an American jazz singer, songwriter, and producer from Jackson, Mississippi. She is one of the most successful female Jazz singers and has been described by critic Gary Giddins as "a singer blessed wi ...

The Roots The Roots are an American hip hop band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's ''The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy F ...

, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's conducted by

George Manahan George Manahan (born 1952, Atlanta, Georgia, USA) is an American conductor. Biography Manahan's parents were church musicians. In high school, he was a drum major in his high school marching band, and also conducted this band. Another of his earl ...

. With

Langston Hughes James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1901 – May 22, 1967) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. One of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry, H ...

's epic poem for a libretto, Karpman's work exhibited an eclectic musical mix. Using Hughes' own voice at the core of the work, this musical includes passages from

Louis Armstrong Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and Singing, vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and se ...

Big Maybelle Mabel Louise Smith (May 1, 1924 – January 23, 1972), known professionally as Big Maybelle, was an American R&B singer. Her 1956 hit single "Candy" received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. Childhood and musical background Born in Ja ...

Pigmeat Markham Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham (April 18, 1904 – December 13, 1981) was an American entertainer. Though best known as a comedian, Markham was also a singer, dancer, and actor. His nickname came from a stage routine, in which he declared himself to be ...

and

Bill "Bojangles" Robinson Bill Robinson, nicknamed Bojangles (born Luther Robinson; May 25, 1878 – November 25, 1949), was an American tap dancer, actor, and singer, the best known and the most highly paid African-American entertainer in the United States during the f ...

, integrated with projected images by

Rico Gatson Rico Gatson is a multidisciplinary artist working from Brooklyn, New York, whose work draws from his African-American background. Through his art, he provides social commentary on significant moments in African-American history. His work combines ...

and additional archival video, as well as Hughes's own poetry. Annie Dorsen directed it. ''Ask Your Mama'' was released by Avie Records in July 2016. Later, Karpman created "The 110 Project", a work commissioned by the L.A. Opera as a paean to the city's first freeway,

I-110 Interstate 110 may refer to: *Interstate 110 and State Route 110 (California), Interstate 110 (California), a north–south freeway running through Los Angeles, California *Interstate 110 (Florida), a spur route in Pensacola, Florida *Interstate 1 ...

, which turned 70 in 2009. In 2014, Karpman co-founded the Alliance for Women Film Composers with

Lolita Ritmanis Lolita Ritmanis (born November 1, 1962) is a Latvian-American composer, known for her film and television scores, including her work on the animated series '' Batman Beyond''. Early life Born on November 1, 1962, in Portland, Oregon, Ritmanis ...

and Miriam Cutler. The organization provides visibility and advocacy for women composers. In 2016, Karpman became the first woman elected to the music branch of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors. In 2020, Karpman was hired to compose the score for the

Marvel Studios Marvel Studios, LLC (originally known as Marvel Films from 1993 to 1996) is an American film and television production company that is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios, a division of the Walt Disney Company. Marvel Studios produces the Ma ...

animated anthology series '' What If...?''. In January 2022, Karpman was hired to compose the score for the upcoming superhero film ''

The Marvels ''The Marvels'' is an upcoming American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel, Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney S ...

''. In May 2022, Karpman was set to compose the score for her third Marvel Studios outing, with the streaming series '' Ms. Marvel''.

Personal life

Karpman is married to fellow composer Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum. They live in

Playa del Rey Playa del Rey (Spanish for "Beach of the King") is a seaside community in the Santa Monica Bay and the Westside region of Los Angeles, California. It has a ZIP code of 90293 and area codes of 310 and 424. As of 2018, the community had a populat ...

, California, with their son.

Filmography

Films

2020s

2010s

2000s

Television

Video Games

Awards and nominations

Primetime Emmy Awards * 2021 nomination, " Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) -

Lovecraft Country Lovecraft Country is a term coined for the New England setting used by H. P. Lovecraft in many of his weird fiction stories, which combines real and fictitious locations. This setting has since been elaborated on by other writers working in the ...

: Rewind 1921" . * 2020 won, " Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) - ''

Why We Hate ''Why We Hate'' is a six-part documentary television series which is an "exploration into the human condition of hatred and how we can overcome it." It was directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Sam Pollard and produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Telev ...

'': Tools & Tactics". * 2020 nomination, " Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music - ''

''. * 2008 nomination, " Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Original Dramatic Score)" for '' Masters of Science Fiction'': Jerry Was a Man". * 2003 nomination, " Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) - ''

Odyssey 5 ''Odyssey 5'' is a Canadian science fiction series, which was shown in 2002 on Space in Canada and on Showtime in the United States. The premise involves five space travelers who witness the destruction of the Earth; they are given the opportu ...

'': pilot". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences * 2015 Membership Induction Annie Awards * 2007 nomination, "Best Music in an Animated Feature Production" for ''A Monkey's Tale'' BMI Film & TV Awards * 2003 won, "BMI Cable Mini-Series Award" for ''Taken'' G.A.N.G. Awards * 2004 won, "Best Arrangement of a Non-Original Score" for ''Everquest II'' * 2004 nomination, "Best Music of the Year" for ''Everquest II'' The Charles Ives Award,

American Academy of Arts and Letters The American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 300-member honor society whose goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain excellence" in American literature, music, and art. Its fixed number membership is elected for lifetime appointments. Its headqu ...

* 1984 won News & Documentary Emmy Awards * 2008 nomination, "Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Music and Sound" for ''

Craft in America Craft in America, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Carol Sauvion in 2003, and based in Los Angeles, California. Its mission is to document and advance contemporary American craft and traditional craft practices through e ...

'' * 2003 nomination, "Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Music and Sound" for ''The Living Edens'' for "Big Sur: California's Wild Coast". Nomination shared with Nancy Severinsen, Clifford Hoelscher, Mark Linden, and Tara Paul. * 2001 nomination, "Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft – Music" for ''The Living Edens'' episode "Kamchatka: Siberia's Forbidden Wilderness". * 2000 nominations, "Outstanding Achievement in a Craft in News and Documentary Programming – Music" ** for ''The Living Edens'' episode "Costa Rica: Land of Pure Life" ** for ''The Living Edens'' episode "Palau: Paradise of the Pacific" * 1999 won, "Outstanding Achievement in a Craft in News and Documentary Programming – Music" for ''The Living Edens'' episode "Madagascar: A World Apart". * 1998 won "Outstanding Achievement in a Craft in News and Documentary Programming – Music" for ''The Living Edens'' episodes "Denali: Alaska's Great Wilderness", "Manu: Peru's Hidden Rain Forest", "Patagonia: Life at the End of the Earth".

References

External links

* *
Ask Your Mama

UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television: Laura Karpman

Articles and interviews

"Ode to Joystick"

"Viewpoint"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karpman, Laura 1959 births 20th-century American Jews 20th-century American women musicians 20th-century women composers 21st-century American Jews 21st-century American women musicians 21st-century women composers American classical composers American film score composers American women classical composers American women film score composers American women in electronic music Juilliard School alumni LGBT classical composers LGBT film score composers Living people University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni Video game composers