Jeff Toyne
Encyclopedia
Jeff Toyne is a Canadian film composer.
, Ontario
, Canada
, Toyne earned a Bachelor’s degree in music composition from the University of Western Ontario
. He pursued graduate studies in composition at the University of British Columbia
http://www.music.ubc.ca/index.php?id=6281, graduating with a Master’s degree in 1999. Immediately thereafter, he was selected to hold one of the coveted composer-participant positions at the Henry Mancini Institute in Los Angeles. There, while writing and conducting several new works, he had the opportunity to study with such jazz and film artists as Jerry Goldsmith
, Jack Smalley
, Manny Albam
, Michael Abene, Bob Florence
, Jim McNeely
, John Clayton (bassist)
, Alf Clausen
and Horace Silver
. This experience was pivotal in broadening Toyne’s compositional scope to encompass not only a classical twentieth century idiom, but also jazz, blues and popular music.
Toyne then enrolled in the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television post-graduate program at the University of Southern California
in August 2000. Following his graduation from the program in May 2001, he began working alongside respected film composer Edward Shearmur in Los Angeles.
Toyne completed the score to his first feature film, Maxwell’s Demon, in 1998. The film premiered at the 1998 Atlantic Film Festival
, and has subsequently aired on both the Space Channel and Bravo!. The soundtrack, available on the No Records
label, was released that same year. Among his other film credits he counts the feature film Midnight is Coming (2002), and over forty short films in which he has collaborated with some of Los Angeles’ finest young directors, including two student Academy Award nominees: Aina Abiodun on The Beginning of Time (2000) and Heather Lenz on Back to Back (2001).
For television, Toyne has composed music for various programs including the pilot The Daily Blade, which received its premiere at the 1999 Atlantic Film Festival
, and aired on CTV
in January 2000. Among his many awards and distinctions, Mr. Toyne counts the Godfrey Ridout
Award from the SOCAN Young Composer’s Competition (1998). He has also received numerous commissions for new works by several noted organizations including: the Canadian Armed Forces, for which he composed Splendor Sine Occasu, the Official March of the British Columbia Brigade http://www.jefftoyne.com/, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
, to write a theme for the 2010 Winter Olympics
. The world premiere of the resulting work, "no fanfare," took place in 2005. http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=54ac0fca-fc4c-4252-8646-6cd0dc75f8ca&p=1 http://www.straight.com/article/for-toyne-film-work-leads-to-no-fanfare
Early life and career
Born in Sault Ste. MarieSault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Toyne earned a Bachelor’s degree in music composition from the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
. He pursued graduate studies in composition at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
http://www.music.ubc.ca/index.php?id=6281, graduating with a Master’s degree in 1999. Immediately thereafter, he was selected to hold one of the coveted composer-participant positions at the Henry Mancini Institute in Los Angeles. There, while writing and conducting several new works, he had the opportunity to study with such jazz and film artists as Jerry Goldsmith
Jerry Goldsmith
Jerrald King Goldsmith was an American composer and conductor most known for his work in film and television scoring....
, Jack Smalley
Jack Smalley
Jack Smalley is an American composer, orchestrator, and teacher of film and television scoring.After working for years as a jazz bassist, Smalley began to get jobs writing music for television, notable Charlie's Angels and Murder, She Wrote....
, Manny Albam
Manny Albam
Manny Albam was a jazz baritone saxophone player who eventually put the instrument down in favour of a long and respected career as an arranger, writer, and teacher.-Biography:The son of Lithuanian immigrants, who was born in the Dominican Republic when his mother went into labour en route...
, Michael Abene, Bob Florence
Bob Florence
Bob Florence was an American jazz arranger and pianist. He began taking piano lessons at five and initially intended to be a concert pianist. However, on taking classes with Bob McDonald he changed direction toward jazz.At the beginning of his career Florence worked as a pianist and arranger with...
, Jim McNeely
Jim McNeely
Jim McNeely is a Grammy award winning jazz pianist, composer, and arranger.Jim was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois, and moved to New York City in 1975. In 1978 he joined the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band...
, John Clayton (bassist)
John Clayton (bassist)
John Travis Clayton Jr. is an American jazz and classical double bassist.-Music:John Travis Clayton Jr. began seriously undertaking the study of double bass at age 16, studying with bass legend Ray Brown...
, Alf Clausen
Alf Clausen
Alf Clausen is an American film and television composer. He is best known for his work scoring many episodes of The Simpsons, of which he has been the sole composer since 1990...
and Horace Silver
Horace Silver
Horace Silver , born Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silva in Norwalk, Connecticut, is an American jazz pianist and composer....
. This experience was pivotal in broadening Toyne’s compositional scope to encompass not only a classical twentieth century idiom, but also jazz, blues and popular music.
Toyne then enrolled in the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television post-graduate program at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in August 2000. Following his graduation from the program in May 2001, he began working alongside respected film composer Edward Shearmur in Los Angeles.
