William Ross to Conduct Academy Awards Orchestra, 2/27

William Ross will be at the podium as conductor for the 83rd Academy Awards®, telecast producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer announced today.

Ross, who conducted for the 79th Academy Awards, is a prolific composer, orchestrator and arranger whose work encompasses feature films, television and the music recording industry. He has arranged music for artists including Barbra Steisand, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Kenny G., Sting and Bette Midler. Ross has written original scores for such films as "The Tale of Despereaux," "The Game of Their Lives," "Ladder 49," "Tuck Everlasting," and orchestrations for dozen of others, including "The Polar Express," Lilo & Stitch," Stuart Little" and "Forrest Gump."

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2010 will be presented on Sunday, February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.