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Richard Kaufman

About this Artist

RICHARD KAUFMAN has devoted much of his musical life to conducting and supervising music for film and television productions, as well as performing film and classical music in concert halls and on recordings. He continues to appear as guest conductor with symphony orchestras throughout the United States. Now in his ninth season as Principal Pops Conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the 2005/06 concert season also marks his 15th year as Principal Pops Conductor of the Pacific Symphony in Orange County, and his second with The Florida Orchestra. During the current season, Kaufman appeared twice with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as he did last season, conducting concerts featuring classic and contemporary film music in a series entitled "Friday Night at the Movies." He has been engaged to continue this series with the Chicago Symphony, conducting two concerts during the 2006/07 season.

Kaufman received the 1993 Grammy award in the category of Best Pop Instrumental Performance for a recording he conducted with the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra. His most recent CD, entitled The High and the Mighty, was recorded with the London Symphony. His other recordings include CDs with the Brandenburg Philharmonic, the Nuremberg Symphony, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Kaufman has conducted for performers including John Denver, Andy Williams, Nanette Fabray, Monica Mancini, and Art Garfunkel. As a violinist, he has played on numerous film and television scores including Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Animal House, and on recordings with artists including Barbra Streisand, John Denver, Burt Bacharach, and Ray Charles.

Richard Kaufman joined the MGM Music Department in 1984, supervising music for both film and television. He received two Emmy nominations in the categories of Outstanding Music Direction and Composition. As a unique part of his career in film, he has coached various actors in musical roles including Jack Nicholson, Dudley Moore, Tom Hanks, and Susan Sarandon.

Kaufman is also a member of the Music Advisory Boards of the Henry Mancini Institute and Young Musicians Foundation.