The Academy Presents its Inaugural Oscar Concert

Courtesy of AMPAS
Courtesy of ©A.M.P.A.S.®

The Academy is breaking new ground in 2014. After 85 years in existence, Oscar is putting on his very first concert.

Days prior the 86th annual Academy Awards, an 80-piece orchestra conducted by each nominated composer as well as performances of the four original songs in the running for this year’s awards will be put on in concert form at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Those performing include five-time Oscar winner and 48-time nominee John Williams (who has an astounding 48 nominations) with The Book Thief; Arcade Fire’s William Butler and Owen Pallett with Her; 11-time Oscar nominee Thomas Newman with Saving Mr. Banks; Steven Price with Gravity and five-time nominee Alexandre Desplat with Philomena.

Singers include Jill Scott, who is slated to perform Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” from Despicable Me 2.  Songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez will perform their hit “Let it Go” from Frozen. Those performing U2‘s “Ordinary Love” from Mandela and Karen O’s “The Moon Song” from Her will be announced soon.

The original performers of all nominated songs, including Williams and Idina Menzel of Frozen will appear on the March 2 Academy Awards.

The show is open to the public, with tickets at Ticketmaster for $75 or $100.

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