BMI Foundation Names 2026 Pete Carpenter Fellows
Kevin Kiner, Ronit Kirchman, Trevor Gureckis, and Gil Talmi to Provide Mentorship
L-R: 2026 New York City Pete Carpenter Fellow Jessica DiMari, 2026 Los Angeles Pete Carpenter Fellow Austin Keck, Honorable Mentions Andrew Asemokai and Benjamin Edelson
NEW YORK, NY and LOS ANGELES, CA - October 7, 2026 - BMI Foundation, Inc. has named media composers Jessica DiMari and Austin Keck the 2026 Pete Carpenter Fellows in New York City and Los Angeles, respectively. DiMari will receive mentorship from New York-based composers Trevor Gureckis (The Goldfinch, Old) and Gil Talmi (Harry & Megan, Lead Me Home), while Keck will receive mentorship from Los Angeles-based composers Kevin Kiner (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Peacemaker) and Ronit Kirchman (The Sinner, Fractal). Composers Andrew Asemokai and Benjamin Edelson also received honorable mentions for the award.
The Pete Carpenter Fellowship, founded by iconic composer Mike Post in 1989, is an annual residency for aspiring film, television, and video game composers. Previously providing only one annual award, the fellowship expanded in 2022 to include mentorship and a monetary award of $3,000 for one composer in New York City and one composer in Los Angeles. Previous fellows have included EMMY-winning composers Chris Beck (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Frozen), Roger Neill (Chicago Hope, King of the Hill, Mozart in the Jungle), Christopher Tyng (Futurama, The O.C., Suits), Atli Örvarsson (The Perfect Guy, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, and Chicago PD); and John Kaefer (The Wilds, Only, A Score to Settle), who currently serves as the program’s director.
Jessica DiMari is a versatile composer and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends orchestral richness with modern edge. Her distinctive sonic voice brings clarity and emotional depth to film, television, and branded content. Her music has accompanied films premiering at NewFest, streamed on HBCU GO, and has earned recognition from the National Board of Review. She contributed original music to ABC’s Emmy Award–winning documentary Jimmy Carter: A Full Life, and her work has been featured in global campaigns for brands including Crest and La Roche-Posay. In addition to her screen work, Jessica is also a concert composer. Her music has been performed by ensembles including the Oklahoma Composers Orchestra and Eco-Music Big Band (New York Times Critics’ Pick).
Austin Keck is an American composer and percussionist based in Los Angeles whose work spans film, television, visual media, and contemporary concert music. Drawing from his background as a performer, Keck creates evocative, texturally rich music that explores the intersection of sound, image, atmosphere, and storytelling. His music can be heard in productions including Eastman at 100: A Centennial Celebration(WXXI), the indie feature film Where the Rich Won’t Go, and the award-winning indie documentary A Life in Boxes. As a performer, Keck has collaborated with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and Buffalo Philharmonic, and has performed at venues including the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, UK. His concert music has been performed internationally by leading percussion ensembles, with premieres at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the IPEA International Percussion Competition in Shanghai, and the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.
Andrew Asemokai is an award-winning composer for film, television, & video games. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas State University & a Master’s in Screen Scoring from the University of Southern California, where he was elected the first-ever Class Representative for the program. Andrew’s projects have premiered at festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca, and Cannes Lions. He has worked with companies such as CBS, Prime Video, Nike, Jordan, Beats by Dre, & the NBA’s Utah Jazz. Andrew has won multiple international awards, had songs he collaborated on chart on Billboard, and scored multiple Emmy-winning projects. He has also worked with composers such as Ludwig Göransson, Christophe Beck, and Michael Paraskevas on projects such as Marvel’s Agatha All Along, Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu, and The Odyssey.
Benjamin Edelson is a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose work spans major film and television productions as well as contemporary classical music. Current projects include contributing music to season five of Netflix’s Bridgerton, season two of Amazon’s hit docuseries One Night In Idaho, and the political thriller Killing Castro starring Al Pacino. Upcoming concert music includes a suite for piano and chamber ensemble to premiere at The Juilliard School and a piece to be premiered by the Pacific Chamber Orchestra. As an instrumentalist, Benjamin has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He holds a master's in film scoring from New York University, did his undergrad at Princeton University, and is a graduate of The Juilliard School's Pre-College Program.
About the BMI Foundation, Inc.
The BMI Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 to encourage the creation, performance, and study of American music. The Foundation’s programs include competitive scholarships for songwriters and composers, operating grants for nonprofit arts presenters, and support for innovative music education initiatives in schools and communities across the country. For more information about the work of the Foundation, please visit our website at www.bmifoundation.org. For exclusive news and content, follow @bmifoundation on Instagram and like BMI Foundation on Facebook.
