Nigel Westlake's career, spanning 4 decades, began as a clarinettist. He started composing from 1980 for radio, theatre, circus, TV and film.
Westlake has received many awards including 2 Arias, 15 APRA awards, [screen & classical categories] the Paul Lowin Orchestral Prize, & Gold Medal for "Best Original Music" at the New York International Radio Festival.
He holds an honorary Doctorate in Music, awarded by the University of New South Wales in 2012 & has conducted all the major symphony orchestras in Australia.
In 2016 Westlake made his US conducting debut at the Lincoln Centre with the New York Philharmonic.