Laura Karpman
Laura Anne Karpman is an American composer whose work has included music for film, television, video games, theater, and the concert hall. She has won five Emmy Awards for her work, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. Karpman was trained at the Juilliard School, where she played jazz by day and performed in bars at night.
Also recorded as Laura Anne Karpman
Laura Karpman

Claire Fridkin · Claire Fridkin / WikiPortraits · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 1959. · Los Angeles.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Occupation
- composer, university teacher and musician.
- Fields
- music.
- Education
- Juilliard School and University of Michigan.
- Honours
- Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Score in a TV Show/Limited Series.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
Laura Anne Karpman is an American composer whose work has included music for film, television, video games, theater, and the concert hall. She has won five Emmy Awards for her work, as well as an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. Karpman was trained at the Juilliard School, where she played jazz by day and performed in bars at night.
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wikidata · Q512541 · wikipedia · Laura Karpman
In this article
Early life and education
Early life and education
Laura Karpman studied at Juilliard School and University of Michigan. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is music. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are electronic music. Employment is recorded with University of California, Los Angeles.
Karpman was born in Los Angeles and grew up singing opera and jazz. Her mother, a painter and sculptor, wanted her to grow up to be a composer and surrounded Karpman with music even before she was born. Karpman began her first compositions at the age of 7. She worked with John Harbison at the Tanglewood Music Center, and attended Aspen Music School and the Ecole des Arts Americaines. At the University of Michigan, she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree studying with William Bolcom and Leslie Bassett. She received both her Doctorate and Master's Degree in Music Composition at the Juilliard School, where her principal teacher was Milton Babbitt. At Juilliard, Karpman also received mentorship from Nadia Boulanger.
Career
Career
Compositions by Karpman have been commissioned by Tonya Pinkins, Los Angeles Opera, American Composers Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, the Juilliard Choral Union, Pacific Serenades, and percussionist Evelyn Glennie. They have been performed internationally. Karpman's theater catalog includes three musicals for Los Angeles's "A Noise Within" theater company, as well as underscores for dozens of classic plays. Among her media music credits are Steven Spielberg's Emmy-winning, 20-hour TV miniseries, Taken; and PBS's series The Living Edens (for which she received nine Emmy nominations). She has scored numerous films, television programs and video games (including music for supplemental Halo 3 materials and her award-winning score for EverQuest II). She has held a residency at Sony Online Entertainment. Karpman received an Annie Award nomination for A Monkey's Tale, a short film commissioned by the Chinese government, which later premiered in the US and was performed by the Detroit Symphony. Karpman's Grammy-winning Ask Your Mama premiered at Carnegie Hall on March 16, 2009, with performances by Jessye Norman, Cassandra Wilson, The Roots, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's conducted by George Manahan. With Langston Hughes's epic poem for a libretto, Karpman also took passages from Louis Armstrong, Big Maybelle, Pigmeat Markham and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, integrated with projected images by Rico Gatson and additional archival video, as well as Hughes's own poetry. Ask Your Mama was released by Avie Records in July 2016. Later, Karpman created "The 110 Project", an opera work commissioned by the L.A. Opera as a homage to the city's first freeway, I-110, as seen through four characters from 1940-2010, the lifespan of the freeway. In 2014, Karpman co-founded the Alliance for Women Film Composers with Lolita Ritmanis and Miriam Cutler. The organization provides visibility and advocacy for women composers. In 2016, Karpman became the first woman elected to the music branch of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors. Karpman composed the score for the Marvel Studios animated anthology series What If...? in 2021, the streaming series Ms. Marvel in 2022 and the score for the superhero film The Marvels in 2023. She composed the score for the 2023 film American Fiction, for which she received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score. In 2026, Karpman composed the score for Give Me the Ball!, a documentary about the life and legacy of Billie Jean King.
Personal life
Personal life
Karpman is married to composer Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum, a fellow Milton Babbitt student. They have one son and live in Playa del Rey, California, in a duplex with an ocean view and a built-in studio. Karpman is known for a signature look: she wears two pairs of glasses, one pair on her face, and the other on her head. She has a self-described lifelong obsession for drama, including soap opera, classical operas, and plays.
Articles and interviews
Articles and interviews
"Settling the Score" "Ode to Joystick" "Viewpoint"

Laura Karpman at the 2026 2026 Sundance Film Festival for the movie Give Me The Ball!.
