Elliot Goldenthal born May 2 1954 is an American composer of contemporary classical music He was a student of Aaron Copland and John Corigliano and is best known for his distinctive style and ability to blend various musical styles and techniques in original and inventive ways He is also a filmmusic composer and won the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2002 for his score to the motion picture Frida directed by his longtime partner Julie Taymor