Locals win Oscars

Updated A Burlington composer nabbed an Oscar for his work in Life of Pi.

Mychael Danna won his first Oscar Sunday night for Best Original Score. Danna grew up in Burlington. He said singing in the church choir at Port Nelson United Church inspired his love for music. He went to Nelson High School and studied music at the University of Toronto. Last month he won a golden globe in the same category. In his acceptance speech Danna said “I want to thank my beautiful Fox family. My mom who is in a balcony here watching. My father who is also watching. And most of all my wife and our two beautiful boys who remind me everyday why stories like this need to be told.”

He was also nominated for Best Original Song for the same movie. He lost that award to Adele, who won for her work in the James Bond film Skyfall.

And another Burlington native took home an Oscar Sunday night. Steve Pilcher, a former M.M. Robinson High School grad and CHCH TV alumnus, won an Oscar for the animated feature film, Brave. The 57 year old Pilcher was a production designer for the award winning film. Director Mark Andrews accepted the award on the crew’s behalf.

Scot Urquhart tells us the story of the Pilcher family is an interesting one: a story of faith in each other, and an example that, even against the odds, the wholesale pursuit of a dream can have rich rewards.