November 4, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Music of blockbuster movies from “King Kong” to “Harry Potter” is featured in an Oregon Symphony Pops concert led by Guest Conductor Jeff Tyzik on Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 26, 27 and 28 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Media support is provided by KINK fm102 and Oregon Business Magazine.
This concert will feature other signature work by Academy award-winning composer John Williams, including music from “Star Wars,” “Schindler’s List,” “E.T.” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Fans of Academy award-winning film composer Max Steiner will recognize his timeless theme from “Gone With the Wind.”
Tyzik is Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Principal Pops Conductor of the Vancouver and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras. He has appeared with the Symphony several times, most recently in 2004 for the Pops concerts “Big Band Spectacular” and “The Great Ladies of Song.”
Known for his distinctive orchestral arrangements of popular and film music, Tyzik will also conduct his own arrangements of songs from James Bond films, “The Best of Bond” and “The Great Western Suite,” a medley of classic themes from several westerns.
Performances are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 27, at 3 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Tickets range in price from $27 to $76 and may be purchased at the Oregon Symphony Customer Service Office (923 S.W. Washington), Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or charged by phone at (503) 228-1353 or (800) 228-7343, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets also may be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets (503-790-ARTS) or through Ticketmaster Online, via the Symphony’s Web site at www.orsymphony.org. Service fees may apply.
Known for his innovative programming, unique arrangements and his engaging rapport with audiences of all ages, Jeff Tyzik has earned a reputation as one of America’s foremost pops conductors. Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra for over a decade, Tyzik also serves as Principal Pops Conductor of the Vancouver and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras.
Tyzik has appeared as a guest conductor with many of the major orchestras in North America, including the symphony orchestras of Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Pittsburgh, Saint Louis, Seattle and Toronto, as well as the Boston Pops and the Cincinnati Pops. He has also appeared with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. In addition to his commitments in Rochester, Vancouver and Winnipeg, Tyzik’s guest conducting schedule for the 2005–2006 season includes engagements with the New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Seattle and Toronto symphony orchestras and the Naples Philharmonic, among others.
Tyzik’s pops programming is a reflection of his musical diversity. He has crafted many programs that include the greatest music from the jazz, classical, movie soundtrack, opera, Broadway, Irish, Latin, gospel, rock, R & B and big band/swing idioms. Tyzik has worked with such diverse artists as Tony Bennett, Art Garfunkel, Dawn Upshaw, Marilyn Horne, Arturo Sandoval, The Chieftains, Mark O’Connor, Doc Severinsen, John Pizzarelli, Billy Taylor and Lou Rawls.
Tyzik’s contemporary compositions have been recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the Summit Brass. His pops arrangements have been recorded by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic, the Vancouver Symphony and Doc Severinsen with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.
Tyzik’s record production skills earned him a Grammy Award in 1986 for an album entitled “The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen.” Early in his career, Tyzik composed and arranged music for the Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman Orchestras and worked closely with Chuck Mangione as performer and producer. Tyzik has also produced and composed theme music for many major television networks, including ABC, NBC, HBO, Cinemax, Arts & Entertainment and American Movie Classics. Tyzik has released six of his own albums on Capitol, Polygram and Amherst Records.
In 2002, Tyzik received the Arts & Cultural Council of Rochester’s award for Performing Artist, and in 1997 he was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International in recognition of his commitment to community service. That same year he was also recognized by the Monroe County Music Educators and the Rochester Philharmonic League for his work in public school and community education. In 2003 he was elected to the Board of Managers of the Eastman School of Music. Tyzik is also a board member of the Hochstein School of Music and Dance.
Tyzik holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music. He lives in Rochester, New York with his wife Jill.
