Ross Avant

Ross Avant is a multitalented composer, pianist and actor. After having seen Elton John on VH1, Avant became mesmerized with the piano and began earnestly studying the instrument. Already a seasoned cornetist and trumpeter, he made his debut performing with the world-renowned Jim Cullum Jazz Band a few years later aged fifteen at the legendary jazz club, The Landing. When he was twenty-four, he made his professional acting debut at The Playhouse in San Antonio, TX as Tom/Jim in the San Antonio premiere of Bruce Norris' Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play, Clybourne Park. He has also worked on various television shows and films including HBO's Succession, The Kitchen starring Melissa McCarthy, and The Irishman directed by Martin Scorsese. In 2017 Ross recorded his first EP, Dream of Surrender (prod. Mark Sinko), and his debut album, entitled Running Across America (prod. Ted Young), was released in 2019. Avant skillfully weaves the subversive, social satire à la Randy Newman and the thoughtful, gorgeous melodies of a master like Elton John into a resplendent tapestry; replete with arresting pop hooks and fortified with Avant's signature piano style. His popular work is an exhaustive amalgamation of American music covering a wide breadth of genres from rock, pop, blues, R&B, and funk, to soul, jazz, and americana. Furthermore, his concert work is influenced by a wide array of composers including Julia Wolfe, Shubert, Bach, Felix Mendelssohn, Philip Glass, Clara Schumann, Wojciech Kilar, Anthony Braxton, Chopin, Allen Shawn, Schoenberg, Arvo Pärt, John Adams, and Mahler. He has also composed music for the theatre including two productions at The City Theatre Company (Austin, TX): Cyrano de Bergerac (dir. Jeff Hinkle) and The Taming of the Shrew (dir. Levi Gore). Avant holds a B.A. in religion and philosophy from Trinity University. He is a proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, BMI, The Society of Composers and Lyricists, The Society of Composers Inc., The Ivors Academy, and The Songwriters Hall of Fame. He lives and works in Manhattan.