Brad Ellis
Encyclopedia
Brad Ellis is an American
composer, musical director, orchestrator and jazz pianist. Ellis is perhaps most visible as the quiet teacher/piano accompanist for the high school kids on Glee
, the Fox
television show for which he is part of creator Ryan Murphy's musical production team.
Ellis had a long association with the continuously evolving Off-Broadway satirical revue Forbidden Broadway
.
His Brad Ellis Little Big Band has released recordings, as produced by Bruce Kimmel
.
Ellis arranged, orchestrated and conducted members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
for their 2006 album Unexpected Dreams: Songs from the Stars, in support of the Philharmonic's "Music Matters" fund for music education. The album featured performances by TV and film stars including Victor Garber
, Lucy Lawless
, and Scarlett Johansson
.
In 2006 Ellis orchestrated and arranged the world premiere of Billy Joel
's "Waltz Variations no.2 op.5", performed by Christoph Eschenbach and the Philadelphia Orchestra
, for the 151st Anniversary Gala celebration of Philadelphia's Academy of Music
.
He created, with Jason Alexander
, Seven Broadway Shows in 7 Minutes. This witty medley was performed by Alexander with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
, when the orchestra inducted its long-time conductor John Mauceri
into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2007.
Ellis is the composer of the original music for the 2009 Off Broadway run of The Tin Pan Alley Rag, which told the story of a fictional meeting between musical greats Scott Joplin
and Irving Berlin
.
Ellis has composed or played piano for many TV shows and films, including Gilmore Girls
, Close to Home, Delovely and the DVD special features for Beauty and the Beast
.
Ellis was featured in interviews with People magazine, CNN.com and NPRand Entertainment Weekly about his character on Glee.
The Academy of Television Arts and Science (the Emmys) bestowed a certificate of honor to Brad Ellis, in June 2010, for his contributions of original music and lyrics to the opening number for 2009 Oscars, starring Hugh Jackman
, as the host. Jackman was awarded the Emmy in 2009 for his performance of the opening number Ellis helped to create for the telecast.
He worked with Robert Ulrich, casting director for Glee, on this year's hit The Glee Project coaching 80 potential candidates for the show. He was featured in the music segment of the special one hour "Audition Process" episode that teased in the pilot of The Glee Project.
To the delight and surprise of many Glee fans, he spoke on the show!
On June 22, 20011, he was honored by Donate Life Hollywood as their "Person Of The Year."
DonatelifeHollywood.org
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer, musical director, orchestrator and jazz pianist. Ellis is perhaps most visible as the quiet teacher/piano accompanist for the high school kids on Glee
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
, the Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
television show for which he is part of creator Ryan Murphy's musical production team.
Ellis had a long association with the continuously evolving Off-Broadway satirical revue Forbidden Broadway
Forbidden Broadway
Forbidden Broadway is an Off-Broadway satirical revue conceived, written and directed by Gerard Alessandrini. The original version of the revue opened on January 15, 1982 at Palsson's Supper Club in New York City and ran for 2,332 performances. Alessandrini has rewritten the show over a dozen...
.
His Brad Ellis Little Big Band has released recordings, as produced by Bruce Kimmel
Bruce Kimmel
Bruce Kimmel , also known as Guy Haines, is an actor, writer, director, composer, and Grammy-nominated CD producer. Kimmel lives in Los Angeles, California...
.
Ellis arranged, orchestrated and conducted members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
for their 2006 album Unexpected Dreams: Songs from the Stars, in support of the Philharmonic's "Music Matters" fund for music education. The album featured performances by TV and film stars including Victor Garber
Victor Garber
Victor Joseph Garber is a Canadian film, stage and television actor and singer. Garber is known for playing Jesus in Godspell, Jack Bristow in the television series Alias, Max in Lend Me a Tenor, and Thomas Andrews in James Cameron's Titanic.-Early life:Born in London, Ontario, Canada, Garber is...
, Lucy Lawless
Lucy Lawless
Lucy Lawless, MNZM is a New Zealander actress and singer best known for playing the title character of the internationally successful television series Xena: Warrior Princess....
, and Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
.
In 2006 Ellis orchestrated and arranged the world premiere of Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
's "Waltz Variations no.2 op.5", performed by Christoph Eschenbach and the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, for the 151st Anniversary Gala celebration of Philadelphia's Academy of Music
Academy of Music (Philadelphia)
The Academy of Music, also known as American Academy of Music, is a concert hall and opera house located at Broad and Locust Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1857 and is the oldest opera house in the United States that is still used for its original purpose...
.
He created, with Jason Alexander
Jason Alexander
Jay Scott Greenspan , better known by his professional name of Jason Alexander, is an American actor, writer, comedian, television director, producer, and singer. He is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television series Seinfeld, appearing in the sitcom from 1989 to 1998...
, Seven Broadway Shows in 7 Minutes. This witty medley was performed by Alexander with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra is a symphony orchestra which is managed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and plays the vast majority of its performances at the Hollywood Bowl....
, when the orchestra inducted its long-time conductor John Mauceri
John Mauceri
John Francis Mauceri is an American conductor, producer and arranger for theatre, opera and television. For fifteen years, he served on the faculty of Yale University. He was a protege of Leonard Bernstein...
into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2007.
Ellis is the composer of the original music for the 2009 Off Broadway run of The Tin Pan Alley Rag, which told the story of a fictional meeting between musical greats Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin was an American composer and pianist. Joplin achieved fame for his ragtime compositions, and was later dubbed "The King of Ragtime". During his brief career, Joplin wrote 44 original ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas...
and Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
.
Ellis has composed or played piano for many TV shows and films, including Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
, Close to Home, Delovely and the DVD special features for Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)
Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
.
Ellis was featured in interviews with People magazine, CNN.com and NPRand Entertainment Weekly about his character on Glee.
The Academy of Television Arts and Science (the Emmys) bestowed a certificate of honor to Brad Ellis, in June 2010, for his contributions of original music and lyrics to the opening number for 2009 Oscars, starring Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor and producer who is involved in film, musical theatre, and television.Jackman has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as action/superhero, period and romance characters...
, as the host. Jackman was awarded the Emmy in 2009 for his performance of the opening number Ellis helped to create for the telecast.
He worked with Robert Ulrich, casting director for Glee, on this year's hit The Glee Project coaching 80 potential candidates for the show. He was featured in the music segment of the special one hour "Audition Process" episode that teased in the pilot of The Glee Project.
To the delight and surprise of many Glee fans, he spoke on the show!
On June 22, 20011, he was honored by Donate Life Hollywood as their "Person Of The Year."
DonatelifeHollywood.org