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. The 2003-2004 season marked his tenth anniversary as Principal Pops Conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Tyzik also serves as Principal Pops Conductor of the Vancouver and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras.

As a guest conductor, Mr. Tyzik has appeared with many of the major orchestras in North America including the symphony orchestras of Baltimore, 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 (December 2003). In addition to his commitments in Rochester, Vancouver and Winnipeg, Mr. Tyzik's guest conducting schedule for the 2004-05 season includes engagements with the Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Nashville, Oregon and Toronto symphony orchestras, and the Naples Philharmonic, among others.

Mr. 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. Mr. 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.

The success of Mr. Tyzik's tenure in Rochester and his strong relationship with that orchestra has led to appearances on its classical subscription series on two recent occasions. In the 2000-01 season, Mr. Tyzik made his RPO Philharmonics Series debut in a program of William Schuman, Bernstein, Copland and Ravel. He returned to the series in 2002-03 with a special program featuring the world premiere of his own Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra, the result of a National Endowment for the Arts grant.

Recognized as a composer and arranger, 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. In addition, G. Schirmer also publishes many other Tyzik works for symphony orchestra.

Mr. 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.

Mr. 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, Mr. Tyzik composed and arranged music for the Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman Orchestras and worked closely with Chuck Mangione as performer and producer. Mr. Tyzik has also produced and composed theme music for many major television networks, including ABC, NBC, HBO, Cinemax, Arts & Entertainment and American Movie Classics. Mr. Tyzik has released six of his own albums on Capitol, Polygram and Amherst Records.

He received the Arts & Cultural Council of Rochester's 2002 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. Mr. Tyzik is also a board member of the Hochstein School of Music and Dance.

Mr. 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.