American conductor, pianist and arranger Scott Dunn is a renowned advocate for American contemporary music who regularly appears with major orchestras and headliners throughout the US, UK and Europe. He is the Associate Conductor of The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra since 2012 and in partnership with The Wallis Annenberg Foundation for the Performing Arts founded the SDO in 2024.
The Scott Dunn Orchestra (SDO) stems from Dunn’s passion for film music, which traces back to his mentors Leonard Rosenman and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett and to his decades at The Hollywood Bowl. The SDO, LA’s only orchestra dedicated exclusively to film music, is comprised of the world’s greatest studio musicians and celebrates Hollywood’s musical legacy in frequent concerts presenting film music as first-rate concert fare.
Dunn studied piano with Byron Janis and is former assistant to Lukas Foss. Early in his career, Dunn toured eastern Europe for the USIA playing Ives’ CONCORD SONATA and other American masterworks. He made his momentous Carnegie Hall debut as both pianist and orchestrator premiering his own reconstruction of Vernon Duke’s ‘lost’ PIANO CONCERTO in C.
Scott Dunn is a Steinway Artist: Scott Dunn – Steinway & Sons
6-2-25
HENRY MANCINI at 100 with the SDO May 22nd, 2025 7:30PM
The SDO celebrates Henry Mancini’s genius in new arrangements by Dunn from original materials from PETER GUNN, PINK PANTHER, CHARADE, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S, THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES and others with featured guest chorus Tonality. “A night to remember!” Jon Burlingame
HOLLYWOOD MODERNISTS - at The Wallis November 22, 2025 7:30PM
The Scott Dunn Orchestra presents a concert of classic mid-century film music (Hollywood’s Second Golden Age) arranged and adapted by Dunn from such films such as PSYCHO, REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, NORTH BY NORTHWEST and others performed by the world’s greatest studio musicians led by Dunn.
MONSTERS, MURDERERS, SPIES AND SPACE - the films of the 70’s - The Wallis, January 17th, 2026
The SDO’s begins 2026 at The Wallis celebrating Hollywood’s “Third Golden Age” with music from such fabulous films of the seventies as STAR WARS, CHINATOWN, THE STING, THE GODFATHER (Parts I and II) and by composers John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Nino Rota, Richard Rodney Bennett and others.
FROM HELL TO HOLLYWOOD - the Émigrés and Hollywood’s 1st Golden Age - May 30th, 2026
In the final concert of its 2025-26 series, the SDO explores the influence on Hollywood by European émigré composers forced to flee from the Nazis in the 1930’s. Music by composers Max Steiner, Franz Waxman, Erich Korngold and others from films such as GONE WITH THE WIND, KING KONG, ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, REAR WINDOW and many others.
Bennett PARTITA, Mahler RÜCKERT LIEDER and Brahm’s 2ND PIANO CONCERTO with Kayleigh Decker mezzo and pianist Shunta Morimoto, at Soka Performing Arts Center
January 25th, 2025 at 3pm – Dunn conducts sensational young mezzo Kayleigh Decker, pianist, Shunta Morimoto and The Four Seasons Orchestra in performances of RRBennett’s PARTITA, Mahler THREE RÜCKERT LIEDER and Brahms’ SECOND PIANO CONCERTO
I WATCH YOU SLEEP by Scott Dunn with Claire Martin and The Royal Phil named 2023 Record of the Year by the Arts Desk UK
Dunn’s 2023 release I Watch You Sleep, Scott Dunn and Claire Martin’s very personal tribute to the jazz side of their late friend, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. Recorded in London and available everywhere, the album features Bennett’s favorite songs to play and sing, all arranged and conducted by Dunn with Claire Martin – singer, The Royal Philharmonic, Rob Barron – piano, Matt Skelton – drums, Jeremy Brown – bass and Ryan Quigley – flugelhorn.
Now available from SONY Classical Lior Rosner’s SUGAR PLUM ON THE RUN with Jeremy Irons
A great new orchestral piece with narration by Jeremy Irons and the Royal Philharmonic with Scott Dunn conductor. Recording also features the Rosner Variations on the Theme from Tchaikovsky’s NUTCRACKER and excepts from NUTCRACKER
From BBC1 as well as Decca, Spotify, iTunes etc. MIMI and THE MOUNTAIN DRAGON
On New Years Day, BBC1 will re-broadcast this lovely 2019 animated special based on Sir Michael Morpurgo’s book with lush score by Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman performed by the BBC Phil, The Hallé choirs and soloists, Claire Martin and Scott Dunn cond. Also available on Spotify