Dave Zabriskie
Biographical Information – March, 2004
David Zabriskie was born in Bountiful, Utah, thirty minutes from where his Swedish ancestors first settled. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in music composition from Brigham Young University. At Northwestern University, he received a master's degree in music composition, with emphasis in choral conducting, and a doctorate in composition, with emphasis in orchestral conducting.
He is a three time recipient of the prestigious Barlow Endowment, and was honored with the Silver Medal at the 29th Annual Film and Television Festival of New York for best original music.
His compositions are eclectic and vast--from musical theater to video games, oratorios to commercial ad jingles and public awareness films. They include: Before the War and Israel--oratorios for soloists, choir and orchestra; Starret Lake--commissioned by the Cleveland Octet of the Cleveland Orchestra, aired on National Public Radio; Chatter with the Angels--for saxophone quartet; America's Dream--commissioned by the International Gymnastic Foundation for opening ceremonies of the 1989 national championships; Mirrored Illusions--for the Chicago Piano Quartet, members of the Chicago Symphony; Rampage World Tour video game--for Midway Games; Reel “Em In slot machine—for WMS Gaming; Jubilant Fanfare--commissioned for the Evanston Symphony 50th anniversary; Shards of Memory--for alto flute and strings, commissioned by the Chicago String Ensemble and aired on National Public Radio; Savior of the World, His Birth and Resurrection--a musical for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with more than 300 performances over four years; and Light of the World--a musical spectacular for the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games and lead composer for the newly created Nauvoo Pageant.
Zabriskie has published choral arrangements through Plum Publishing and Jackman Music Corp. His recordings include: arrangements for Eat at Godot's--CD by Ralph Covert, Waterdog Records, Chicago; Women of Destiny II--recorded in Prague for Shadow Mountain Music; Savior of the World--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Christmastime--CD for Hilary Weeks, Shadow Mountain Music.
He has scored commercial theme music for Nestle Foods Corporation, Shopko Toys, Pillsbury and NBC News - New York. His film scores include: Blessing; The Cufflink, shown on the RCA Cable Network; and silver-medal winning The McCormick Place. Through his commercial work, Zabriskie has had the opportunity of directing and recording Harvey Korman, Rick Moranis, John Goodman, Elvira, AeroSmith, Jake Lloyd, and Ammed Best (JarJar Binks from Star Wars).
Of his work, the Chicago Sun Times has written: "…strong and fresh, with an abundance of content..." The Plain Dealer says, “Zabriskie knows what he wants to say and has the technical know-how to express it. He is a composer well worth watching." His video/pinball games and "serenading slot" machine compositions have earned him the title, "musical pinball wizard," by Screen Magazine.