Principal Pops Conductor
Joined the RPO in 1994
Grammy Award winner Jeff Tyzik is one of America's most innovative
and sought-after pops conductors, recognized for his brilliant
arrangements, original programming, and engaging rapport with audiences
of all ages.
In his 23 years as principal pops conductor for the RPO, Tyzik has
written more than 200 arrangements, orchestrations and composition for
orchestra. A consummate musician, Tyzik regularly appears as a guest
conductor in the Orchestra’s classical subscription series. He has also
been commissioned to compose original works for orchestra, including a
Trombone Concerto, which was funded by a grant from the National
Endowment of the Arts and subsequently performed at Carnegie Hall. Tyzik
conducted the world premiere of his original work New York Cityscapes
with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 2010. Tyzik composed a
Timpani Concerto, commissioned by the RPO, and also led the RPO in the
premiere of his new orchestral suite, “Images: Musical Impressions of an Art Gallery”
to rave reviews.
In the 2015-16 season, Tyzik premiered a new violin
concerto written for RPO Concertmaster Juliana Athayde on the
Philharmonics Series. In the 2016-17 season, Tyzik opens the Pops Season
by celebrating the 10th anniversary of the CD release featuring pianist
Jon Nakamatsu that climbed to #3 on the Billboard charts.
Tyzik holds The Dot and Paul Mason Principal Pops Conductor's Podium
at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and also serves as principal pops
conductor of the Seattle Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the Oregon
Symphony, and The Florida Orchestra.
Also highly in demand as a
guest conductor, Tyzik has appeared with the Boston Pops, Cincinnati
Pops, Milwaukee Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony,
Indianapolis Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic,
and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
As an accomplished
composer and arranger, Tyzik has had his compositions recorded by the
London Symphony Orchestra, Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops
Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony
and Doc Severinsen with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. He
has also produced and composed theme music for many of the major
television networks, including ABC, NBC, HBO, and Cinemax, and released
six of his own albums on Capitol, Polygram and Amherst Records.
Tyzik worked closely with Doc Severinsen on many projects including
orchestrating many of the great band leader’s symphony orchestra
programs, and producing a GRAMMY Award-winning album, The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen, Vol. 1. Tyzik's subsequent recordings with Severinsen garnered three more GRAMMY nominations.
A native of Hyde Park, New York, Tyzik began his life in music at
nine years of age, when he first picked up a cornet. He studied both
classical and jazz throughout high school, and went on to earn both his
bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where
he studied composition/arranging with Radio City Music Hall’s Ray Wright
and jazz studies with Chuck Mangione. Tyzik subsequently toured with
Mangione as lead trumpet and worked on five Mangione recordings as a
producer and performer from 1976 to 1981.
Committed to
performing music of all genres, Tyzik has collaborated with such diverse
artists as Megan Hilty, Chris Botti, Matthew Morrison, Wynonna Judd,
Tony Bennett, Art Garfunkel, Dawn Upshaw, Marilyn Horne, Arturo
Sandoval, The Chieftains, Mark O'Connor, Doc Severinsen and John
Pizzarelli. Tyzik has created numerous original programs that include
the greatest music from jazz, classical, Motown, Broadway, film, dance,
Latin and swing. www.jefftyzik.com.
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