Claire Fridkin · Claire Fridkin / WikiPortraits
Primary material
Documents and archives
scholarly publication
- Karpman, Laura, Oxford Music Online, 2014
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2014
- Laura Karpman, Women's Music for the Screen, 2021
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 2021
Institutional database
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q512541: Laura Karpman
Scholarly · Wikimedia Foundation
scholarly index
- OpenAlex author record A5053676856 for Laura Karpman.
Unverified · OpenAlex
Awards and nominations
Academy Awards 2024 nomination, "Best Original Score" for American Fiction Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 2015 Membership Induction American Academy of Arts and Letters 1984 win, "Charles Ives Award" Annie Awards 2007 nomination, "Best Music in an Animated Feature Production" for A Monkey's Tale BMI Film & TV Awards 2003 win, "BMI Cable Mini-Series Award" for Taken Game Audio Network Guild Awards 2004 win, "Best Arrangement of a Non-Original Score" for Everquest II 2004 nomination, "Best Music of the Year" for Everquest II Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2023 nomination, "Best Original Score in a Feature Film" for American Fiction 2023 win, "Best Original Score in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film" for The Marvels News & Documentary Emmy Awards 2008 nomination, "Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Music and Sound" for Craft in America 2003 nomination, "Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Music and Sound" for The Living Edens for "Big Sur: California's Wild Coast". Nomination shared with Nancy Severinsen, Clifford Hoelscher, Mark Linden, and Tara Paul. 2001 nomination, "Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft – Music" for The Living Edens episode "Kamchatka: Siberia's Forbidden Wilderness" 2000 nominations, "Outstanding Achievement in a Craft in News and Documentary Programming – Music" for The Living Edens episode "Costa Rica: Land of Pure Life" for The Living Edens episode "Palau: Paradise of the Pacific" 1999 win, "Outstanding Achievement in a Craft in News and Documentary Programming – Music" for The Living Edens episode "Madagascar: A World Apart" 1998 win, "Outstanding Achievement in a Craft in News and Documentary Programming – Music" for The Living Edens episodes "Denali: Alaska's Great Wilderness", "Manu: Peru's Hidden Rain Forest", "Patagonia: Life at the End of the Earth" Primetime Emmy Awards 2024 nomination, "Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score)" for Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed 2023 nomination, "Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score)" for Ms. Marvel: Time and Again 2023 nomination, "Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music" for Ms. Marvel 2021 nomination, "Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)" for Lovecraft Country: Rewind 1921 2020 win, "Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score)" for Why We Hate: Tools & Tactics 2020 nomination, "Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music" for Why We Hate 2008 nomination, "Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Original Dramatic Score)" for Masters of Science Fiction: Jerry Was a Man 2003 nomination, "Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)" for Odyssey 5: Pilot Satellite Awards 2024 win, Best Original Score, for American Fiction Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards 2023 nomination, "Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film" for American Fiction
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Womack, Carolyn. History forgot these female composers. An L.A. music writer is helping us remember. The Los Angeles Times. 2019-08-21.
- 2.Laura Karpman. Pop Disciple Film Music & Music Supervision Interviews Music in Media News. 8 June 2018.
- 3.Bamigboye, Baz. Breaking Baz: Composer Laura Karpman Discusses Infusing American Fiction with Hot Jazz & Rekindling a Classic Movie by Pioneering Filmmaker Dorothy Arzner. Deadline. 18 December 2023.
- 4.15 questions Interview Laura Karpman Let's Hear it for the Girls. 15questions.net.
- 5.Karpman, Laura. Documentary: Avant-Garde Composer Milton Babbitt. www.wbur.org. 31 January 2011.
- 6.Womack, Catherine. History forgot these female composers. An L.A. music writer is helping us remember. Los Angeles Times. 2019-08-21.
- 7.Premieres – Pacific Serenades.
- 8.Composer. Laura Karpman.
- 9.Laura Karpman. dworkincompany.com.
- 10.Greening, Chris. Laura Karpman Interview: Returning to Game Music. VGMO -Video Game Music Online-. 1 June 2011.
- 11.MAMA. AskYourMama.com.
- 12.Burlingame, Jon. Starr Parodi Named President of the Alliance for Women Film Composers. Variety. 2019-03-03.
