Henry Panion

Henry Panion, III is an American composer, arranger, conductor, educator, and Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds degrees in music education and music theory from Alabama A & M University and the Ohio State University, respectively. Panion is most known for his work as conductor and arranger for superstar Stevie Wonder, for whose performances and recordings he has led many of the world’s most notable orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra, the Birmingham (England) Symphony, the Orchestre de Paris, the Melbourne Symphony, the Rio de Janeiro Philharmonic, the Ra’anana Philharmonic, the Nice Symphony, the Gothenburg Symphony, and the Boston Pops Orchestra. The two-CD set Natural Wonder features Dr. Panion conducting his arrangements of many of Stevie Wonder’s award-winning, chart-topping songs asccompanied by the Tokyo Philharmonic.

Panion has produced, arranged and conducted for a number of other noted artists, such as The Winans, Chet Atkins, Ellis Marsalis, Jr. with the SuperJazz Big Band, Eugenia Zuckerman, Aretha Franklin, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Chaka Khan, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, and American Idol winners Carrie Underwood and Ruben Studdard.

Dr. Panion’s own works are performed by many of this country’s major orchestras, including the Atlanta Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Houston Symphony, and the National Symphony Orchestra. A list of other orchestras performing Panion’s works includes San Antonio, Nova Scotia, Columbus, Charlotte, San Diego, Louisville, North Carolina, Indianapolis, Arkansas, Jacksonville, Alabama, and the former Birmingham Metropolitan Orchestra, for which he served as Music Director from 1995-1997.

Dr. Panion’s work has been awarded two Grammy Awards, two Dove Awards, and a host of other national music awards and nominations. From 1994 to 2000, Dr. Panion was chair of the Department of Music at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Panion founded the UAB Recording Studio, where award winning recordings by such groups as the UAB Gospel Choir and the UAB Jazz Ensemble have been produced.

Selected Discography

Stevie Wonder. "Natural Wonder" (2005) Arranged and conducted by Henry Panion.
Ruben Studdard. "The Return" Produced, arranged, orchestrated and conducted by Henry Panion.
Ellis Marsalis and the SuperJazz Big Band "UAB SuperJazz, featuring pianist Ellis Marsalis" (2001) Co-produced by Henry Panion and UAB Jazz Ensemble Director Ray Reach, recorded at the Alys Stephens Center.
Jonathan Butler and Juanita Bynum with the Gospel Goes Classical Orchestra. "Gospel Goes Classical" (2006). Produced by Henry Panion. Arrangements by Henry Panion, Michael Loveless and Ray Reach. #2 Gospel Album in the US. #3 in the Billboard Classical Crossover category.
Annetta Nunn (Birmighham Police Chief) "Gospel In Blues" (2007). Produced by Henry Panion. Horn arrangements by Ray Reach.