Jonathan Tunick, composer

Long regarded as Broadway’s preeminent orchestrator, Jonathan Tunick is known for his facility and creativity in scoring the works of others, primarily those of Stephen Sondheim. However he is also a skilled and versatile composer who has written in all forms; orchestral, chamber and vocal. A native New Yorker, Jonathan Tunick grew up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and was educated at the High School of Music and Art, Bard College and Juilliard.

His first major credit was Promises, Promises (1968), which led to a long series of other Broadway musicals, which include Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, A Chorus Line, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Nine, Into the Woods, Passion, Titanic, The Color Purple, Road Show and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.

His credits as composer, arranger and conductor of music for film and television include Find Me Guilty, Fort Apache, The Bronx, Endless Love, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, The Fantasticks, The Bird Cage, Murder, She Wrote, and Columbo.

He has been awarded honorary Doctorates by Bard College and Oklahoma City University.

He is one of eight living “EGOTs”, holding all four major awards (Grammy, Emmy, Tony and Oscar). In 2009 he was inducted into Broadway’s Theater Hall of Fame.