Kris Bowers, who has received Oscar nominations for both film scoring (The Wild Robot) and documentary short films (A Concerto Is a Conversation and The Last Repair Shop, each in collaboration with Ben Proudfoot; winning for the latter film), has been elected to the board of governors of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He will join composers Lesley Barber and Carter Burwell, who are both midterm, in representing the music branch. The governors will take office at the first scheduled board meeting of the new term.

Bowers, 37, replaces Richard Gibbs, whose term ended. Bowers has scored such films as Green Book, The United States vs. Billie Holiday, Respect, King Richard, The Color Purple and Bob Marley: One Love and such TV shows as Bridgerton.

In addition to his three Oscar nods, Bowers has received four Grammy nominations and four Primetime Emmy nods. He received his first Grammy nomination in 2020 for his arrangement of his own recording of “Blue Skies” from the Green Book soundtrack. His next three were for best score soundtrack for visual media for Bridgerton, The Color Purple and The Wild Robot. His Primetime Emmy nods are for When They See Us, Mrs. America and two for Bridgerton.

Barber, 63, is best known for her score for Kenny Lonergan’s Oscar-winning Manchester by the Sea. Her other credits include Late Night, Mansfield Park, Irreplaceable You, Bonjour Tristesse, American Woman, How To Change the World and You Can Count on Me.

Burwell, 71, has scored such feature films as Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing, Fargo, Gods and Monsters, Being John Malkovich, Before Night Falls, Adaptation, In Bruges, Twilight and True Grit. He received Oscar nominations for the scores to Carol, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and The Banshees of Inisherin, and won a Primetime Emmy for his music to the HBO limited series Mildred Pierce.

The Academy has 19 branches, each represented by three governors. The board of governors sets the Academy’s strategic vision, preserves the organization’s financial health and assures the fulfillment of its mission. Following this election, the board comprises 47% women and 32% from underrepresented communities, based on self-reporting.

Governors, including the board-elected governors-at-large, may serve up to two three-year terms (consecutive or non-consecutive), followed by a two-year hiatus, after which eligibility renews for up to two additional three-year terms for a lifetime maximum of 12 years.

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