Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator, Conductor, Musical Director
DARYL McKENZIE
Full Bio
Daryl McKenzie is one of Australia’s most accomplished and versatile composers, arrangers, orchestrators, conductors, musical directors, and performers. With a distinguished career spanning more than four decades, his work has been featured in major international orchestral performances, television and film productions, concert tours, and educational institutions across the globe.
As an arranger and orchestrator, McKenzie’s work has been performed by some of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra (Kennedy Center), New York Pops (Carnegie Hall), Toronto Symphony, and Detroit Symphony Orchestra. His arrangements have also featured with prominent regional ensembles such as the San Diego Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Columbus Symphony, and the Winnipeg, Virginia, Santa Rosa, Long Beach, Vermont, and Pasadena Pops orchestras. International performances include collaborations with Philharmonie Südwestfalen (Germany), Orchestra Sinfonica (Greece), the Gozo Youth Orchestra (Malta), and numerous community and festival orchestras worldwide.
Daryl has held long-term roles as an arranger for major television events, including the Victorian State Schools’ Spectacular (2013–2025), Carols by Candlelight (Nine Network, 1992–2024), Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols (Brisbane), Australian Idol, The Bert Newton Show and the Logie Awards. His orchestrations have featured in internationally released films and television productions such as Red Dog, The Sapphires, Seriously Red, Falling for Figaro, Bran Nue Dae, Death Defying Acts, Two Hands, Bootmen and The Truman Show (Golden Globe winner).
Notably, Daryl served as Musical Director of the iconic Hey Hey It’s Saturday (Nine Network) for over a decade (1991–1999 and again in 2009), and for numerous other national TV programs including Australia’s Got Talent, Dancing with the Stars, and the Good Friday Appeal. His arrangements have underpinned major televised award shows, Olympic and Commonwealth Games broadcasts, and national cultural events.
In the world of popular music, McKenzie has worked with an extensive roster of internationally acclaimed artists, including Tom Jones, Ray Charles, Harry Connick Jr., Randy Crawford, Joe Cocker, Barry Manilow, Jackson Browne, B.B. King, Roger Daltrey, James Morrison, John Farnham, Jimmy Barnes, Tina Arena, Kate Ceberano, Anthony Warlow, Human Nature, Billy Ocean, Ronan Keating, and many others. His arrangements have supported performances by the Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Tasmanian, Queensland, and Darwin Symphony Orchestras, the Australian Pops Orchestra, the Beijing Symphony, and military ensembles such as the RAAF Band and the Australian Army Band Melbourne.
As a conductor, Daryl has led orchestras for major concert events, national tours, recording sessions, film scores, and public ceremonies. His conducting credits include performances with the Australian Philharmonic Orchestra, Victorian Philharmonic Orchestra (featuring musicians from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra), and orchestras supporting artists such as Guy Sebastian, Anthony Callea, Daryl Braithwaite, Melinda Schneider, and Tom Burlinson.
Daryl has also enjoyed a rich performing career as a trombonist and bass guitarist, appearing at high-profile concerts, international jazz festivals, on film soundtracks, and national tours. His performance credits include work with the Pete Tong Orchestra, La La Land in Concert, Royal Crown Revue, Shirley Bassey, and appearances at major events including the Meredith Music Festival and White Night Melbourne.
As Musical Director of the Victoria Police Band, McKenzie led the ensemble through a period of creative expansion and high-profile collaborations. Under his leadership, the band worked with some of Australia’s most iconic performers, including Kate Ceberano, Russell Morris, Joe Camilleri, Rhonda Burchmore, Sylvie Paladino, Jim Keays, and Tania Doko, presenting a diverse range of repertoire in both ceremonial and public concert settings.
In education, Daryl has made significant contributions across the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors. He has held teaching and leadership roles at some of Victoria’s leading schools, including Scotch College, Parade College, Wesley College, Melbourne Grammar, and Presbyterian Ladies’ College, specialising in brass instruction, ensemble leadership, and band direction. He has mentored hundreds of young musicians, many of whom have gone on to successful professional careers.
In the tertiary sector, he has lectured in composition, arranging, orchestration, and ensemble direction at institutions including the Australian Institute of Music, Victorian College of the Arts, and Box Hill Institute. He is widely regarded for his ability to connect academic instruction with industry realities, mentoring emerging composers, performers, and music technologists. Daryl has also delivered specialised training for the Australian Defence Force, working with the Australian Army, Navy and Airforce bands at the Defence Force School of Music on advanced techniques in arranging, conducting, and performance tailored to military ensembles.
Throughout his career, Daryl McKenzie has built a legacy of excellence across all sectors of the music industry. His unique ability to work fluently across genres, media formats, and performance contexts has made him one of Australia’s most respected and sought-after music professionals.
Photo: miasaraphotography.com