The evening included the world premiere of a restoration of the film The Rag Man. Originally released in 1925 and starring Jackie Coogan, the restored version features an all-new musical score that Martinez had the opportunity to compose as part of her Grand Prize. Shortly after its premier, the film, with Martinezs new score, was broadcast nationwide on the Turner Broadcasting Network.

In an unexpected bonus, the network was so happy with her score for The Rag Man that she has been engaged to score another silent classic, Exit Smiling (1926) starring Beatrice Lillie, for broadcast in 2005.

Martinez took the top honor by creating an original score for a minute-long bar scene from Blood and Sand (1922). As Grand Prize Winner, she won the opportunity to have the score recorded by an orchestra of A-list Hollywood studio players as well as $10,000 and mentoring by the legendary Bernstein. "It turned out to be the most important writing opportunity and learning experience in my career thus far," said Martinez. "Now that Ive completed the score, I have a heightened respect for successful film composers who do this for a living. Its a tough job at times, but the music making makes every second of it more than worthwhile."

Turner Classic Movies, Film Music Magazine, Ascent Media and Tonos present the competition, now in its fourth year. It is sponsored by Guitar Center and is a part of Turners program for film restoration. Judges for the first round of finalists included competition spokesperson and film composer Elmer Bernstein, and highly regarded film composers Mark Watters and Mark Holden. For the finalist selection, judges included composer/educator and judging chairman Don Ray, film and television composers John Ottman, Marco Beltrami, Mark Holden and Vivek Maddala, music publishing consultant Laura Levinsky, film and television music agent Jeff Kaufman, Lon Bender and Craig Harris from Ascent Media, and Charlie Tabesh and Dennis Millay from Turner Classic Movies.

As a Yamaha Music School student, Martinez graduated from the Junior Special Advanced Course at the La Mirada corporate school. She was a regular performer at JOC concerts performing her Electone Concerto with the USC Symphony on the 1990 National JOC. She was also a frequent performer and co-performer on International JOC concerts in Nemu-no-Sato in Japan. After graduating from Yamaha Music School, Martinez attended USC, where she was named outstanding graduate of the School of Music. Even before completing her studies at USC, Martinez was very busy as a professional composer and performer landing a job as keyboard player on the Fox network late night Keenen Ivory Wayans show for a season and working as a keyboard player and arranger for the Grammy Award winning trio Destinys Child. She has employed her versatility and skill as a composer on numerous projects for television and film, including the series Taken, broadcast on the Sci-Fi channel and produced by Steven Spielberg.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; call (714) 522-9011; or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.