Jeff Tyzik -Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Pops Conductor

Photo Credit: Tyler Boye

As one of America’s foremost pops conductors, Jeff Tyzik is known for his innovative programming, unique arrangements and his engaging rapport with audiences of all ages. 2007-08 marks his fourteenth season as Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

As a guest conductor, Mr. Tyzik has ledmany of America’s top orchestras including the symphonies of Los Angeles, Dallas, Detroit, Saint Louis, Baltimore, Seattle, Houston, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Milwaukee, New Jersey, the Boston Pops and the Cincinnati Pops. He is a frequent guest of Canadian orchestras including Toronto, Vancouver (Principal Pops Conductor), Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg (Principal Pops Conductor) and also the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo. He made his debut with the New York Pops in August 2006.

Jeff Tyzik’s pops programming is a reflection of his musical diversity. He has crafted many programs that include the greatest music from jazz, classical, movie soundtrack, opera, Broadway, Irish, Latin, gospel, rock, R & B and big band/swing idioms.

In the 2000-01 Season, Jeff Tyzik made his classical Philharmonics Series debut with the RPO, and returned to the series in the 2002-03 Season for the world premiere of his Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra, the result of a National Endowment for the Arts grant. In 2005, the wind ensemble orchestration of Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra was premiered by Eastman Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall. Jeff Tyzik will conduct his fourth Philharmonics Series concert, featuring guitarist Sharon Isbin, in February 2008.

Mr. Tyzik was commissioned by the publisher G. Schirmer to create symphonic orchestrations for many of Duke Ellington’s masterpieces including: Black, Brown and Beige and the Nutcracker Suite. The Rochester Oratorio Society commissioned Jeff Tyzik to compose a piece for its 2005-06 concert series and Psalm 150: Praise Ye The Lord for choir, brass, percussion and organ was premiered in March 2006.

Mr. Tyzik’s compositions and arrangements have been recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, the RPO, Summit Brass, Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony, and Doc Severinsen with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. In December 2006, the RPO released A Holiday Celebration, conducted by Jeff Tyzik.

A new harmonia mundi USA CD with pianist Jon Nakamatsu was released in May 2007 and reached the top five on Billboard’s Classical Chart. The album features George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Concerto in F and Cuban Overture.

Jeff Tyzik’s record production skills earned him a 1986 Grammy Award for an album entitled The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen. He has composed and arranged music for the Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman Orchestras and worked closely with Chuck Mangione as performer and producer. Mr. Tyzik also has produced and composed theme music for many major television networks, including ABC, NBC and HBO, and has released six of his own albums on Capitol, Polygram and Amherst Records.

Jeff Tyzik holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music. He lives in Rochester with his wife Jill.