As music director for the Oscars, Chicago native Michael Bearden brings elegance, spontaneity

When Michael Bearden served as music director for the 2025 Academy Awards, he received personal texts and phone calls with a common message.

“Wow, we’ve never heard this on the Oscars!”

They were responding to the frenzied violins of Barry White’s “Love’s Theme,” the funky melody of Quincy Jones’ “Ai No Corrida” and the Latin rhythms of Stevie Wonder’s “Another Star.”

By strategically placing earworms in a night of orchestral music, Bearden appeals to a broad range of viewers while conveying what he calls the “majesty” and “elegance” of the occasion. Those efforts garnered an Emmy nomination for the veteran keyboardist and composer, who has worked with everyone from Michael Jackson and Madonna to Lady Gaga and D’Angelo.

The Chicago native will take the reins for the second time at the 98th Oscars on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. The show will air live at 6 p.m. Central on ABC and Hulu. This year, he will be responsible for conducting and co-arranging nearly 60 pieces of music, including live performances. Likening the job to completing a jigsaw puzzle, Bearden said he promises to bring the same level of precision, while leaving room for spontaneity. But his ultimate goal is to elicit emotion.

“We’re focused on human connection and togetherness,” said Bearden, who now lives in Los Angeles. “If you’re going to tune in for three hours, I want you to feel something. So the music will reflect that, but it will also reflect what’s happening on the show.”

Music from the most-nominated film, “Sinners,” and the breakout animated musical “KPop Demon Hunters” will be performed live, according to early reports. Both movies are nominated for Best Original Song. In addition to overseeing those performances, Bearden and his lead arranger choose the music accompanying presenters and the “bumpers,” or brief selections that are played before commercials. They must also decide how to showcase the scores of several films in bite-sized pieces. On top of all of that, Bearden composes original music for some segments.

“It’s like a movie director who’s in charge of every department," Bearden said. "I’m in charge of every musical department. I’m like the coach of a team."

While some awards shows, like the Golden Globes, are now experimenting with DJs instead of orchestras, Bearden said live musicians not only convey grandeur but also bring a level of flexibility that can’t be replaced. That trait came in handy last year when Mick Jagger presented an award during the show.

“I played one of the Rolling Stones’ famous songs, ‘Sympathy for the Devil,’” Bearden said.

“When Mick came out and heard that, he just lit up and almost did a show. He went into his Mick Jagger-ness and I just kept the orchestra playing. And then he went back to his presenter role and I stopped the orchestra. You have to be in the moment.”

Learning from Quincy Jones

As a child, Bearden was inspired when he saw Quincy Jones become the first Black musical director and conductor for the Oscars in 1971. Gazing upon Jones in his black tux and ruffled, power-blue shirt, Bearden realized that he, too, could accomplish such a feat.

“He’s almost like the blueprint of what I do,” Bearden said. “He passed away right before I did it, so he wasn’t able to see me do it.”

But Bearden was able to thank Jones for his influence, and he was even mentored by the icon during his career. Still, there have only been a few other Black people to oversee the music for the Academy Awards in its nearly 100-year history.

“Hopefully, some young woman or young man will see me do it and go, 'I want to do that, too,'" Bearden said.

Like Jones, Bearden was born on the South Side. His musical journey, which he will chronicle in a forthcoming book, began at an early age when he took piano lessons. Before he graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, he was already being mentored by Chicago jazz legend Ramsey Lewis.

After studying at Howard University, Bearden got his big break touring with jazz flutist Herbie Mann. Since then, he has built a storied career, working with more than 500 artists, serving as co-music director for the Emmy Awards and music director for Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl halftime show in 2017. He is perhaps best known as the music director for “This Is It,” Michael Jackson's planned London residency that was canceled after his death and documented in a posthumous 2009 documentary.

No matter the work, Bearden said he wants to leave an emotional impact.

“That’s what I’m trying to do every time I do any sort of awards show or stage show,” he said. “I want you to be moved.”