Brad Ellis

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. Brad was featured in interviews with People magazine, CNN.com and NPR 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.