Meet the Artist: J.P. Redmond

Sometimes the best music comes from a variety of influences. J.P. Redmond, from Yonkers, New York, is not only a pianist but also a composer. At only 14 years old, J.P. has proven to be a musician as accomplished as he is multi-talented.

In addition to appearing on From the Top Show 274 in San Marcos, Texas, J.P. also received one of our Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Awards. For his associated outreach project, J.P. wanted to use his gifts to reach out to war veterans. He decided to do so through his passion for silent films.

“Old silent films are still enjoyable,” he said. “Many are hilarious comedies, and they should be preserved by showing them again with new music.”

J.P. realized that many veterans may have enjoyed watching these films growing up, and might enjoy seeing them again with a new score. The silent film he selected for his project was Buster Keaton’s “The Haunted House”. Not only did he compose a new score, but then also organized musicians and time in a recording studio.

Once the recording was complete, J.P. arranged for presentations of the film including a short talk and Q&A at Hastings on Hudson’s James Harmon Community Center as well as New York State Veteran’ Homes in Montrose, New York.

The piece was so well-done that it won a 2014 Morton Gould Young Composer Award.

Watch the video below to see J.P. in action in his community and to hear segments of  “The Haunted House Suite”. To watch the full film accompanied by J.P.’s score, visit http://jpredmond.instantencore.com.

This is what we call taking it beyond the concert hall!