Biography for
M. Running Bear Bunch More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

12 April 1976, Hollywood, California, USA

Birth Name

Morgan Running Bear Bunch

Mini Biography

Dr. M. Running Bear Bunch has toured as a composer and conductor on three continents and in eleven nations, holding three major degrees in Music (B.A., M.F.A., Ph.D., all with honors / awards) and two minor degrees in Ethnic Studies and Applied Sciences. Dr. Bunch was born in Hollywood to his mother, Eileen, a teacher, and his father, Jack Bunch, a world-renowned Jazz Choreographer, Soap Writer, and Director since the early '50s. Dr. Bunch's favorite aspect of his father's rehearsals was the music, which prompted his taking instruction in music at a very early age from the composers, conductors, and performers with whom his father worked. Dr. Bunch's musical instruction continued outside of the big theaters with vocal and theory training tutored by the instructors of the Pasadena and Vienna Boys Choirs. By high school, Dr. Bunch was traveling with the band, playing Jazz tenor and bass trombones, as well as euphonium and tuba, and organ for the high school. After his first year in university, Dr. Bunch had set his sights on working in film, having been offered a job at Sony Pictures Imageworks, working with special visual effects and a host of brilliant colleagues. Not surprisingly, music called him back, and Dr. Bunch returned to his training as a musician. From the start of his university training, Dr. Bunch began composing in earnest and taking formal conducting instruction from flautist/conductor Harvery Sollberger and composer/conductor Rand Steiger, while completing a degree in classical organ performance. Dr. Bunch's conducting training went on to include many years with his mentor, Stephen L. Mosko, and innumerable performances with ensembles in the United States and Europe. Dr. Bunch's training in composition was crafted by an all-star cast of international composers including Stephen L. Mosko, Prof. Nigel Osborne, Roger Reynolds, Morton Subotnick, James Tenney, Chaya Czernovin, Brian Ferneyhough, and Chinary Ung. Dr. Bunch's accomplishments as a composer and a conductor range from massive orchestral works for full orchestra and symphony chorus to small performance-art pieces for cabaret, a great number of which include opera or dance, and performances for numerous dignitaries and heads-of-state. Dr. Bunch has now split the difference of his creative interests, applying his musical craft to projects in film. Dr. Bunch's musical exploits have taken him far afield, and he feels that he owes a great debt of gratitude to his teachers and mentors throughout his life.

IMDb Mini Biography By: TMH

Trivia

Lost ten dollars during goat-racing to the keyboardist from the band 'Whitesnake.'.

Holds three major degrees in Music (B.A., M.F.A., Ph.D.), and two minor degrees in Ethnic Studies and Applied Sciences.

Childhood goals were to become a conductor, an organist, or a train engineer.

Among other honors and awards, was inducted into his high school's Hall of Fame for his exploits in music.

Received his Hindustani (North Indian Classical) musical training from Pundits Ravi Shankar, Khartik Seshadri, and one of India's Living Treasures, Pundit Rajeev Taranath.

Has performed as a singer and a dancer with members of Ghana's National Theatre.

Was invited to play Javanese Gamelan for the first exhibition of the Dalang, Java's National Shadow-puppet Master, after the Dalang's release from 15-years of political imprisonment.

Was commissioned to orchestrate the music of M. P. Moussorgsky for a concert performance to be heard by the war-orphaned and refugee children of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Played tuba solos for the 70th anniversary opening-season game of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Sang gospel music concerts for President Bill Clinton, and for Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.

As a composer / conductor, has toured three continents and eleven nations.

Worked for Sony Pictures Imageworks as Script and Storyboard Manager for feature films in 1995.