Allan Zavod

Allan Zavod is an Australian pianist, composer, jazz musician and occasional conductor whose career has mainly been in America.^[1]

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.

In his career Zavod has collaborated with some well known international musicians such as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, George Benson, Eric Clapton and Frank Zappa, as well as Australian musicians James Morrison, Kate Ceberano and Judith Durham. He has performed for the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and several Heads of State.

Zavod was based in the USA for 20 years where he played, toured and recorded with some of the world's biggest names like the Glenn Miller Orchestra. When he wasn't on the road he scored more than 30 US and Australian films and TV shows.

Zavod was a pioneer in a compositional style that combines classical and jazz genres, where musicians from both worlds share the same concert platform equally.

Zavod's symphonic works have been performed by orchestras in Australia, Europe and the US.

As a film composer Zavod has scored over 30 films including a movie with Eric Clapton.

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.

The University of Melbourne awarded Zavod the Degree of Doctor of Music in recognition of his international achievements as a composer.^[2]

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