Bear McCreary

Early Life and Education

Bear McCreary was born and raised in Bellingham, Washington, where he developed a passion for music early on. He is the son of author Laura Kalpakian and professor Jay McCreary, and his brother, Brendan McCreary, is also a musician. Bear graduated from Bellingham High School in 1997 and is a classically trained pianist, having also taught himself to play the accordion. His education included studying under the legendary film score composer Elmer Bernstein, during which he reconstructed Bernstein's score for "Kings of the Sun," allowing it to be released as a soundtrack for the first time in 40 years.

Career

McCreary's career took off in 2003 when he began working on the reimagined series "Battlestar Galactica" as the sole composer after Richard Gibbs stepped down. He scored over 70 episodes of the series, which concluded in 2009, and produced six soundtrack albums that received critical acclaim and commercial success. His work on the prequel series "Caprica" and the special "Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome" further solidified his reputation in the industry. Additionally, he composed for the series "Human Target," where he recorded the largest orchestra ever assembled for episodic television for the season finale, earning his first Emmy nomination for the main title theme.

Personal Life

In 2010, Bear McCreary married singer and songwriter Raya Yarbrough, with whom he has collaborated on various projects, including "Battlestar Galactica" and "Outlander." The couple welcomed their daughter, Sonatine, into the world on June 2, 2014, naming her after the musical term sonatina. McCreary's personal and professional life intertwines through his collaborations with his wife, showcasing their shared passion for music.