- 13.Greiving, Tim. Female Composers Are Trying to Break Film's Sound Barrier. The New York Times. 2019-01-10. 0362-4331.
- 14.Academy Elects Steven Spielberg, Laura Dern to Board of Governors. The Hollywood Reporter.
- 15.Garrett, Diane. Variety's L.A. Women's Impact Report 2020. Variety. 2020-10-28.
- 16.Tangcay, Jazz. 'The Marvels' Composer Laura Karpman Scores 'Ms. Marvel' on Disney+ (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. 2022-05-16.
- 17.Tangcay, Jazz. 'The Marvels' Lands Laura Karpman From 'What If.?' as Composer (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. 2022-01-13.
- 18.Rice, Lynette. 'American Fiction' Composer Laura Karpman Jazzed Up Score For TIFF's People's Choice Award Winner – Sound & Screen Film. November 10, 2023.
- 19.Raup, Jordan. American Fiction Trailer: Jeffrey Wright Finds Undesired Success in TIFF Audience Award Winner. October 16, 2023.
- 20.96TH OSCARS® NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED. press.oscars.org.
- 21.Kroll-Rosenbaum, Nora. VNPAC: A Seat At The Table - New Music USA. newmusicusa.org. 15 June 2010.
- 22.Womack, Carolyn. History forgot these female composers. An L.A. music writer is helping us remember. The Los Angeles Times. 2019-08-21.
- 23.Laura Karpman & Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum Scoring Disney+'s 'Marvel Zombies'. Film Music Reporter.
- 24.Laura Karpman Scoring Netflix’s ‘East of Eden’. Film Music Reporter.
- 25.2023 HMMA Nominations.
- 26.Grein, Paul. Billie Eilish's 'Barbie' Song, Robbie Robertson's Scorsese Score Honored at 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Billboard. November 16, 2023.
- 27.Laura Karpman. Television Academy.
- 28.Neglia, Matt. The 2023 Satellite Award (IPA) Winners. Next Best Picture. March 4, 2024.
- 29.AwardsWatch - Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) Nominations: Jon Batiste, Nicholas Britell, Barbie Top List. December 21, 2023.
- 30.5th Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL) Awards: Oppenheimer, Billie Eilish, Nicholas Britell Score Wins. February 14, 2024.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 16
- Vivien Lejeune, "Laura Karpman Taken by Steven Spielberg", Cinefonia, No. 2, November 2003.
- Jeff Bond, "Taken With Her Music", Film Score Monthly, July 2003.
- Jon Burlingame, "Women in Showbiz: TV, Film Composer Not Confined to Any One Medium", Daily Variety, November 14, 2001.
- Jon Burlingame, "Women in Showbiz: Composers Curry Kudos", Daily Variety, November 8, 1999.
- "Fast Track—Composers Worth Listening to: Laura Karpman", The Hollywood Reporter, January 26, 1998.
- Michael Kamensky, "Spotlight: Laura Karpman", The Hollywood Reporter, January 26, 1995.
- Fred Karlin, On The Track: A Guide to Contemporary Film Scoring, 2nd edn, Routledge, 2004.
- "Composer Laura Karpman Receives 4 Emmy Nominations", Pro Sound News, 1998.
- Rudy Kopl, "Taken With Her Music", Film Score Monthly, June 1997.
- Jennifer Seidel, "Keeping Score", Electronic Musician, November 1995.
- Curt Schleier, "Composer Can't Help but Make Her Music Sound Jewish", The Jewish Transcript, June 25, 1999.
- Curt Schleier, "East of Eden", The Jewish Week, April 23, 1999.
- "Laura Karpman", The Advocate, May 2, 1995.
- K. Robert Schwartz, "A Woman of Independent Themes", Out, November 1995.
- David G. Taylor, "Duet for the Emmys", The Advocate, September 30, 2003.
- "An Interview with Milton Babbitt", Perspectives of New Music, vol. 24, no. 213, Spring–Summer 1986.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
Karpman, Laura, Oxford Music Online, 2014Crossref registry
Verifiedscholarly publication
Laura Karpman, Women's Music for the Screen, 2021Crossref registry
VerifiedInstitutional database
Wikidata, structured authority record Q512541: Laura KarpmanWikimedia Foundation
Verifiedscholarly index
Partially resolvedauthority file
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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