Allan ZavodOAM (16 October 1945 – 29 November 2016) was an Australian pianist, composer, jazz musician and occasional conductor whose career was mainly in America.[1][2]
Zavod completed a music degree from the Melbourne Conservatorium, University of Melbourne in 1969. His talent as a pianist was recognised by Duke Ellington, who arranged for him to study at the Berklee College of Music, Boston – where Zavod was later a professor of music.[3]
Zavod was based in the US for 20 years, where he played, toured and recorded. He scored more than 30 American and Australian films and television shows.[citation needed] His symphonic works have been performed by orchestras in Australia, Europe and the U.S. He composed the Environmental Symphony for orchestra, narrator and synchronized visuals which was performed at the 2010 Banksia Environmental Awards and narrated by Sir Richard Branson.[citation needed]
The University of Melbourne awarded Zavod the Degree of Doctor of Music in recognition of his international achievements as a composer.[4]
Zavod was classically trained at University of Melbourne Conservatorium after being awarded the prestigious full Ormond scholarship.[2] In the late 1960s he was discovered by Duke Ellington, who arranged for him to further his jazz studies at famed Berklee College of Music, Boston, where Zavod taught.
He spent the following 30 years in the US performing. He performed before the Queen and years later Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and recently Prince and Princess Norodom of Cambodia, heads of country and state, foreign dignitaries, government bodies, universities and charitable organizations in many countries. Zavod was also a studio musician with such artist as Jean Luc-Ponty, toured in Frank Zappa's band in 1984, and provided studio work on Zappa's release "Guitar".
As a film composer he wrote scores for more than 40 films, documentaries, television and theatre, including:
Six Concertos: (for Piano, Trumpet, Trombone, Violin, Guitar, Oboe)
Concertato for Orchestra: Works for Choir, Brass Band, Classical and Jazz Ensembles
The International Red Cross, celebrating the centennial of the first Nobel Peace Prize, United Nations Geneva Switzerland featuring Australian violinist Rupert Guenther
Work for The Olympic Games I.O.C. Performance and recording Sydney, Australia
Hurricane Katrina commemoration, New Orleans, Louisiana
Australian archive of Jewish Music
Bi Centennial Australia Day celebrations Televised Nationally Opera House Sydney.
Orchestrations of Traditional Folk songs for Vietnamese National Symphony Orchestra, Hanoi, Vietnam
2015 Anzac Gallipoli commemoration Zavod performed on board ship at a dawn service in Anzac Cove Gallipoli with New Zealand Opera Singer Dame Malvina Major: ‘Australia Remembers’ WW11 Gala tribute (arrangements)
5-movement symphony ‘The Environmental Symphony for Orchestra, Narrator and Synchronized Visuals.’ Narration written by Scientist Dr Alan Finkel Chancellor of Monash University and narrated by Sir Richard Branson.
Awards
In 2009, he was awarded the Doctor of Music Degree by the University of Melbourne. Being one of only five recipients of an earned doctorate in composition over the history of the university, this higher doctorate is awarded to scholars who have “made an international contribution to music knowledge.”[citation needed]
Original compositions performed
2015 Flurry A work for violin, clarinet and piano
2015 Good Vibrations Concertato for Orchestra Queensland Youth Orchestra Conductor John Curro AM MBE World Premiere Q.PAC Concert Hall Qld. Aus.
2011 Concerto for Oboe soloist Diana Doherty, Queensland Youth Symphony conductor John Curro AM MBE. World Premiere QPAC Qld.
2010 Urban Concerto for Guitar, Jazz Ensemble and Orchestra soloist Slava Grigoryan with SBS Television and Radio Youth Orchestra. World premiere, Sydney Aus.
2010 Environmental Symphony for Orchestra and Narrator to be performed Oct 15 at The Banksia Awards, Sydney, Narrator Sir Richard Branson Narrative written by Dr Alan Finkel AM World premier, Sydney.
