Oregon Symphony Conductor Bio

Jeff Tyzik

Principal Pops Conductor

Grammy Award winner Jeff Tyzik has earned a reputation as one of America's foremost pops conductors and is recognized for his brilliant arrangements, original programming and rapport with audiences. Now in his 18th season as principal pops conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic, Tyzik is also in his fifth season as the Oregon Symphony’s principal pops conductor and continues to serve in the same role with Canada’s Vancouver Symphony.

Highly sought after as a guest conductor, Tyzik’s recent guest appearances include the Boston Pops and the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.  He has also appeared with the Cincinnati Pops, the New York Pops, the orchestras of Dallas, Detroit and Milwaukee, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, among others.  Tyzik made his United Kingdom debut with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in June 2010.

A native of Hyde Park, NY, Tyzik began his life in music at age 9, playing the cornet.  He studied both classical and jazz throughout high school and went on to earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied composition/arranging with Radio City Music Hall’s Ray Wright and jazz studies with the great band leader Chuck Mangione. 

An accomplished composer and arranger, Tyzik has written more than 160 works for orchestra, including a trombone concerto commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts and performed at Carnegie Hall.  His newest commission, a timpani concerto, was premiered by the Rochester Philharmonic in January 2010.

His compositions and arrangements have been recorded by the London Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops, Doc Severinsen and the Royal Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, Summit Brass and the Eastman Wind Ensemble. Tyzik has produced a Grammy Award-winning album, The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen, Vol. 1. 

In May 2007, Harmonia Mundi released his recording conducting works by Gershwin with pianist Jon Nakamatsu and the Rochester Philharmonic, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard classical chart.  He has also produced and composed theme music for many of the major television networks and released six of his own albums.

Tyzik lives in Rochester with his wife, Jill.  More information online: jefftyzik.com.