A noted advocate for American contemporary and film music, Scott Dunn has had a remarkable career as pianist, conductor and orchestrator. He is the Associate Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and regularly appears with major orchestras and headliners throughout the US, UK and Europe.
A one-time student of Byron Janis and former assistant to Lukas Foss, Dunn toured eastern Europe as solo pianist in the nineties for the USIA presenting Ives’ CONCORD SONATA and other American masterworks. He made his 1999 Carnegie Hall debut as pianist and orchestrator premiering his own reconstruction of Vernon Duke’s ‘lost’ PIANO CONCERTO IN C. His 2023 release, I WATCH YOU SLEEP – Scott Dunn Celebrates Richard Rodney Bennett with Claire Martin and the Royal Philharmonic, earned universal praise for his arrangements, conducting and playing and was awarded the UK Arts Desk Album of the Year award.
The newly formed Scott Dunn Orchestra (SDO) is borne from Dunn’s passion for film music, which can be traced back to his friends, and mentors, Leonard Rosenman and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. In partnership with The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, the SDO, comprised of the worlds greatest studio musicians, celebrates Hollywood’s great music legacy and presents concerts dedicated exclusively to film music as first-rate concert fare.
Scott Dunn is a Steinway Artist: Scott Dunn – Steinway & Sons
8-10-24
HOLLYWOOD MODERNISTS at The Wallis Jan.18, 2025 7:30PM
The new Scott Dunn Orchestra premieres at The Wallis with a concert of classic mid-century film music arranged and adapted by Dunn. Films such as PSYCHO, REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, CHINATOWN and others performed by the world’s greatest studio musicians led by Dunn.
HENRY MANCINI at 100 with the SDO May 18th, 2025 7:30PM
The SDO celebrates Henry Mancini’s genius as film composer and songwriter for such films as PINK PANTHER, CHARADE, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S, THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, SUNFLOWER and others.
I WATCH YOU SLEEP by Scott Dunn with Claire Martin and The Royal Phil named 2023 Record of the Year by the Arts Desk UK
Dunn’s 2023 release I Watch You Sleep, Scott Dunn and Claire Martin’s very personal tribute to the jazz side of their late friend, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. Recorded in London and available everywhere, the album features Bennett’s favorite songs to play and sing, all arranged and conducted by Dunn with Claire Martin – singer, The Royal Philharmonic, Rob Barron – piano, Matt Skelton – drums, Jeremy Brown – bass and Ryan Quigley – flugelhorn.
Emperor Concerto and Mozart #40 with pianist Shunta Morimoto at Soka Performing Arts Center
January 20th, 2024 at 3pm – Dunn conducts sensational young pianist, Shunta Morimoto and The Four Seasons Orchestra in performances of the Beethoven’s EMPEROR CONCERTO and Mozart’s gorgeous Symphony #40 in g minor
Dunn’s new recording of solo piano suites from REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE and other midcentury masterpieces available soon
Watch for Dunn’s new piano solo recording celebrating film music from mid-century composers who introduced modernism and jazz into film scoring: Leonard Rosenman, Elmer Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Bernard Herrmann, Alex North and David Raksin. Recorded in Dolby Atmos and soon available everywhere.
Now available from SONY Classical Lior Rosner’s SUGAR PLUM ON THE RUN with Jeremy Irons
A great new orchestral piece with narration by Jeremy Irons and the Royal Philharmonic with Scott Dunn conductor. Recording also features the Rosner Variations on the Theme from Tchaikovsky’s NUTCRACKER and excepts from NUTCRACKER
From BBC1 as well as Decca, Spotify, iTunes etc. MIMI and THE MOUNTAIN DRAGON
On New Years Day, BBC1 will re-broadcast this lovely 2019 animated special based on Sir Michael Morpurgo’s book with lush score by Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman performed by the BBC Phil, The Hallé choirs and soloists, Claire Martin and Scott Dunn cond. Also available on Spotify
Dunn‘s new orchestration of Ellington’s NEW WORLD A‘COMIN’
The Duke’s incredible rhapsody for solo piano with new chamber orchestration by Dunn was premiered in February 2019 to universal raves and soon will be generally available from G Schirmer NYC
Rufus Wainwright’s HADRIAN with Thomas Hampson at Teatro Real and Perelada Festival
July 27th and 29th, 2022 Dunn conducted the hugely successful semi-staged performances of Rufus’ second opera HADRIAN at Teatro Real, Madrid and the Perelada Music Festival respectively. The all-star cast featured Thomas Hampson, Santiago Ballerini, Vanessa Goikoetxea, Alexandra Uquiola and others.