Raised in the peaceful country town of Ballarat in eastern Australia, David Hirschfelder is now recognised globally as Australia’s most distinguished and renowned screen-composer. Continuing his music education at Melbourne University, David quickly made waves as a keyboard prodigy and was called abroad to perform his compositions at the 1983 Montreux Jazz Festival. From the mid-80s to early-90s, he became the musical brain behind many of Australia’s landmark concert events and recordings, including John Farnham’s 1988 Classic Jack Tour, featuring the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and Harry M. Miller’s record-breaking Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Spectacular in 1992. Also in that same year, David’s first film-score for Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom won a BAFTA (British Academy) award. In 1996 David received an Oscar nomination, an AFI and an APRA award for his Shine score; and in 1998 a further Oscar nomination, as well as a BAFTA award for Elizabeth. Other works include Eternity for orchestra, choir and 1000 tap-dancers (commissioned for the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games) and Branches of Vayu for trombone, 2 pianos and 2 percussionists (commissioned for the 2011 MSO Chamber Series). Feature scores include Baz Lurhmann’s Australia, Zack Snyder’s Legend of the Guardians, and James Cameron’s Sanctum, as well as Jocelyn Moorhouse’s comedy The Fabulous Four, starring Susan Sarandon and Bette Midler and featuring a multi-faceted score composed by David with his son Sam, and Sleeping Dogs, starring Russell Crowe and Karen Gillian, for which he received an APRA-AGSC Soundtrack-of-the-Year nomination.