The 88th Academy Awards honoring outstanding film achievements of 2015 took place Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, live at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center. Televised live on ABC and in more than 225 countries worldwide, the awards show drew 34 million viewers.

This year Local 47 member Harold Wheeler returned for his third Oscar telecast, but his first as music director. With numerous Emmy and Tony Award nominations, as well as an NAACP Theatre Award for lifetime achievement, to his name, Wheeler’s television credits include the People’s Choice Awards and 17 seasons of “Dancing with the Stars.”

88th Academy Awards Orchestra 
Feb. 21 & 22 – Pre-records @ Capitol Records
Feb. 24 – Sound Check @ Dolby Theatre
Feb. 28, 2016 – Live Show @ Dolby Theatre

All musicians are members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47 (* or other AFM Local where noted).

Conductor: Harold Wheeler
Contractor: Bill Hughes

Sax
Dan Higgins, 1st
Jeff Driskill
Gene Cipriano
Sal Lozano

Flute
Heather Clark

Oboe
Chris Bleth

Trumpet
Wayne Bergeron, 1st
Fred Irby (AFM Locals 2-197, 40-543, 161-710)
Chris Gray

Trombone
Andy Martin, 1st
Reggie Young
Craig Gosnell

Keyboard
Tom Ranier
Michael Bearden

Drums
Ralph Humphrey

Bass (Electric)
Trey Henry

Guitar
Dean Parks, 1st
Greg Poree

Percussion
Dan Greco, 1st
Vanessa Brown
Don Williams

Horn
Steve Becknell, 1st
Joe Meyer

Harp
Katie Kirkpatrick

Violin
Alyssa Park, concertmaster
Charlie Bisharat
Mark Cargill
Julie Gigante
Songa Lee
Natalie Leggett
Serena McKinney
Sara Parkins
Shalini Vijayan

Viola
Darrin McCann, pr.
Karen Elaine
Lynne Richburg

Cello
Cecilia Tsan, pr.
Tim Loo
Giovanna Clayton

Acoustic Bass
Mike Valerio

Sound Consultant
Ashley Irwin

Arrangers
Harold Wheeler
Michael Bearden
Dan Higgins
Ashley Irwin
Tom Ranier
Steve Bartek
David Campbell
Bill Ross

Copyists
Bill Hughes
Bob Calderwood
Mae Crosby
Jeff Jones
Danita Ng-Poss
Jason Poss
Ryan Shore
Bettie Ross
Frank Blumer
Kirby Furlong

Librarians
Danita Ng-Poass
Jason Poss

Specialty Musicians

French Horn
Dan Kelley
Laura Brenes
Dylan Hart
Amy Sanchez

Violin
Lauren Baba
Caitlin Evanson
Bianca McClure
Karoline Souza Menzes
Yelena Yegoryan