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Allan Zavod OAM (16 October 1945 – 29 November 2016) was an Australian pianist, composer, jazz musician and occasional conductor whose career was mainly in America.[1][2]
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.[3]
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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
The University of Melbourne awarded Zavod the Degree of Doctor of Music in recognition of his international achievements as a composer.[4]
Zavod wrote "Time Can't Keep Us Apart" which represented Australia at the 1987 ABU Popular Song Contest. It was performed by Kate Ceberano and won.[5]
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Zavod was classically trained at University of Melbourne Conservatorium after being awarded the prestigious full Ormond scholarship.[2] In the late 1960s he was discovered by Duke Ellington, who arranged for him to further his jazz studies at famed Berklee College of Music, 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's band in 1984, and provided studio work on Zappa's release "Guitar".
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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".[6]
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