Usman Riaz is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and film maker. A Ted Fellow since 2012, Usman's performance-talks focus on his self-taught journey into music from YouTube. Although he began as a pianist from age 6, Usman grew to develop multi-instrumental skills and merge his compositional expression with his passion for film. An avid Studio Ghibli fan, "Blue Moon Waltz" stems from the same cinematic dream world and further explores the magical possibilities of an orchestra. Self directed, and presented in collaboration with his current school, Berklee College of Music, the premier of Blue Moon Waltz is a signature for even more imaginative works to come. For more information, visit: Facebook: www.facebook.com/usmanesoterica Twitter: https://twitter.com/usmanriaz1990 YouTube: http://bit.ly/NqKdaM TED: http://www.ted.com/speakers/usman_riaz "Blue Moon Waltz" (U. Riaz) Usman Riaz: conductor, pianist Alliz Nicholas: musical director Simone Scazzochio: artistic direction Strings: Ludovica Burtone: violin I, concertmaster Vicente Espi: violin I Tim Reynolds: violin I Peder Barratt Due: violin I Steve Chui: violin I Ellen Melissa-Story: violin I Sue Buzzard: violin I Pam Cummings: violin I Carlos Felipe Silva: violin II Adrianna Ciccone: violin II Avery Ballotta: violin II Sadie Currey: violin II Yeji Yoon: violin II Lilly Brandt Lyons: violin II Alliz Nicholas: viola Juliana Maria Ponton: viola Dan Lay: viola Ro Rowan: cello Marta Roma: cello Roman Soto: cello Nate Jakes: double bass Victor Gonzales: double bass Eren Basbug: piano, celesta Katya Herman: harp Sommer O'Brien: accordion Roberto Cassan: accordion Percussion: Cole Andrade: timpani Gael Chabot-Leclerc: glockenspiel, spoons Laura Hamel: tubular bells, bass drum, sus cymbal Milos Branisavljevic: snare, shakers Woodwinds: Frankie DeRosa: flute, piccolo Juan Rosales: flute Elif Cakmut: oboe Adolfo Robles: bassoon Brass: Shachar Ziv: french horn Krysta Harmon: french horn Rebecca Martinez: french horn Derek Lewis: french horn Julian Dessler: trumpet Faraday Julien Fontimus: trumpet James Cronin: trumpet Jordan Hope: tuba Recorded live at the Berklee Performance Center (BPC) Mariana Migliore: lighting designer Thomas Cantwell: stage crew Chris Higgins: stage crew Ryan Jones: production manager Recorded by the BPC Studio Alex Rodriguez: recording engineer Simon Katz: mixing engineer, assistant recording engineer David Rosenspire: assistant recording engineer Filmed by 21summit Productions Joe Barnard: videographer, editor Ben Meyers: videographer Mastered by M Works Studios Jonathan Wyner: engineer