Hildur Gudnadóttir’s winning streak continues. After snagging the Emmy in September for best outstanding music composition for a limited series for Chernobyl and then the Golden Globe for best original score Sunday for Joker, the composer was a double winner at the Society of Composer & Lyricists’ inaugural awards Tuesday night (Jan. 7).
The event, which took place at Los Angeles’ Skirball Center, handed out five awards saluting composers and songwriters in all visual media. SC&L’s members include professional film, television, video game and musical theater composers and lyricists, as well as orchestrators, arrangers, music supervisors, music agents, music attorneys, music editors, copyists and recording engineers.
Gudnadóttir’s wins came for outstanding original score for a studio film for Joker and outstanding original score for television or streaming production for Chernobyl.
In an field where male composers far outnumber female composers, it was a strong night for women as Kathryn Bostic took home the award for outstanding original score for an independent film for Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am. Cynthia Erivo, who plays the title character in Harriet, shared the outstanding original song for visual media award with her co-writer Joshuah Brian Campbell for their end-title collaboration, “Stand Up.”
Gordy Haab and Stephen Barton’s music for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order won the award for outstanding original score for interactive media.
Legendary composer and multiple Oscar nominee Thomas Newman was presented the Spirit of Collaboration award along with his 1917 director Sam Mendes. As the name implies, the award goes to a composer and filmmaker who have an enduring partnership. The pair have worked together on several films including American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Revolutionary Road and Skyfall.
Related
The ceremony opened with Michael Abels conducting a 32-piece choir performing “Anthem” from his nominated score to Jordan Peele’s horror hit Us. Other highlights included performances by jazz musician Gene Cipriano, and violinist Philippe Quint. Songwriter Arthur Hamilton, one of the first presidents of the SCL, was honored with a performance of his 1955 classic “Cry Me a River,” sung by Dannielle De Andrea.
Full list of winners and nominees below.
Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film
WINNER: Hildur Gudnadóttir – Joker
Michael Abels – Us
Michael Giacchino – Jojo Rabbit
John Powell – How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Alan Silvestri – Avengers: Endgame
Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film:
WINNER: Kathryn Bostic – Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
Jeff Beal – The Biggest Little Farm
Alberto Iglesias – Pain And Glory
Howard Shore – The Song Of Names
Gabriel Yared – Judy
Outstanding Original Score for Television or Streaming Production
WINNER: Hildur Gudnadóttir – Chernobyl
Kris Bowers – When They See Us
Nicholas Britell – Succession
Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein – Stranger Things
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – Watchmen
Adam Taylor – The Handmaid’s Tale
Outstanding Original Song for Visual Media:
WINNER: Cynthia Erivo and Joshuah Brian Campbell – Harriet “Stand Up”
Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez – Frozen 2 “Into the Unknown”
Kathryn Bostic – Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am “High Above the Water”
Justin Paul, Benj Pasek and Alan Menken – Aladdin “Speechless”
Diane Warren – Breakthrough “I’m Standing with You”
Outstanding Original Score for Interactive Media
WINNER: Gordy Haab and Stephen Barton – Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Neal Acree – Rend
Austin Wintory – Erica