Dominic Ferris

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Dominic Ferris
Dominic Ferris at Masterchord Studios London.jpg
Dominic Ferris recording at Masterchord Studios London
Background information
Born (1985-10-10) October 10, 1985 (age 38)
Brighton, UK
Occupation(s)pianist, arranger, conductor, music producer, musical director
Instrument Piano
Years active2009–present
Website dominicferris.com

Dominic Ferris (born 1985) is a British pianist, conductor, music producer, musical director, and singer. The son of pop songwriter and former Beatles sound engineer Roger Ferris and singer-songwriter Glo Macari, he is a Global Ambassador for Steinway & Sons. [1] He is active in classical music, pop, and musical theatre, and performs as a solo artist, in the duo The Piano Brothers, as an accompanist and studio musician, and with orchestral shows. He is also an active producer and arranger known for working with a wide variety of artists, and as a conductor.

Contents

Early life and education

Ferris was born in 1985 in Brighton, UK. He attended St. Christopher’s School in Hove and was a chorister at All Saints Hove, then Hurstpierpoint College [2] where he studied piano with Nicholas Searls. In 2010 he graduated from the Royal College of Music where he studied piano with Nigel Clayton. [3]

Career as solo and recording artist

Ferris performs solo piano and vocal arrangements of classic British and American songs by artists such as George Gershwin, Billy Joel, and Elton John. [4] In 2018 he performed a yearlong residency at Live At Zédel with his show "Me and My Piano." [5] The "Me and My Piano" series continued into 2021. [6]

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Ferris broadcast "Live Piano Request" shows on his social media from his Shoreham home. These were picked up for broadcast by Classic FM and Pianist Magazine. [7] In December 2020, he performed a livestream concert from Steinway Hall in London. [8] In 2021 he hosted a series of piano performance webinars for Pianist Magazine. [9]

Musical theater

Early in his career Ferris wrote musicals, working in his family's garage recording studio. Over time he came to work with Rob Ashford and other musical theater producers, and in 2012 was vocal coach, pianist, and assistant to conductor David Charles Abell for the Finding Neverland world premiere production. [10]

For several years beginning in 2015 he was one half of musical theatre act Ferris & Milnes with Martin Milnes. [11]

Collaborations

Steinway & Sons

When he performed at an international press launch event for the Prince William–Kate Middleton royal wedding, a chance meeting with piano technician Ulrich Gerhartz led to his relationship with Steinway & Sons. [3] He continues to the present day as a Steinway & Sons Global Ambassador.

In 2018, as a Steinway & Sons Global Ambassador, he recorded original piano arrangements of classic popular and musical theater songs for Steinway's self-playing Spirio piano. [12]

The Piano Brothers

Since 2014 Ferris and Indonesian pianist/composer Elwin Hendrijanto, who met during their studies at the Royal College of Music, have performed as The Piano Brothers. [13] On their international concert tours they combine classical music, musical theatre, their own arrangements of popular songs such as Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" and Adele’s "Rolling in the Deep," songbook numbers, and compositions of their own such as "Ballade for Steinway." The duo collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra in 2019 on a recording at Abbey Road Studios of their symphonic arrangement of Muse's hit "Uprising" [14] and perform internationally.

Ferris & Milnes

In 2015 Ferris formed a second duo, joining with Martin Milnes as musical theatre double act Ferris & Milnes. [11]

They duo undertook performance feats such as "31 West End musicals in under 10 minutes" and the complete works of Andrew Lloyd Webber in seven minutes, and performed a George Gershwin medley at Lincoln Center. They performed their tribute "33 Sondheim Numbers in 5 Minutes" [15] at the Stephen Sondheim 85th Birthday Gala at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 2015. [16]

Other recording collaborations

Ferris has collaborated on recordings with performers such as Shirley Bassey, Jonathan Antoine, Alfie Boe, Michael Ball, and Kerry Ellis, many with producer Nick Patrick, and on symphonic albums with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing music of Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, and The Beach Boys and orchestrating and arranging for the Orbison and Beach Boys albums. [17]

In 2015 Ferris recorded piano tracks for the Elvis Presley symphonic album If I Can Dream with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. [18]

In 2018 he worked with James Bowen and his cat Bob, subject of the book and film A Street Cat Named Bob , to produce and co-write a charity single. [19]

Ferris worked with Dame Shirley Bassey as pianist on her 2020 Decca Records album I Owe It All To You. [17]

He produced a video for the Official London Theatre’s YouTube channel titled "We'll Meet Again" that featured West End stars including Alfie Boe and Hannah Waddingham and most prominently, Dame Vera Lynn extending a message of hope and love during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. [20]

In 2023 Ferris began working with Luca Brugnoli, a 2022 BBC Young Chorister of the Year finalist, producing, performing on, and co-writing two songs for Brugnoli's 2024 debut mainstream album Through My Eyes. [21]

Other live collaborations

In 2017 he toured as assistant musical director and pianist with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra's "Elvis Presley: If I Can Dream" UK arena tour, and with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra for the USA anniversary tour. The latter included a performance at Graceland with Priscilla Presley for the Elvis 40th Anniversary Celebrations. [7]

In May and June 2021 he performed his solo show "Piano Player to the Stars" in London, [22] and in August performed at the Royal Festival Hall in a series of concerts celebrating the 50th anniversary of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells album. [23]

Charity work

Ferris fundraises for Restore the Music UK, which funds music education. [8]

