Toronto composer Mychael Danna wins best original score Oscar for 'Life of Pi'

Mychael Danna accepts the award for best original score for "Life of Pi" during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello / Invision /AP)

LOS ANGELES -- Toronto composer Mychael Danna has won an Oscar for best original score for his work on "Life of Pi."

The musician bested giants in the field including Dario Marianelli for "Anna Karenina," Alexandre Desplat for "Argo," John Williams for "Lincoln" and Thomas Newman for "Skyfall."

"I share this wondrous award with our visionary captain Mr. Ang Lee.... who guided a truly global cast and crew in the telling of this wondrous, beautiful story that transcends culture and race and religion," Danna said after taking the statue from presenter Richard Gere.

He went on to thank his mother, who was in the audience, and his wife and sons "who remind me everyday why stories like this need to be told."

Last month, Danna won the Golden Globe in the same category for his work on "Life of Pi."

At the Oscars, the musician was also nominated for best original song for "Pi's Lullaby."

But he lost to Adele's heavily favoured "Skyfall" from the similarly named James Bond film.

"Life of Pi" marked the third collaboration between Danna and director Ang Lee.

The two also worked together on 1997's "The Ice Storm" and 1999's "Ride With the Devil."

Danna credits his career in film to longtime friend and director Atom Egoyan, who hired him to score all of his movies.

He also contributed music to Egoyan's upcoming thriller "Devil's Knot," which stars Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth.