Bill Conti Named Musical Director for the 77th Academy Awards®
Beverly Hills, CA—Oscar®-winning composer Bill Conti will return to the Oscar podium as musical director for the 77th Academy Awards®, telecast producer Gil Cates announced today. This will be the 17th time that Conti has conducted the Academy Awards Orchestra.

"Bill is a wonderfully talented maestro who always injects the Oscar telecast with music that spreads smiles and touches hearts all around the globe," said Cates.

Conti received his Oscar in 1983 for the Original Score of The Right Stuff. He also received two nominations in the Original Song category in 1976 for "Gonna Fly Now" from Rocky and in 1981 for the title song from For Your Eyes Only. In addition, Conti received 11 Emmy nominations and has won five Emmy Awards—three of them for his work on Academy Awards telecasts.

His other film credits include The Thomas Crown Affair, The Karate Kid, Broadcast News, Private Benjamin, Rocky II, Rocky III and Rocky V.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2004 will be presented on Sunday, February 27, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland®. The Oscars® will be televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST , beginning with a half-hour arrival segment.