Discography

Albums and singles
YearArtistAlbum/ProjectLabel/OrganizationRole(s)
2012VariousThe Secret Code Original Musical SoundtrackMacaferri Music / Michael GattonPianist, Producer, Arranger
2013The Piano Brothers"Ballade for Steinway"Steinway & SonsPianist, Songwriter, Producer
2013Sochi Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony"Sochi Winter Olympics (Time Forward)"VariousPianist
2014Dominic FerrisDominic Anthony FerrisMacaferri MusicArtist
2015VariousLovebirds Original Musical SoundtrackSimG RecordsPianist, Arranger
2015Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraIf I Can DreamSony MusicPianist
2017Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraChristmas with Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraSony MusicPianist
2017Roy Orbison with the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraA Love So BeautifulSony MusicPianist
2018Roy Orbison with the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraUnchained MelodiesSony MusicArranger
2018The Beach Boys with the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraThe Beach Boys with the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraUniversal Music GroupPianist, Arranger
2018James Bowen with The Wild & Stray"And Then Came Bob," "Time to Move On"Macaferri MusicPianist, Songwriter, Producer
2019Michael BallHome to YouDeccaPianist, Arranger
2019Michael Ball & Alfie BoeBack TogetherDeccaArranger
2020Royal Philharmonic OrchestraDisney Goes ClassicalDeccaArranger
2020Jonathan AntoineGoing the DistanceLOKI RecordsPianist
2020Jonathan AntoineChristmasLandLOKI RecordsPianist
2020Dame Vera Lynn & West End Stars"We'll Meet Again 2020"Society of London TheatrePianist, Producer, Arranger
2020Dame Shirley BasseyI Owe It All to YouDeccaPianist, Arranger
2021LiberaIfInvisible Hands MusicSongwriter
2022Katie Ashby"Irreplaceable," "White Cliffs of Dover"Dame Vera Lynn EstatePianist, Producer, Arranger
2022VariousTubular Bells 50th Anniversary SoundtrackKaleidoscope Home EntertainmentPianist
2023Cormac ThompsonA Borrowed GiftCormac Thompson Music LtdPianist, Songwriter, Producer, Arranger
2023Resonanz Children's Choir & Libera"Nusantara," "Sing for Our World"Libera OfficialSongwriter, Producer
2023London Symphony OrchestraClassic Rock – RenaissanceBMG MusicPianist, Arranger
2024Luca BrugnoliThrough My EyesLRB MusicPianist, Songwriter, Producer, Arranger
2024Amy Nuttall"Thank You Mother"Amy Nuttall MusicPianist, Arranger

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References

  1. ↑ "Dominic Ferris". steinway.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Olivia Marshall (10 November 2020). "Shoreham pianist performs on Dame Shirley Bassey's new album". The Argus. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  3. 1 2 "A Day in the Life of Dominic Ferris: Piano Player to the Stars". Pianist Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  4. ↑ Phil Hewitt (22 June 2023). "Dominic Ferris plays Billy Joel, Elton John and George Gershwin for Cuckfield Festival". Sussex Express. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Preview: Dominic Ferris Me and My Piano at Live at Zedel With Special Guest Nick Patrick". Theatre Weekly. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  6. ↑ "Dominic Ferris returns to Crazy Coqs with ME AND MY PIANO". West End Best Friend. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  7. 1 2 Kim Mayo (15 April 2020). "Shoreham pianist Dominic's request show is a big hit". The Argus. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  8. 1 2 Maxwell Walpole (14 December 2020). "An Hour Of Music With Dominic Ferris". Piedmont Forum. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  9. ↑ Ellie Palmer (4 June 2021). "NEW: Sign up to our Piano Performance Anxiety Webinar with Steinway Artist Dominic Ferris". Pianist Magazine. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  10. ↑ Kimberley Middleton (25 October 2012). "From Southwick to the West End stage". The Argus. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  11. 1 2 "THE MUSICAL MARVELS THAT ARE FERRIS AND MILNES". BOE. 19 June 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  12. ↑ "Steinway Artist Dominic Ferris announces lives shows in London". Pianist Magazine. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  13. ↑ "Indonesian, English pianists collaborate in Steinway and sons` piano launching". Antara News. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  14. ↑ Ellie Palmer (2 September 2019). "The Piano Brothers announce their only 2019 UK show". Pianist Magazine. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  15. ↑ Dan Meyer (26 May 2020). "The Daily Distraction: Ferris and Milnes Perform 33 Sondheim Numbers in 5 Minutes". Playbill. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  16. ↑ "Hey, Old Friends! – An 85th Birthday Tribute to Stephen Sondheim – Theatre Royal Drury Lane". Musical Theatre Review. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Dominic Ferris Collaborates with Dame Shirley Bassey on New album". Theatre Weekly. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "Preview – Dominic Ferris – Me and My Piano". Musical Theatre Review. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  19. ↑ Rose Lock (17 June 2020). "Sussex musician pays tribute to 'A Street Cat Named Bob' pet". The Argus. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  20. ↑ Kim Mayo (27 April 2020). "Theatres receive message of support from our Dame Vera". The Argus. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  21. ↑ Eva Mason (6 May 2024). "NEWS: Kerry Ellis to Perform with Dominic Ferris at Live at Zedel". Sussex Express. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  22. ↑ Ellie Palmer (20 March 2021). "Steinway Artist Dominic Ferris announces lives shows in London". Pianist Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  23. ↑ Phil Hewitt (6 August 2021). "Shoreham pianist joins Tubular Bells 50th anniversary concert". Sussex Express. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
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