Hamish Oliver

Composer for video games, theatre, TV and film. I also arrange, play and produce albums.

Hamish has enjoyed a two-decade-long career as a composer, sound designer, musical director, arranger and performer for television, film, video games and theatre, and has a Masters degree in composition. He also lectures courses in sonic arts and music production at Canterbury University and Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology. In November 2015 Hamish was the recipient of an $10,000 APRA Professional Development Award to further his career in music composition for video games.

As a performer Hamish has toured Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand with Elaine Paige, Aled Jones and Hayley Westenra and has performed in New Zealand with Serj Tankian, Bic Runga, Julia Deans, Anika Moa, The Adults, Michael Barrymore, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra among others. He features on the DVDs “Elaine Paige Live – Celebrating 40 Years on Stage”, “Hayley Westenra Live in Concert”, “Fiona Pears: Live at The Christchurch Cathedral”, and on Serj Tankian’s “Elect The Dead Symphony” live concert DVD.

Hamish has composed for several TV series, many short films and documentaries, a feature film, and has been composing music and creating sound designs for plays at The Court Theatre since 1997.

His arrangements have been played by various ensembles including the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, high school big bands, and concert and cruise ship performers.

His areas of interest include the composition and implementation of adaptive music for video games, music for film, MIDI and other forms of digital music control, and instruments such as the duduk and the ney.