Originally published at corporate.comcast.com. Comcast NBCUniversal ranked No. 6 on The Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list in 2021.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, NBCUniversal’s Global Talent Development & Inclusion (GTDI) team has announced the first eight recipients (five of whom are female) for its 2021-23 Universal Composers Initiative. The eight artists represent countries like Costa Rica, Hong Kong and Korea, and the program was developed to elevate artists that possess unique and global perspectives that translate into their distinctive musical expressions.
The eight recipient artists include Jina Hyojin An, Jocelyn Chambers, Pierre Charles, Pakk Hui, Raashi Kulkarni, Jesi Nelson, Daniel Rojas and Dara Taylor.
Bringing to the table a wide range of varied life experiences with backgrounds in accounting, stand-up comedy and healthcare, this group of lauded violists, pianists, guitarists, vocalists and composers is brought together with a shared passion for music, which was undeniable from an early age.
“We’re incredibly proud of the career momentum this initiative has generated with the support of NBCUniversal’s film and television music teams,” said Janine Jones-Clark, Executive Vice President, Inclusion – Talent & Content, NBCUniversal. “Along with our music partners, we are excited to welcome this talented and versatile group of musical multi-hyphenates and we look forward to giving them access and finding production opportunities across NBCUniversal’s portfolio.”
All eight composers from the inaugural group secured production credits either during or following the initiative, with 75% of those credits affiliated with NBCUniversal content. Alumni highlights include Ireland native Amie Doherty, the first female composer to score a DreamWorks Animation feature film (DreamWorks Animation’s Spirit Untamed and Focus Features’ The High Note); Jermaine Stegall (attached to an upcoming Will Packer Productions film); and George Shaw (attached to an upcoming DreamWorks Animation television series).
Launched in 2018, the two-year Universal Composers Initiative was created to address a void in data tracking diversity and female representation amongst composers. Confronting the issue head-on, GTDI, in partnership with Universal Film Music President Mike Knobloch and his Global Film Music Publishing team, set out to identify up-and-coming talent at various points in their creative journeys for music production opportunities across the Studio. The initiative has since expanded across the NBCUniversal portfolio, partnering closely with additional divisions including DreamWorks Animation Television Music and Universal Studio Group Music Services.
Listen to the musical inspirations of the selected composers below:
- Jina Hyojin An
- Jocelyn Chambers
- Pierre Charles
- Pakk Hui
- Raashi Kulkarni
- Jesi Nelson
- Daniel Rojas
- Dara Taylor
For additional background information on the selected composers, click here.
