Allan Zavod (16 October 1945 – 29 November 2016) was an Australian pianist, composer, jazz musician and occasional conductor whose career was mainly in America. Zavod completed a music degree from the Melbourne Conservatorium,

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne (colloquially known as Melbourne University) is a public university, public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in the state ...

in 1969. His talent as a pianist was recognised by

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous Big band, jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D ...

, who arranged for him to study at the

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music () is a Private university, private music college in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern Music of the United ...

, Boston – where Zavod was later a professor of music. 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. 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 Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950) is an English business magnate who co-founded the Virgin Group in 1970, and controlled 5 companies remaining of once more than 400. Branson expressed his desire to become an entrepreneu ...

. The

awarded Zavod the Degree of Doctor of Music in recognition of his international achievements as a composer. Zavod wrote "Time Can't Keep Us Apart" which represented Australia at the 1987

ABU Popular Song Contest The ABU Popular Song Contest (also known as the Asia Broadcasting Union Song Contest) was a competitive song contest created by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) based on the Eurovision Song Contest. It ran for three editions from 1985 to ...

. It was performed by

Kate Ceberano Catherine Yvette Ceberano ( or , born 17 November 1966) is an Australian singer and actress who performs in the rock, soul, jazz and pop genres, as well as in film and musicals such as '' Jesus Christ Superstar''. Her single " Bedroom Eyes" re ...

and won.

Biography

Zavod was classically trained at University of Melbourne Conservatorium after being awarded the prestigious full Ormond scholarship. In the late 1960s he was discovered by

, who arranged for him to further his jazz studies at famed

, 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 artists as Jean Luc-Ponty, toured in

Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American guitarist, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestra ...

's band in 1984, and provided studio work on Zappa's release "Guitar".

Discography

Albums

Awards

In 2009, he was awarded the Doctor of Music Degree by the University of Melbourne. Being one of only four 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".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zavod, Allan 1945 births 2016 deaths People educated at Brighton Grammar School Australian male composers Australian composers Australian jazz pianists Musicians from Melbourne Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia Male jazz pianists Australian male jazz musicians Australian film score composers