Michael Zager
Michael Zager
BA, University of Miami
Diploma in Composition, Mannes College of Music, New School University
Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in the Performing Arts
Areas of Expertise:
Commercial Music
Composition
Email:
mzager@fau.edu
Office Phone: 561.297.0600
Office: AH 111
Michael Zager is celebrating 24 years as 探花视频鈥檚 Dorothy F. Schmidt College Eminent Scholar in the Performing Arts and Director of the FAU Commercial Music Program. Professor Zager is the recipient of four Fulbright Specialist grants from the United States Department of State and 11 Visiting Professor grants. He is the recipient of 15 gold or platinum records and has served on the Board of Governors for the Florida Chapter of the Recording Academy (Grammy Awards). Zager received three Grammy Award鈸 Nomination Participation Certificates and in 2018 was inducted into the Legends of Vinyl Hall of Fame.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Miami and graduated from the New School University鈥檚 Mannes College of Music, where he majored in composition. Professor Zager served on the faculty of Mannes College of Music prior to joining 探花视频鈥檚 faculty. Zager studied theatre music under the tutelage of the legendary Stephen Sondheim, as well as orchestration, jazz arranging and composition at the Manhattan School of Music, and conducting at the Juilliard School of Music.
He is the author of three editions of Music Production: For Producers, Composers, Arrangers and Students and three editions of Writing Music for Television and Radio Commercials: A Manual for Composers and Students, both published by The Scarecrow Press, Inc.
Zager produced, composed and/or arranged original music in a wide range of musical idioms, including commercials, albums, network television, and source and theme music for major motion pictures. He produced Grammy Award-winning artists including Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston, Peabo Bryson, Luther Vandross, Denise Williams, Jennifer Holliday, Joe Williams, Arturo Sandoval, Herb Alpert, Olatunji and The Spinners. Some of Zager鈥檚 original scores and original studio recordings of Whitney Houston, The Spinners, and The Michael Zager Band reside in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
Record Awards
Awards for producing, composing and/or arranging:
- 15 Gold or Platinum Records
- Golden Boot Award (France)
- Europe 1 Award (equivalent to a European Grammy)
- Ol茅 Award (Spain)
- Two BMI Citations of Achievement Awards (for most performed songs on radio in a given year)
- Grammy Nomination for 鈥淐upid/I鈥檝e Loved You For a Long Time鈥 (The Spinners)
- Nominated for Producer of the Year (Danny Ray Edwards) Golden Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee
- Nominated for Best New Artist, Daniel Ray Edwards, Golden Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee
- Nominated for Single of the Year 鈥淵ou Win Again,鈥 Golden Music Awards
- Nominated for Independent Record Label of the Year Golden Music Awards
Advertising Awards
- Clio Award
- Three International Film Festival Awards
- Three Art Directors Club Awards
- Mobius Advertising Award, U.S. Television
Television Awards
- Platinum Video Award (ABC-TV Funfit with Mary Lou Retton)
- Daytime Emmy Award (ABC-TV Funfit with Mary Lou Retton)