Toyne completed the score to his first feature film, Maxwell’s Demon, in 1998. The film premiered at the 1998 Atlantic Film Festival
Atlantic Film Festival
The Atlantic Film Festival is an international film festival held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Held annually, the ten-day celebration of film and video from Atlantic Canada and around the world is committed to screening an inspiring and engaging collection of films and videos from Canada and the...
, and has subsequently aired on both the Space Channel and Bravo!. The soundtrack, available on the No Records
No Records
No Records was a record label and later record distributor that operated in Halifax, Nova Scotia from January 1993 to August 2004. The record label/distributor was started by Waye Mason who continues to play a key role in the operations of the Halifax Pop Explosion.Started during the beginning of...
label, was released that same year. Among his other film credits he counts the feature film Midnight is Coming (2002), and over forty short films in which he has collaborated with some of Los Angeles’ finest young directors, including two student Academy Award nominees: Aina Abiodun on The Beginning of Time (2000) and Heather Lenz on Back to Back (2001).
For television, Toyne has composed music for various programs including the pilot The Daily Blade, which received its premiere at the 1999 Atlantic Film Festival
Atlantic Film Festival
The Atlantic Film Festival is an international film festival held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Held annually, the ten-day celebration of film and video from Atlantic Canada and around the world is committed to screening an inspiring and engaging collection of films and videos from Canada and the...
, and aired on CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
in January 2000. Among his many awards and distinctions, Mr. Toyne counts the Godfrey Ridout
Godfrey Ridout
Godfrey Ridout was a Canadian composer, conductor, music educator, and writer. He contributed articles to numerous Canadian music publications, notably serving as the assistant editor of both Canadian Music and Canadian Review of Music and Art...
Award from the SOCAN Young Composer’s Competition (1998). He has also received numerous commissions for new works by several noted organizations including: the Canadian Armed Forces, for which he composed Splendor Sine Occasu, the Official March of the British Columbia Brigade http://www.jefftoyne.com/, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra performing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 240,000 people attend its live performances each year. It was founded in 1930 and plays in 12 venues. Its home is the Orpheum theatre. With an annual operating budget of $9.5 million, it is the...
, to write a theme for the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
. The world premiere of the resulting work, "no fanfare," took place in 2005. http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=54ac0fca-fc4c-4252-8646-6cd0dc75f8ca&p=1 http://www.straight.com/article/for-toyne-film-work-leads-to-no-fanfare
Films
- Dirty GirlDirty Girl (2010 film)Dirty Girl is a 2010 coming of age comedy, written and directed by Abe Sylvia. It stars Juno Temple, Milla Jovovich and William H. Macy. It premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September 2010...
(2010) - Ten Years Later (2009)
- White Light (2008) additional music
- Box Elder (2008)
- Within (2007)
- The New Twenty (2007)
- Shadow in the Trees (2007)
- I.R.A. : King of Nothing (2006) additional music
- The Third Eye (2006)
- Beyond Honor (2004) additional music
- El Padrino (2004) additional music
- Midnight is Coming (2002)
- Maxwell's Demon (1998)
Television
- Taken in Broad DaylightTaken In Broad DaylightTaken in Broad Daylight is a 2009, made-for-television movie based on the real-life kidnapping of Nebraska teenager Anne Sluti, who was abducted and held for six days in April 2001 by Anthony Steven Wright, also known as Tony Zappa...
(MOW) (2009) - Make or Break TVMake or Break TVMake or Break TV is a Canadian thirteen-episode half-hour documentary television series produced by Make Believe Media Inc. and currently airs on TVtropolis. The first episode premiered on Thursday September 4, 2008 and was repeated in the show's regular time slot on Monday September 8,...
(series) (2008) - The Egg Factory (MOW) (2008) additional music
- The Two CoreysThe two CoreysThe Two Coreys were two actors, popular in the 1980s, Corey Feldman and Corey Haim . Born in the same year, the two young actors appeared in many films together, most notably a number of successful teen-oriented films in the late 1980s...
(series) (2007) - Parking Lot Guy (pilot) (2007)
- Second Sight (MOW) (2007) additional music
- The Perfect Suspect (MOW) (2006) additional music
- The First Emperor (special) (2006) additional music
- Ultimate Fighter (series) additional music
- American CasinoAmerican CasinoAmerican Casino is an American reality television series which tracks the daily events of the managers and employees of the Green Valley Ranch Casino resort in Henderson, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas. The show originally aired on the Discovery Channel, but in June 2005, it was moved to the Travel...
(series) additional music - The Daily Blade (pilot) (2000) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0870304/
Theatre
- Copenhagen (Vancouver Playhouse 2005)
- Below the Belt (Gardner Stages 2004)
- Edge of Allegiance 3 (MET Theatre 2004)