Leo Awards Musical Director

Hal Beckett, the Emmy-nominated composer and conductor has established himself as one of Western Canada’s most respected composers and music specialists. He has composed music for 18 films, more than 500 television and cartoon episodes, operatic and symphonic ensembles, dance productions, multimedia projects, and even an aircraft unveiling; he worked on Michael Bublé’s hit album ‘Crazy Love’ and Bryan Adams’ album ‘11’, he conducted an album of operatic arias with soprano Ariel Sung, conducted film scores for Universal, Lionsgate, and 20th Century Fox and produced 102 national anthems for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, performed by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Hal is the Music Director of the Vancouver Film Orchestra, contracting and producing film score sessions for clients including Disney, Miramax, Gold Circle Films, ABC Television, Infinity Features, and Brightlight Pictures. Hal’s production company, Beckett Music, provides music supervision, editing and production services – from pre-records through the dub stage.

 

 

Leo Awards Orchestra Conductor

Although he is principally known for his many compositions and arrangements for jazz ensemble, Fred Stride has also written countless arrangements for various entertainers and performers for almost every musical setting, from chamber ensembles to big bands, concert bands, theatre orchestras and symphony orchestras. He was the winner of the 2007 International Jazz Arranging Competition and also received the 2008 SOCAN/IAJE Phil Nimmons Established Composer Award.

An active band leader and guest conductor, he currently leads his own Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra which, besides playing his own work, also performs classic jazz repertoire. As well as his very busy professional writing career, Fred also finds time to direct a jazz ensemble and teach jazz theory and arranging at the University of British Columbia School of Music. He also works as a clinician, adjudicator and teacher at various music festivals, summer camps and jazz workshops across the Canada and the US.