Composer/ Conductor

Jim Papoulis composes, orchestrates, and conducts music from many genres and is known for work that connects classical and world sounds with contemporary rhythms, voices, and computer technology. His work includes composition and orchestration for contemporary live corporate shows, scores for film, commercials, dance, and pop songs, and writing for classical ensembles, infusing a traditional sound with contemporary instrumentation.

International music publisher, Boosey & Hawkes, publishes his music for choral ensembles, many of which have received awards and recognitions in the field of children’s choral music, CAN YOU HEAR and GIVE US HOPE, among them, are performed worldwide annually. Both songs are part of The Foundation for Small Voices music project, SOUNDS OF A BETTER WORLD = small voices calling, for which he donates all composer royalties to the Foundation.

Papoulis’ extensive professional and nonprofit travels enable him to bring his distinctive musical and conducting style to performances across a broad spectrum of musical styles. He actively seeks to immerse himself in the music, instruments, and culture indigenous to an area, and incorporates these elements into his work.

Recent Commissions include: National conducting tour of MAKING MUSIC VISIBLE: Dvorak’s 9th and Papoulis 1st. Concert piece for Young People’s Chorus of NYC to open Lincoln Center’s holiday ’04, Classical work for the Boys Choir of Newark ’04, Orchestral ballet for Alvin Ailey featuring children’s choir and world percussion; concert piece for the All City Boys Choir of NYC, and a recreation of Dance Theatre of Harlem’s signature ‘Prodigal Son’ with Tony Award Winner Geoffrey Holder. His album Can You Hear is a compilation of choral works featuring children’s choirs from around the world; he is presently completing a classical CD featuring The Tokyo String Quartet.

Through the Foundation for Small Voices, Papoulis conducts Songwriting Workshops with children’s music programs. Under the sponsorship of Hyatt International Hotels his original music concert Sounds of a Better World was presented globally to benefit local children’s charities. Recent invitations from the Department of Education in The People’s Republic of China to create a music education program for teachers, and Americashare in Nairobi to conduct workshops for music educators and children in Kenya, are presently under development.

Awards

  • The Brizzolara Family’s Most Inspirational Film at The Hampton’s International Film Festival ’04 (The Untold Story of Emmett Till)
  • Winner Best Feature, Arizona International Film Festival ’04
  • Special Recognition, Prada Fdn., Tribeca Film Festival ’04
  • Best Selection Avignon/NY Film Festival ’04 (Lustre)
  • Four Telly Awards for excellence in industrial composition 2005
  • The Young People’s Chorus of NYC Artistic Honoree Award ’05
  • University of Miami School of Music Alumni of Distinction ’04
  • Five Tellys in ’04, Metro Mass Choir Inspiration Award ’03
  • National Association of Composers awards for Philopoly (flute choir) & Ghost (string quartet)
  • Two Clio awards