The first film-music festival in North America

The birthplace of motion picture film and one of the world’s most renowned music schools will host the Soundtrax Film Music Festival.

Join us in Rochester, NY for the inaugural festival, presented by Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. Through concerts, conversations, and special events, Soundtrax explores how the artistry, science, and technology of music and sound elevate storytelling, the audience journey, and our visual experiences.

Conference:
Soundtrax explores the intersection of music and technology. The festival will bring together composers, industry professionals, thought leaders, and fans to celebrate and explore how music and sound shape visual media, from film and TV to video games and beyond.

Soundtrax Conference Sessions:

AI in Music Production: Pioneering the Future

Industry leaders, innovators, and manufacturers explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing music production.

The Sounds of Music: A Sonic Revolution

Learn how the latest advances in sound synthesis technologies are being unleashed with cutting-edge interactive tools designed for scoring, sound design, and media production.

Immersed in Sound: New Dimensions, New Experiences

From the cinematic splendor of Dolby Atmos to the revolutionary realms of spatial computing and personal media interfaces, explore how to craft compelling auditory landscapes.

Concerts:

Five film-music concerts will grandly play out over three days!

Special guests in person:

Award-winning composers: John Corigliano, Terence Blanchard, Jeff Beal

?Celebrated musicians: violinist YooJin Jang, organist Roger Sayer, flutist Sara Andon, cellist Cecilia Tsan, and pianist Simone Pedroni

Renowned orchestras: Gateways Festival Orchestra? and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

Soundtrax Concert Programs:

Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

Film Scores Live!
The Movie Music of Terence Blanchard
- with Blanchard and Gateways Festival Orchestra performing in person

"Film Scores Live! The Movie Music of Terence Blanchard" celebrates film music composed by Terence Blanchard, whose work spans four decades and has earned multiple Grammy Awards and Oscar nominations. The screening showcases highlights of Blanchard’s lush soundtracks from more than 80 film and TV credits, including selections from Malcolm X (1992), 25th Hour (2002),

Inside Man (2006), and BlackKklansman (2018). The live music will be performed by Gateways Festival Orchestra and Blanchard’s quintet, The E-Collective, starring the maestro himself on trumpet. Experience the pathos, complexity, and beauty of Blanchard’s compositions.

Friday, Oct. 17 at 1:30 p.m.
Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs St., Rochester

"Interstellar in Concert"
- with Roger Sayer performing in person

This film-music concert event features the epic space movie Instellar and a live performance by Roger Sayer, the original organist for the film’s score. He will play his arrangement of the inventive and soaring music from the original Interstellar soundtrack on the historic Sanctuary Organ of Rochester’s Third Presbyterian Church, located just a few blocks from Eastman School of Music. Sayer will also share stories of his experiences working with director Christopher Nolan and composer Hans Zimmer.

Please note: Transportation will be provided for conference attendants.

Friday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

"The Red Violin in Concert"
- with composer John Corigliano, conductor Jeff Beal, and violinist YooJin Jang in person

A live-to-picture performance by the Eastman Philharmonia will enhance a screening of the 1998 film The Red Violin, which won John Corigliano an Academy Award for film score. The performance will feature composer John Corigliano in person, Emmy award-winning guest conductor Jeff Beal, and celebrated violinist YooJin Jang, faculty at the Eastman School of Music.

The Red Violin follows the incredible history of a mysterious antique violin from its creation by a legendary violin maker in 1681 Cremona, Italy, to the present day.

Saturday, Oct. 18 at 1:30 p.m.
Kilbourn Hall at Eastman School of Music

"John Williams Reimagined"
- with flutist Sara Andon, cellist Cecilia Tsan, and pianist Simone Pedroni in person

A concert celebration of the film music of legendary composer John Williams, with pieces from his iconic film scores “reimagined” for cello, flute, and piano, featuring musicians who were even invited by John Williams to play some of these special transcriptions for him privately: Sara Andon, flute; Cecilia Tsan, cello; and Simone Pedroni, piano. Film scores represented include Star Wars, Schindler’s List, Dracula, Far And Away, Hook, Witches of Eastwick, and E.T.

Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 - In Concert”

In the epic finale to the Harry Potter Film Concert Series, the battle between good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war!

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows™ Part 2 — In Concert" brings the final chapter to the big screen as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performs every note of Alexandre Desplat’s celebrated score.

Single tickets will go on sale July 28, 2025. Click here for tickets after July 28.

Date:
October 16-18, 2025

Location:
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY 14604
Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs Street, Rochester, NY
Kilbourn Hall at Eastman School of Music, 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY 14604

Click here for More Information