Hans Zimmer has long been regarded as one of Hollywood's most innovative and talented composers. A pioneer in the use of digital synthesizers, electronic keyboards, and the latest computer technology, he is considered the father of integrating the digital music world with that of traditional orchestral arrangements.

Mr. Zimmer won an Oscar® for Best Original Score for Disney's 1994 hit "The Lion King," and he has received Academy Award nominations for "Gladiator," "The Thin Red Line," "The Prince of Egypt," "As Good As It Gets," "The Preacher's Wife," and "Rain Man." He has also won Golden Globe Awards for "Gladiator" and "The Lion King," Grammys for "Crimson Tide" and "The Lion King," and numerous other awards and nominations.

Two of Mr. Zimmer's recent projects are Disney's blockbuster "Pearl Harbor" and the "Silence of the Lambs" sequel, "Hannibal." Mr. Zimmer's score for "Hannibal" features 28 celli and basses, and an opera written especially for the film. His upcoming projects include the animated film "Spirit Stallion of the Cimarron" for DreamWorks, "Black Hawk Down" for Sony Pictures, directed by Ridley Scott, and Sony's "Riding in Cars With Boys," starring Drew Barrymore and directed by Penny Marshall.

Mr. Zimmer composed the scores for four major motion pictures released in 2000 -- the very successful "Gladiator," "Mission Impossible 2," "The Road to El Dorado," and "An Everlasting Piece."

Success for the German-born composer came first in the world of pop music as a member of The Buggles. The group's single, "Video Killed the Radio Star," became a worldwide hit and helped usher in a new era of global entertainment as the first music video to be aired on MTV.

Mr. Zimmer entered the world of film music through a collaboration with famed composer Stanley Myers in London. During these years, Mr. Zimmer learned the power of combining the beats of modern synthesized percussion with the melodies of classical music. Soon after, he began solo work on several successful projects, including the critically acclaimed "A World Apart," which led to the turning point in his film composing career in 1988, when he was asked to score "Rain Man" for director Barry Levinson. "Rain Man" went on to win the Oscar® for Best Picture, and earned Mr. Zimmer his first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. The following year, he composed the score for another Best Picture recipient, "Driving Miss Daisy," starring Jessica Tandy and Morgan Freeman.

Over the past 20 years, Mr. Zimmer has worked on approximately 90 feature films, including "Chill Factor," "The Last Days," "The Peacemaker," "Face/Off," "Smilla's Sense of Snow," "The Fan," "Muppet Treasure Island," "Renaissance Man," "A League of Their Own, Radio Flyer," "Backdraft," "Thelma & Louise," "Green Card," "Bird on a Wire," "Black Rain," "The Last Emperor," and "My Beautiful Laundrette," among many others.

Mr. Zimmer and his producing partner, Jay Rifkin, custom built a Santa Monica studio complex for the writing and production of music for film, television, and commercials. Their company, Media Ventures, has become an extended musical family for Mr. Zimmer, where collaboration and musical inspiration go hand in hand. Composers who have worked with Mr. Zimmer include Mark Mancina, John Powell, Harry Gregson-Williams, Nick Glennie-Smith, Jeff Rona, and Lisa Gerrard.