Sven Libaek

Norwegian-born composer, conductor, arranger, record producer, pianist/keyboardist, guitarist, actor, music teacher and TV host. Born September 20th, 1938 in Oslo, Norway. Currently residing in Sydney, Australia. Libaek first arrived in Australia in 1960 whilst touring with The Windjammers (4), promoting the Louis de Rochemont film Windjammer. Shortly after their disbandment and upon completing his education at the New York's Juilliard School of Music, he moved to Australia with his wife Lolita Rivera. In 1963, he started working for CBS' Australian branch, where he worked as a producer, A&R manager and musical director. He left CBS in 1968 to work as a freelance composer, arranger and conductor. During this time, he also started composing music for Australian film and TV productions. In 1977, he moved to Los Angeles and started working as an arranger and orchestrator of pop music. In 1986, he was hired by Hanna-Barbera to score a series of animated films. He returned to Australia in 1994, continuing work as conductor and composer, both of soundtracks and classical works. In 1996, he became the resident conductor of Sutherland Shire Symphony Orchestra. In 2000, he was elected president of the Music Arrangers Guild of Australia.