Orchestrator Of New Star Wars Films Sends Must-Read Email Of Encouragement To Composer From Iowa

January 29, 2020
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William Ross, award-winning composer and orchestrator (who just so happens to work very closely with THE John Williams), sure knows how to make a guy's day...
As you might imagine, life as a film composer in the Midwest is no cake walk. For some odd reason, directors prefer to hire LA-based composers with 30+ years of experience! I know...weird, right? ;) 

Needless to say, it's easy at times to get discouraged and question my choice of career path. 

And that's why I'm thankful for industry professionals like William Ross who take the time to reassure me that my pursuits and efforts are not in vain. 

A couple weeks back, I sent an email to William (or as many call him, "Bill") and asked him about the possibility of assisting him with any projects he has in the works. A stretch? Sure. But that has never stopped me from reaching out to people in the past. Why, you ask? Well, because it often pays off when you least expect it. 

Case in point: Two weeks after sending him the initial email, Bill replied with one of the most affirming and encouraging emails I've received to date. Keep in mind...this guy has worked on a CRAZY number of films, including the latest  Star Wars  trilogy,  Ready Player OneHarry PotterCaptain America , and  Forrest Gump.

I won't share the entire email with you (it was lengthy!), but here are a few highlights:

Hi Aaron

Wonderful to hear from you! I applaud you! 

Reaching out the way you’re doing is exactly the right thing to do! Whether it gets you anything immediately or not. I’ve been horrible at that in my career!  It was too easy for me to assume that I would be bothering someone…they didn’t want to hear from me…I would only disappoint them…and on and on with reasons why I shouldn’t reach out.

Where ever you are, you can make the most of your opportunities. That’s all any of us can do.

We don’t have an opening right now, but I’m CCing the team here. They will put you on our list.  Who knows where these things lead. The one thing I do know is that if you hadn't sent me an email…you wouldn’t be on the list. Not that being on our list is going to change your life…but I know that the energy you put out to get on the list WILL change your life!   All for good!

I wish you continued success in all areas of your life—musical and otherwise.

All the best to you Aaron,

Bill

THIS , my friends... this is why I bother sending out thousands (yes, thousands) of emails with little return. Because one out of every couple hundred or so ends up being well worth it.

Will I work with Bill someday? Gosh, I sure hope so. But even if I don't, he has already done me a great service:

​He has successfully rekindled the spark in me to pursue the dream that I know and love. 
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