Gary Fry

Biography

Gary Fry is an Emmy-winning composer, arranger, producer, conductor, and music educator. He has crafted music for recordings, films, commercials, publication, and live performance. Significant credits include his work as arranger/composer for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Welcome, Yule! holiday concerts for nearly 20 years, his current position as arranger/composer for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Pops programs, artistic consultant to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for their annual Christmas Celebration concerts, and over 100 commissions for Christmas and holiday music from those orchestras and others from around the nation. In addition, many universities and prominent churches have commissioned new Christmas compositions and arrangements from Gary.

Long one of the nation's foremost commercial music producers, Gary has written and produced over 2500 nationally broadcast radio and television commercials for companies such as McDonald's, Sears, United Airlines, Kellogg's, the U.S. Air Force, and hundreds of other advertisers. He won an Emmy Award in 2006 for his original commercial music for WBBM-TV (Chicago). Recently, Gary orchestrated and conducted music for the PBS nature special To the Ends of the Earth.

This unique combination of symphonic skills and commercial experience has made him an in-demand music writer for organizations looking for the highest-quality compositions and arrangements that also appeal to a broad audience. His deep background in the recording studio and expertise in maximizing digital recording techniques has proven valuable to clients for CD production. Recently Gary produced and arranged an album for the United Nations entitled Ambassadors Sing for Peace (featuring ambassadors to the UN from several countries for whom he also acted as vocal coach). and a recording project for the UNRocks band (comprised of ambassadors) featuring Gary's song "Strong UN, Better World." A video for Ronald McDonald House Charities which Gary arranged and conducted (and featuring violinist Joshua Bell) has received nearly 750,000 views on YouTube (you can view it by clicking here).

Gary also has a passion for working with young people, particularly in choral music. Children's choirs under his direction have performed at the White House, the United Nations, the Kennedy Center in Washington, and Carnegie Hall. He remains active as a clinician, lecturer, and conductor for ensembles in all levels of education from elementary schools to universities. Gary has served as Festival Artistic Director for the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation international choral festival "Rhythms of One World," which features concerts at the United Nations general assembly halls in New York and Geneva as well as prestigious concert venues. The festival attracts choirs from around the world, and Gary writes and conducts the music for the choirs to perform together as a massed choir.

The Provision Theater in Chicago often utilizes Gary as a composer of music for the stage. He has written music for eight of their theatrical productions, including the Jeff-nominated Spoon River Anthology, was music director for the critically acclaimed Old Wicked Songs, and most recently provided music for Nicodemus​.

Gary and his wife Carol recently relocated to the Charlotte, NC, area, where two of their grown children live.