Usman Riaz is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and film maker. A Ted Fellow since 2012, Usman's performance-talks focus on his self-taught journey into music from YouTube. Although he began as a pianist from age 6, Usman grew to develop multi-instrumental skills and merge his compositional expression with his passion for film. An avid Studio Ghibli fan, "Blue Moon Waltz" stems from the same cinematic dream world and further explores the magical possibilities of an orchestra.

Self directed, and presented in collaboration with his current school, Berklee College of Music, the premier of Blue Moon Waltz is a signature for even more imaginative works to come.

For more information, visit:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/usmanesoterica
Twitter:   / usmanriaz1990  
YouTube: http://bit.ly/NqKdaM
TED: http://www.ted.com/speakers/usman_riaz


"Blue Moon Waltz" (U. Riaz)

Usman Riaz: conductor, pianist
Alliz Nicholas: musical director
Simone Scazzochio: artistic direction

Strings:
Ludovica Burtone: violin I, concertmaster
Vicente Espi: violin I
Tim Reynolds: violin I
Peder Barratt Due: violin I
Steve Chui: violin I
Ellen Melissa-Story: violin I
Sue Buzzard: violin I
Pam Cummings: violin I
Carlos Felipe Silva: violin II
Adrianna Ciccone: violin II
Avery Ballotta: violin II
Sadie Currey: violin II
Yeji Yoon: violin II
Lilly Brandt Lyons: violin II
Alliz Nicholas: viola
Juliana Maria Ponton: viola
Dan Lay: viola
Ro Rowan: cello
Marta Roma: cello
Roman Soto: cello
Nate Jakes: double bass
Victor Gonzales: double bass

Eren Basbug: piano, celesta
Katya Herman: harp
Sommer O'Brien: accordion
Roberto Cassan: accordion

Percussion:
Cole Andrade: timpani
Gael Chabot-Leclerc: glockenspiel, spoons
Laura Hamel: tubular bells, bass drum, sus cymbal
Milos Branisavljevic: snare, shakers

Woodwinds:
Frankie DeRosa: flute, piccolo
Juan Rosales: flute
Elif Cakmut: oboe
Adolfo Robles: bassoon

Brass:
Shachar Ziv: french horn
Krysta Harmon: french horn
Rebecca Martinez: french horn
Derek Lewis: french horn
Julian Dessler: trumpet
Faraday Julien Fontimus: trumpet
James Cronin: trumpet
Jordan Hope: tuba

Recorded live at the Berklee Performance Center (BPC)
Mariana Migliore: lighting designer
Thomas Cantwell: stage crew
Chris Higgins: stage crew
Ryan Jones: production manager

Recorded by the BPC Studio
Alex Rodriguez: recording engineer
Simon Katz: mixing engineer, assistant recording engineer
David Rosenspire: assistant recording engineer

Filmed by 21summit Productions
Joe Barnard: videographer, editor
Ben Meyers: videographer

Mastered by M Works Studios
Jonathan Wyner: engineer