Thomas Newman is a second-generation member of Hollywood’s pre-eminent musical dynasty. Being the son to Alfred Newman, who has won 9 Academy Awards that made him the most Oscar-awarded film composer of all time, Newman grew up within a very musical environment. Initially interested in musical theater when he was mentored by Stephen Sondheim, Newman began composing for the screen when he got his first scoring assignment in 1979. Just a few years later, John Williams invited him to work on Return of the Jedi. His debut was made when composing music for the 1984 feature film Reckless. Ever since, Thomas Newman has carried on his family’s legacy through a series of awards and nominations, including 15 Academy Award nominations, making him the most nominated living composer who has not yet had the luck to claim an Oscar for himself. Thomas Newman has composed many iconic and diverse scores for, amongst others, The Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Finding Nemo, Skyfall, Passengers and 1917.