Paul Chihara

ABOUT PAUL CHIHARA

Japanese-American composer known for his concert works and film scores. The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra hired him as its first composer-in-residence during the tenure of conductor Neville Marriner.

He received a Master's degree in English literature from Cornell University. While in Paris, he was a student under Nadia Boulanger , in West Berlin with Ernst Pepping, and in Tanglewood with Gunther Schuller .

His first film score was for Roger Corman 's "Death Race 2000," which was released in 1974. He also worked on "China Beach," "Simon & Simon," "MacGruder and Loud," and many other film and television productions.

He and his family were Japanese Americans who were forced into an internment camp in Minidoka, Idaho, during World War II. He and his wife Carol both became accomplished viola players.

He taught famous film composer James Horner at UCLA.