Conductors Panel (Ian Fraser/Jack Feierman/Michael Nowak/Larry Blank) Luncheon – January 25, 2012

Ian Fraser

Ian Fraser came to New York from London in 1962 with Anthony Newley and Leslie
Bricusse’s Stop the World, I Want to Get Off, for which he was Musical Director
and Arranger of both the original London and Broadway productions. Moving to
Los Angeles in 1965, he served as Vocal Supervisor for Leslie Bricusse’s Doctor
Dolittle, and then as John Williams’ associate on Goodbye Mr. Chips. As Musical
Director for the 1970 musical film Scrooge he and Mr. Bricusse both received
Academy Award nominations.

In 1972 he began his 40 year musical association with Julie Andrews, and they
recorded the first of their two Christmas Albums the following year. He returned to
Broadway with Ms. Andrews after an absence of thirty years to conduct Victor/
Victoria. He composed the songs for a musical version of her children’s book
Simeon’s Gift, and in 2008, a symphonic version of Simeon’s Gift became part of
her “Gift of Music” concert tour which he conducted, and which marked the return
of Ms. Andrews to the musical stage, including her debut at the Hollywood Bowl.
In 1977 he received his first EMMY Award for the Musical Direction of America
Salutes Richard Rodgers, beginning what was then the longest run of individual
EMMY nominations in the history of the Television Academy, ending In 1999 when
he received his twenty-third consecutive nomination. In 2011 he received his
thirtieth nomination, and was awarded his eleventh EMMY in 1993 for the 52nd.
Presidential Inaugural Gala. Miss Andrews’ The Sound of Christmas and
Baryshnikov on Broadway are among his other EMMY winning shows. He
conducted the orchestra for the 1984 Oscar show, and the 1984, 1993, and 2002
EMMY shows.

In December 2011, he was Musical Director for TNT’s 30th. “Christmas in
Washington”, which he has conducted every year since its inception in 1982, and
for which he has received three of his EMMY awards. His 2011 EMMY nomination
was his tenth for this show. He was the last person to conduct White Christmas for
Bing Crosby, on Mr. Crosby’s final 1977 Christmas special, and also collaborated
in the writing of the duet Peace on Earth for Bing and David Bowie.
His film scores include Hopscotch, First Monday in October, and Zorro the Gay
Blade, and his 1995 and 1997 Broadway albums with Miss Andrews on Philips
Classics were both Grammy Nominees. He is a past President of the American
Society of Music Arrangers and Composers, and is currently serving his ninth twoyear
term as a Governor of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Jack Feierman

A member of the Steve Spiegl Big Band since the early 70’s, Jack Feierman is one of the premier conductors in the country, having been Musical Conductor for Johnny Mathis, Sergio Mendez, Jose Feliciano, The Osmonds, The Lennon Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole, and for 22 years, he was Musical Director for Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. He has also played trumpet for numerous TV shows, recordings and movies, besides playing with such name bands as Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Billy May, and more.

Michael Nowak

In 1984, Michael Nowak became the fifth conductor of the San Luis Obispo Symphony. Since becoming Music Director he has brought their performances to higher levels of artistic quality and lead the Symphony on four successful tours – to Spain in 1996, to New York’s Carnegie Hall in April of 2001, to the Sydney Opera House in 2006 and to Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2008.  Nowak has served as Assistant Conductor and Violist with the Dallas Symphony under Anshel Brusilow, conductor of the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra and the Monterey Chamber Orchestra; and has appeared in guest conducting engagements with the Oregon Mozart Players, the Oregon Bach Festival Chamber Orchestra, the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, the University of Southern California Chamber Orchestra and is active as a recording musicians and conductor in the entertainment industry.

Larry Blank

Larry Blank is a composer, orchestrator and conductor, based in Los Angeles, New York and London, whose career has found him working with some of the most respected names in theatre, film, television and music, as well as exciting new talents. Larry is a Three Time TONY nominated orchestrator for his orchestrations on Broadway for: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (with Marc Shaiman), WHITE CHRISTMAS (with Peter Myers) and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. Larry has had the pleasure of arranging/conducting for the following: Barbara Streisand, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Betty Buckley, Michael Crawford, Michael Feinstein, Marilyn Horne, Christine Andreas and Joe Williams to name a few. In addition to being a regular contributor for the BBC Concert Orchestra as both Conductor and orchestrator Larry has guest conducted The New York Philharmonic & The Los Angeles Philharmonic among others.