2010 The Super Jam Sessions- Nigel Kennedy violin, Zavod keyboards Abbotsford Convent Melb, Basement, Sydney.
2008 Australian Concert Trio on tour with “Sting” Zavod piano, David Berlin cello, Slava Grigoryan guitar Sydney Opera House. Melb. Concert Hall. Festival Theatre Perth. Adelaide, Australia.
2006 Force D’Esprit commissioned and performed by Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Klauspeter Seibel. World premiere New Orleans US.
2003 Concerto for Jazz Trombone soloist James Morrison with the Munich Radio Orchestra conductor Gavin Sutherland. World premiere Munich, Germany.
2003 Concerto for Trumpet, Jazz Trio and Orchestra soloist James Morrison with the Munich Radio Orchestra, conductor Gavin Sutherland- Munich, Germany.
2001 Concerto for Trumpet, Jazz Trio and Orchestra soloist James Morrison with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Opera House Sydney Aus.
2000 Olympic Rhapsody Zavod solo piano: composed and performed for I.O.C. Sydney Olympics
2000 Youth Suite for Classical Orchestra and Jazz Ensembles Wesley College, Melbourne
2000-1985... Thirty US and Australian film scores including a movie with celebrated guitarist Eric Clapton, A Disney film and an award-winning Australian children's film for "Shines" director Scott Hicks.
1996 The Hobbit scored for Australian live theatre nationally (Polyglot Theatre Company) Recording.
1995 Concerto for Trumpet, Jazz Trio and Orchestra soloist James Morrison with the Adelaide Symphony Orch. World Premiere Adelaide Concert Hall.
1989 Le Promenade for Symphonic Band Melbourne Youth Symphonic Band (Melbourne Youth Music Council).
1988 Concerto Australiana A Piano Concerto for Jazz Trio and Orchestra. (Australia Council commission) Performed on Australia Day, Australian Bicentennial at the Sydney Opera House. Soloist/composer Allan Zavod with Australian Youth Orchestra- live national broadcast ABC TV. Released in association with ABC for audio recording and televised broadcast-World premiere
1988 Rockin Along Commissioned by and for the Australian Girls Choir.
1987 Winner Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Song Contest held in Kuala Lumpur, representing Australia sponsored by SBS Song Composer and music director.
Speaker Composition Seminar Monash University for Dr Thomas Reiner.
Monash University Mannix Fellow and speaker Mannix College Fellowship Lecture.
Tutor for Composition courses years 1-3 Victorian College of the Arts. Guest juror Victorian College of the Arts.
Twice speaker for “Careers In Music”(Melbourne University).
Artist in Residence Melbourne University
Devised and taught an elective on Classical/Jazz Fusion in Composition and Performance.
Twice Artist in Residence Wesley College Melbourne-
Devised and taught courses in jazz improvisation.
Composed and conducted a large orchestral work for Wesley College incorporating Symphonic Band, String Ensemble, Big Band and members of the Choir.
Melbourne Youth Music Camp as head of the Jazz Choir-visited in 1988 by HRH. Prince of Wales and Princess Diana.
Australian Musician Magazine writer -music lessons-15 years.
Speaker Stonnington Council Mentors Program (Melbourne).
Challenging youth through orchestral works in the classical/jazz genre.(e.g. Australian Youth Orchestra, SBS Youth Television and Radio Orchestra, Queensland Youth Symphony).
1972 American Tour with Glenn Miller Orchestra under Buddy De Franco
1974 World Tour and recording with the Maynard Ferguson Big Band - "Chameleon" Available on Columbia
1976 Recorded with the Billy Cobham Band, "Life and Times" Available on C.B.S
1980 A.B.C Showband – Music Arranger
1984 World Tours with Frank Zappa, including Live Video and Recording "Does Humour Belong in Music" produced by Frank Zappa, "Frank Zappa Guitar" Disc 1 and 2 Ryko Disc, US and "You Can’t Do That On Stage" 1-6 Barking Pumpkin Records, US
1985 Guest Recording Artist with "Australian Crawl"
1988 Winner W.R.O.K. Australian Bicentennial Songwriters Award
1992 "All the Best" Maurie Fields – Virgin Records, (Producer)
