The Library Foundation of Newport Beach is bringing a rare treat to Witte Hall this month: an evening with the person who spent years researching the life of John Williams, the composer behind some of the most recognizable film scores ever written.

Arts journalist and educator Tim Greiving will speak Thursday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. as part of Newport Beach Art Week. Greiving is the author of the first full biography of Williams, whose Oscar nomination count remains unmatched in Motion Picture Academy history.

Williams' scores have shaped generations of moviegoing, including "Star Wars," "Indiana Jones," "Jaws," "E.T.," "Jurassic Park," "Schindler's List" and the "Harry Potter" series. He served as principal conductor of the Boston Pops from 1980 to 1993 and has conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra and Vienna Philharmonic, among others. He has also written classical concertos and orchestral works performed in concert halls worldwide.

Greiving is based in Los Angeles and knows this world well. He has written program notes for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Royal Albert Hall and the Walt Disney Company, and liner notes for more than 100 soundtrack albums. He also contributes to the Motion Picture Academy's Visual History Program and teaches film music history at the USC Thornton School of Music.

The talk will include film clips of key musical moments from Williams' career, shown on Witte Hall's high-definition video wall.

Tickets are available through the Library Foundation website.

Witte Hall, 998 Avocado Avenue in Newport Beach.