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Michael Harvey is well-known as one of Australia’s most sought-after Composer/Musical Directors. A renowned songwriter and composer in theatre, television, film, major events and advertising, he is the recipient of The Grand Prix in the Pacific Song Contest (Canada), The Most Outstanding Song Award in the Yamaha Song Festival (Tokyo), the APRA Silver Scroll (twice) for Best Song Composition, an International Gold CLIO (New York) for Best Music Soundtrack for a TV commercial, AWARD and FACTS Awards for TV Commercials and soundtracks, and several awards in the American Song Festival.
Michael is the Composer of Musical Theatre pieces, “PAN” (the Capitol Theatre Sydney 2000) “LUSH” (STC, and Ensemble Theatre at the Sydney Opera House), “AN OLD WIVES’ TALE”, (work-shopped in Los Angeles). Michael was both Composer and Co-Producer of “EUREKA”, which opened the Melbourne International Arts festival in October 2004, and then followed with a critically-acclaimed season at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne.
Michael has been Musical Director/Accompanist for many of Australia’s foremost and respected entertainers including the original ‘BOY FROM OZ’, Peter Allen, Julie Anthony, Tim Draxl, Kane Alexander, Barry Crocker, Kamahl, Rob Guest, and accompanied international stars Neil Sedaka, Cleo Laine, David Frost. Michael’s television credits include – resident Musical Director/Conductor Network 7’s “Carols in The Domain” (1995-2006), guest Musical Director on the Nine Network’s “Midday With Kerri-Anne”, and the ABC’s “Farnham and Byrne”. Michael has also conducted Australia’s great variety award nights, The Mo Awards and the Variety Club ‘Heart’ Awards, prestigious concerts such as The NSW Premier’s Concert, and The Australia Day Awards. Michael has conducted many orchestras in concert and recording, including the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney Youth Orchestra, and members of the SSO, the ASO, and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.
His work in the TV series “Sons and Daughters”, “Australia’s Most Wanted”, “Possession”, and the films, “Mission Top Secret”, “Pirates Island”, “The Rogue Stallion”, “The Phantom Horseman”, “Something Wicked”, and “Young Champions”, has been heard worldwide. His most recent film success was with the Bollywood film, “DIL CHAHTA HAI”, filmed in Sydney and in India. The film was released internationally and was the number one film, DVD and CD on the sub-continent.
Formerly a Record Producer with EMI (NZ), Michael has now been a freelance Record Producer for many years, with a great list of credits, including achieving several Platinum and Gold Records/CDs, and along the way “Music Arranger of the Year” and “Record Producer of the Year” Awards. Michael produced the ‘definitive version’ of the Australian National Anthem ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR sung by Julie Anthony, and Orchestrated by Tommy Tycho, and Produced “True Blue - 21st Anniversary Edition” for Aussie icon John Williamson.
Michael has been a lecturer and tutor in the Performing Arts, Piano, Composition and Songwriting, and some of his past pupils include Delta Goodrem (multi ARIA award winner), Natalie Bassingthwaite (“Rogue Traders”), Sarah Blasko (ARIA winning singer-songwriter), and the internationally successful songwriter Paul Begaud.
