composing arranging production

TOM SZCZESNIAK: composer, arranger, conductor, pianist, electric bassist and accordionist

Tom first arrived in Toronto in 1973, following a stint with the U.S. Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. Since that time, he has performed as a musician on the scores of over 100 feature films, numerous television shows (such as “Earth: Final Conflict”, “Street Legal”, “The Road to Avonlea”, “Side Effects”, “SCTV”, “The Woflman Jack Show and “The Jim Henson Hour”) and over 1,000 commercials. As a player, he has also been much in demand by some of the finest international performing artists, such as Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray, Esthero (arrangements – Gold Album), Brian Adams, Little Richard, K.D. Lang, Lenny Breau, Joe Williams, Marc Jordan, Marvin Hamlisch, Dan Hill, The Rankin Family, Dionne Warwick, Bruce Guthrow, Smokey Robinson, Bobby McFerrin, Diahann Carole and Susan Aglukark, as well as jazz greats “The Boss Brass”, Gil Evans, Thad Jones, The Cape Breton Symphony, Nimmons and 9, Bruce Cassidy’s Hotfoot Band, The Canadian Pops Orchestra as well as performances for former U.S. Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Lyndon B. Johnson.

As a composer and arranger, Tom has used his writing skills to enhance a wide variety of cinematic, televised, commercial and theatrical productions, and has been an integral part of several highly-regarded music production houses, including Acrobat Music, Pursuit Communications and Trudel Productions. Music is an essential element of any “visual” art form, and Tom’s compositions have enhanced and illuminated over 100 feature films, as well as animated and “live action” productions such as “Ruby Gloom”, “Franklin the Turtle” (syndicated series and four full-length features), “Gerald McBoing Boing”, “Fraggle Rock”, “Sesame Street”, “Beetlejuice” (the ABC/Fox animated series), “The Care Bears”, “The Adventures of Tin-Tin”, “An American Tale”, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and the animated CBS series, “Ace Ventura”. In 1993, Tom formed a company (along with the formidable musical multi-threat, Ray Parker), “ParkerSzczmith Music Inc”, and since that time, has been composing, conducting, playing and arranging under the auspices of this successful and award-winning company.

Tom has been honoured to be a multiple recipient of the Socan Award for “Film and Television Music” (1994/95/97/98/99 and 2000-2006), the Emmy Award for “Beetlejuice” 1991. In 1986, The International Film Festival of New York presented him with an award for his work on Ontario Lottery Commercials (“Together”).

RAY PARKER: composer, arranger, conductor, pianist, synthesist

Ray’s career has included such diverse accomplishments as serving as the Musical Director and Keyboardist for “The A.C.T.R.A. Awards”, Sharon, Lois and Bram’s award-winning children’s programme, “The Elephant Show” as well as producing seven albums for the trio, CBC’s “A Spector Christmas Special” (Tribute to Phil Spector and his “Wall of Sound”) and the CBC’s hilarious, long-running sketch comedy show, “The Canadian Air Farce”.

Ray has been a much-in-demand album producer and/or “live” performer for an array of talented and diverse artists, including Aretha Franklin, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Dionne Warwick, Tricia Yearwood, Smokey Robinson, kd lang, Peggy Lee, Suzy Boggus, Susan Aglukark, Rita McNeil The Rankin Family, Eric Nagler and The Canadian Brass. Ray Parker is a prolific, award-winning composer, having written original songs for a number of live-action, animation, commercial and radio projects, including “The Adventures of Richard Scary”, “Corduroy”, “Groundling Marsh”, the “McCleans TV Theme”, and award-winning radio station I.D. packages for CHFI, Rock 102, CKFM, Channel 47 and CBS News.

Ray was a partner or associate with several major commercial music production houses, such as Mort Ross Productions, Burrows Kitching Music, Sam Berry Music and Acrobat Music. In 1993, he began his fruitful association with Tom, and acted as co-writer/keyboardist/producer on a wide variety of projects, including CBS animated series, “Ace Ventura – Pet Detective”, “The Care Bears”, “Franklin the Turtle” (syndicated series and four full-length features), “The Berenstain Bears”, Jim Henson’s “Dog City”, CBS’ “Feivel’s American Tales”, ABC’s “The Rosie and Buddy Show” (featuring Roseanne Barr), “The Incredible Crash Dummies” for the FOX Network, numerous documentary specials for Discovery Channel and the CBC, including “No Place to Hide”, “Lost & Found”, “Security Threat” and “Dying to Win” and the CBC’s “Something to Cry About”, which won 14 awards.

Ray was honoured to receive the “Socan Award for Film and Television Music” in 1994/95/97/98/99/2000-2006, and continues to utilize his unique and sizeable talent with recent keyboard performances in the mega-hit theatrical productions, “Blood Brothers” and Disney’s “The Lion King”, as well as episodic television series, such as Gene Roddenberry’s “Earth: Final Conflict”, “Tracker”, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, “Danger Bay”, “Fraggle Rock and “Street Legal”. In 1986, The International Radio Festival of NewYork presented him with an award for his work on CHFI FM 98 station ID`s. Ray is presently keyboardist and asst. conductor for the live production of “We Will Rock You” (Queen).