Justin Hurwitz

Justin Hurwitz
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Name	Justin Hurwitz
Birth date	1985-01-22
Birth place	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Composer, conductor, songwriter
Years active	2009–present
Known for	Film scores for Damien Chazelle

Justin Hurwitz is an American composer, conductor, and songwriter noted for his work in contemporary film music, particularly collaborations with director Damien Chazelle. He rose to prominence with scores that blend jazz, orchestral, and popular idioms, garnering major industry recognition and awards. Hurwitz's career links him to a network of musicians, filmmakers, studios, and institutions in Hollywood and on the festival circuit.

Early life and education

Born in Los Angeles, California, Hurwitz grew up amid the cultural milieu of Southern California, with early exposure to film and music scenes connected to institutions such as the Hollywood Bowl and Los Angeles Philharmonic. He attended secondary school in the Los Angeles area where extracurricular programs connected to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and regional conservatories informed his formative training. Hurwitz later matriculated at Harvard University, where he studied Visual and Environmental Studies and developed close creative partnerships with peers from Harvard's theatrical and cinematic circles, including future collaborators associated with the Harvard Lampoon and student productions on the Radcliffe Quad. At Harvard he worked with student organizations and ensembles that bridged campus groups like the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra and film societies that screened works by filmmakers such as Stanley Kubrick, Federico Fellini, and François Truffaut.

Career

Hurwitz began his professional trajectory composing for short films and independent projects, entering networks anchored by festivals such as the Sundance Film Festival and institutions like the Toronto International Film Festival. Early credits connected him to filmmakers and producers operating within Hollywood's studio system and the indie circuit, collaborating on projects that screened at venues including the Telluride Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. A longtime collaborator of director Damien Chazelle, he transitioned from short-form scoring to major feature work and studio releases, engaging with production companies like Summit Entertainment, Lionsgate, and Searchlight Pictures. Hurwitz's conducting and orchestration work led to recording sessions at facilities such as Abbey Road Studios and scoring stages used by the Los Angeles Opera and unionized musicians affiliated with the American Federation of Musicians.

Major works and collaborations

Hurwitz is best known for scoring feature films that achieved both critical acclaim and commercial visibility. His breakthrough came on the film that revitalized interest in jazz-inflected musical cinema, produced by teams including Bold Films and distributed by Summit Entertainment. Subsequent notable collaborations include work with Damien Chazelle on films released by Lionsgate and Sony Pictures Classics, with soundtracks performed by ensembles featuring members associated with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and session players from the New York Philharmonic. Hurwitz has also partnered with songwriters, arrangers, and vocalists connected to labels such as Columbia Records and Interscope Records to create original songs for motion pictures, engaging with producers who have credits on projects involving John Williams, Hans Zimmer, and contemporary composers from the American Film Institute milieu. He contributed music to films showcased at premier festivals including Cannes Film Festival and garnered sessions with recording engineers who have worked at studios like Sunset Sound.

Style and influences

Hurwitz's musical style synthesizes influences from jazz figures like Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and Thelonious Monk with film composers such as Bernard Herrmann, Henry Mancini, and Elmer Bernstein. He integrates big band orchestrations, string writing reminiscent of the Hollywood String Tradition, and thematic development associated with the Leitmotif practice common to composers like John Williams. Hurwitz's scores often evoke the musical worlds depicted onscreen, drawing on period-specific idioms from eras represented in films set in locations tied to Los Angeles, New York City, and historical periods referenced by international festivals such as Venice Film Festival. His arrangements show familiarity with jazz arranging techniques taught at institutions like the New England Conservatory and compositional approaches prominent in conservatory curricula at Juilliard School.

Awards and recognition

Hurwitz has received top industry honors including awards from institutions such as the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards, and industry guilds including the Broadcast Film Critics Association and the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. His work has been recognized at ceremonies held at venues like the Dolby Theatre and by organizations such as the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and the Recording Academy. Film critics from outlets associated with events like the Critics' Choice Movie Awards and juries at the BAFTA ceremonies have noted his contributions to contemporary film scoring.

Personal life and philanthropy

Hurwitz resides in the Los Angeles area and maintains professional ties to musical education and community organizations. He has participated in benefit concerts and charitable events connected to institutions like the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, music education programs affiliated with the GRAMMY Foundation, and outreach initiatives that partner with schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District. He has also engaged with alumni networks at Harvard University and contributed to panels and masterclasses at festivals and conservatories linked to the Berklee College of Music and the American Film Institute.

Category:American film score composers Category:Harvard University alumni