Duncan Bohannon listens to music throughout the day, but that’s not uncommon for a teenage college student.

His genre of choice, however, is uncommon. Bohannon likes film scores, the music that subtly (or not so subtly) plays during movies.

“Film music is the only music I listen to,” Bohannon said. “I don’t listen to rock or rap.

“I’ve never really been interested in anything with words.”

He’ll hear none of the Decemberists or Ludacris. Instead, his favorite musician is Danny Elfman, composer of the film score for the 2002 film “Spiderman.”

Bohannon’s musical tastes are fitting, because he aspires to write film scores like Elfman. He’ll progress closer to his goal in May, when he graduates from IU Southeast at the young age of 19 with a double-major in performance piano and music technology.

He’ll perform four classical pieces on piano for his senior capstone recital at 3 p.m. Sunday at the IUS Ogle Center. The recital is free and open to the public.

From IUS, Bohannon has plans for graduate school and Hollywood.

“It’s going to be tough,” Bohannon said of his future. “It’s Hollywood, you know.”

Bohannon was raised in a family of music lovers and performers. His mother, Helen, is a violinist on IUS’ faculty.

His father, Tim, is the first chair trumpet player for the IUS orchestra. His 18-year-old sister, Rachel, also is a student in IUS’ music department.

Bohannon began playing piano at 5, and seriously began piano study at 7. He’s learned from a handful of instructors, including IUS music department coordinator Joanna Goldstein.

“He’s an extremely gifted young man,” Goldstein said.

Bohannon was mostly home-schooled, taught by his mother.

He first began classes at IUS at 16, and became a full-time student at 17. Bohannon said he was unfazed by perhaps being the youngest student in his classes.

“For me, it wasn’t that hard of an adjustment,” Bohannon said.

Still, college graduates at his age are rare, Goldstein said.

In his home, Bohannon tinkers with his computer and practices piano a few hours a day. The music from “Star Wars” — think Darth Vader walking into the room, or Luke Skywalker starring into the distance — or the “Batman” series of films is usually playing in the background, just as in their respective films.

He composes his own music, too.

He’s also interested in computers, and at first considered a computer science major, but he returned to music.

“He never had a chance,” said Helen Bohannon, laughingly, of her son’s dedication to music.

Bohannon’s double-major will help him as he pursues a career writing film scores — the music technology studies will help because much of his intended work has technological components, Goldstein said.

Helen Bohannon is supportive of her son’s career aspiration. Film scores are a classical-style of music that reaches mass audiences, she said.

Bohannon takes film music seriously.

“Sometimes,” he said, “I go to movie theaters just to hear the score.”



IF YOU GO

• WHAT: IU Southeast student Duncan Bohannon’s recital

• WHERE: IU Southeast Ogle Center

• WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday

• ADMISSION: Free and open to the public



Duncan Bohannon

• AGE: 19

• HOMETOWN: New Albany

• SCHOOL: IU Southeast

• PARENTS: Tim and Helen Bohannon

• FAVORITE SONGWRITER: Danny Elfman

• FAVORITE MUSICAL GENRE: Film scores

• FAVORITE INSTRUMENT: Piano

• FAVORITE NON-MUSICAL PASTIME: Computers