Dr Allan Hyam Zavod OAM

Allan Zavod is a piano virtuoso, accomplished composer, admired jazz musician and occasional conductor who has had an outstanding career, especially in America.

Fresh from completing a music degree from the Melbourne Conservatorium, University  of  Melbourne in 1969, Allan was recognised as a piano virtuoso by Duke Ellington. Duke arranged for Allan to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Boston – where Allan was later a professor of music.

In his career Allan has collaborated with some of the world’s most 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 also performed for the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and several Heads of State.

Allan 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. And when he wasn’t on the road he scored more than 30 US and Australian films and TV shows.

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

Achieving international success as a composer who successfully combines classical and jazz genres, Allan’s symphonic works have been performed by orchestras in Australia, Europe and the US.

As a film composer Allan has scored over 30 films including a movie with the legendary Eric Clapton.

He recently composed the Environmental Symphony for orchestra, narrator and synchronized visuals which was performed at the prestigious 2010 Banksia Awards and narrated by Sir Richard Branson.

The University of Melbourne awarded Allan the Degree  of Doctor of Music in recognition of his international achievements as a composer. This doctorate is the highest award in the academic world and only a handful of people have been awarded this in the 150-year history of Melbourne University. The award is designed to give formal recognition to eminent scholars who have made substantial, original and distinguished contributions to music knowledge.

In recognition of Allan’s significant contribution, Monash University appointed him to the esteemed position of Adjunct Senior Research Fellow.