JOHN WILLIAMS has composed the music and served as a music director for more than 90 films. His most recent Academy Award nomination was for his score from Catch Me If You Can, making him the most nominated living person. He has been awarded five Oscars, three British Academy Awards, 18 Grammys, three Golden Globes, and numerous gold and platinum records. His most recent film project was Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

In January 1980, Williams was named 19th Conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra since its founding in 1885. He currently holds the title of Boston Pops Laureate Conductor, which he assumed following his retirement in December 1993. Williams also holds the title of Artist-in-Residence at Tanglewood.

Williams has written many concert pieces, including two symphonies, a cello concerto premiered by Yo-Yo Ma and the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood in 1994 (recorded for Sony Classical), concertos for flute and for violin, Tree Song for violinist Gil Shaham (recorded on DG with a revised version of the Violin Concerto), a bassoon concerto (The Five Sacred Trees) premiered by Judith LeClair and recorded for Sony Classical, and concertos for clarinet, tuba, and trumpet. He led the premiere of his most recent concert work, a horn concerto, with the Chicago Symphony and soloist Dale Clevenger in November.

Williams led the Boston Pops Orchestra on tours of Japan in 1990 and 1993, and also has conducted the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra on tours of Japan and the U.S. In addition to leading the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall and at Tanglewood, he has appeared as a guest conductor with many major orchestras, including the London Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He led the Philharmonic in the world premiere of his work Soundings during the "Soundstage L.A." inaugural gala for Walt Disney Concert Hall in October.