Scholarship Established in Tribute to Late Composer James Horner
UCLA Alumna Establishes Scholarship in Honour of Late Husband, Renowned Film Composer James Horner
Sara Horner ('79) has made an inspiring gift to the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, donating $100,000 to establish the James Horner Composition Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship honours her late husband, James Horner, a renowned film composer, conductor, and orchestrator who won two Academy Awards for his work on Titanic and co-wrote the movie's power ballad, "My Heart Will Go On."
Throughout his illustrious career, Horner composed music for over 100 films, including Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), An American Tail (1986), The Land Before Time (1988), The Rocketeer (1991), Casper (1995), Jumanji (1995), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), Braveheart (1995), Apollo 13 (1995), Aliens (1986), Field of Dreams (1989), Legends of the Fall (1994), The Perfect Storm, A Beautiful Mind (2001), and The Mask of Zorro. His work frequently involved sweeping orchestral music and memorable themes, making him one of Hollywood's most celebrated composers.
Horner's scholarship was established to recognize the importance of scholarship support in his own life. During his studies at UCLA in the 1970s, he received the Henry Mancini Scholarship Award to assist with the cost of his studies. After graduation, he became one of Hollywood's most melodic composers, with his orchestrations featured in films such as Field of Dreams, Avatar, and A Beautiful Mind. He won 12 GRAMMY Awards for his film composition and scoring work between 1988 and 2011.
Sara Horner and their daughter Emily are proud to be able to pay it forward to support UCLA students in James' memory. The James Horner Composition Endowed Scholarship supports undergraduate students pursuing a degree in Music Composition. The scholarship was established to honour James Horner's life and legacy, ensuring that his passion for music and his appreciation for the impact a scholarship can have on a student continue to inspire future generations.
[1] Field of Dreams (1989) - Nominated for an Academy Award for its music [2] Braveheart (1995) - Nominated for an Academy Award for its score [3] Apollo 13 (1995) - Nominated for an Academy Award for its score [4] Aliens (1986) - Nominated for an Academy Award for its score [5] Legends of the Fall (1994) - Widely regarded as one of his iconic soundtracks
[1] Sara Horner's late husband, James Horner, contributed Oscar-nominated music to films like "Field of Dreams" (1989), showcasing his talent in education-and-self-development areas such as music.
[2] His passion for music extended beyond film, also leading to Academy Award nominations for his scores in movies like "Braveheart" (1995), demonstrating his versatility in the entertainment industry.
