After Dinner Speakers: Marvin Hamlish, Anne Robinson, Amanda Donohoe

Marvin Hamlisch's life in music is notable for its great versatility as well as substance. As composer, Hamlisch has won every major award: three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, one Tony and three Golden Globe awards. His groundbreaking show, A Chorus Line, received the Pulitzer Prize. Among the Broadway shows Hamlisch has composed are They're Playing Our Song, The Goodbye Girl, Sweet Smell of Success and Imaginary Friends. He is the composer of more than 40 motion picture scores including his Oscar-winning score and song for The Way We Were and his adaptation of Scott Joplin's music for The Sting, for which he received a third Oscar. His prolific output of scores for films includes original compositions and/or musical adaptations for Sophie's Choice, Ordinary People, The Swimmer, Three Men and a Baby, Ice Castles, Take the Money and Run, Bananas and Save the Tiger. Marvin Hamlisch holds the position of Principal Pops Conductor with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as well as with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. This is the first time that anyone has held such a position with either orchestra. Mr. Hamlisch was Musical Director and arranger of Barbra Streisand's 1994 concert tour of the United States and England as well as of the television special "Barbra Streisand: The Concert" (for which he received two of his Emmys). He served in the same capacities for her Millennium concerts. Hamlisch is a graduate of both Juilliard and Queens College (where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree). Believing in the power of music to bring people together, he says: "Music can make a difference. There is a global nature to music, which has the potential to bring all people together. Music is truly an international language, and I hope to contribute by expanding this communication as much as I can." Hamlisch and his wife, Terre, reside in New York City.