Education
- D.M.A, University of Texas at Austin
- M.M., University of Illinois
- B.A., Columbus State University
Courses
- Applied Lessons in saxophone
- clarinet Woodwind Methods
Biography
As an instrumentalist, composer and music educator, Zack Varner, Ph.D., remains in constant demand on the stage and in the studio. His jazz quartet has performed at the international Copenhagen, Aarhus and Santo Domingo Jazz Festivals. In his home city of Austin, Texas, he has performed showcases at the Uplift Jazz Festival and the South by Southwest Music Festival. Varner’s 2018 solo album release, Blues in the Nude, features eleven original compositions and has garnered excellent reviews from several established music critics. The Austin Chronicle’s Jeremy Steinberger writes: “Varner expertly honors tradition with hard bop and swing themes while simultaneously exploring and building on the genre’s evolution through tango, bossa nova and samba-infused textures.”
As a composer for film and media, Varner has written numerous scores for independent films, animations and dramatic shorts. Several film scores he has composed and/or performed on are featured titles on Hulu, Amazon and Film Shortage Daily Picks. In 2022, he was a finalist in the International FMC Film Scoring Competition. Varner composes music for orchestra, big band and string quartet and has written and co-produced numerous songs for pop, rock and funk groups.
As a collaborator and studio musician, some of Varner’s credits include the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Jo James, Jungol, Graham Reynolds, the Brooks Prumo Orchestra, Wally Minko, Grupo Bonyé, Red Young, Floyd Domino, Jennifer Holliday, Chad LB, The Christian Wiggs Big Band, The Texas Horns and many other jazz, rock, pop and Latin ensembles. Varner can presently be found performing at venues throughout Austin and central Texas with his quartet, as well as ensembles like the Funktet, the Austin Symphony and The Sahara Swingtet.
As a music educator, Varner has taught lessons, clinics and workshops in Latin America, Denmark and the United States. His approach to music education is as eclectic as his composing style and his broad range of performance experience informs his practices in the classroom. During his doctoral studies at the University of Texas, Varner was awarded the Eleanor Alexander Stribling Award for Excellence in Jazz Studies. Since receiving his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 2015, Varner has remained a prominent educator and performer in the Central Texas community. He is currently an adjunct professor of woodwinds at St. Mary’s University.
Publications
- “Blues in the Nude”, 2018
Composer, Producer, Instrumentalist
Presentations
- Zack Varner Quartet
Featured Performances:- Copenhagen Jazz Festival, 2018
- Santo Domingo Jazz Festival, 2018
- Aarhus Jazz Festival, 2018
- Uplift Jazz Festival, Austin, Texas, 2019
- South by Southwest Music Festival, Austin, Texas, 2019
Awards and Honors
- Finalist
FMC International Film Scoring Competition, 2022 - President
Longhorn Jazz Association (University of Texas), 2013-2014 - Eleanor Alexander Stribling Award for Excellence in Jazz Studies
University of Texas, 2014 - Fine Arts Fellowship
University of Illinois, 2010 - Concerto Competition Winner
Columbus State University, 2004 - International Association of Jazz Educators Festival Award
Best Improvisation, 2004 - Outstanding Soloist Award
Downhome Jazz Festival, Dothan, AL, 2003 - Student Advisory Council Representative
Columbus State University, 2001-2004
Professional Memberships
- ASCAP