Christopher Bowen, OAM is one of Australia's most prolific composers and versatile musicians. He was born in Melbourne. After completing his music studies at Melbourne University he gained admission to the Konservatorium der Stadt Wien where he studied conducting under Reinhard Schwarz and Georg Mark. He also participated in masterclasses directed by Gennadij Roschdestwenskij and Herbert von Karajan. Whilst in Vienna he conducted concerts with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and was Guest Music Director at the Stadttheater Skt. Poelten. He has been a staff member of the Vienna and Sydney Conservatoriums and has worked with the Victorian State Opera and Opera Australia. Since his return to Australia he has conducted numerous choirs and orchestras and is currently Music Director of the Sydney University Graduate Choir. His repertoire embraces the major orchestral and choral works from the 16th century to contemporary music. His considerable body of work comprises many orchestral and choral works, instrumental and chamber music, and works for the stage. His compositions and arrangements have received critical and public acclaim and have been broadcast on the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) and the ORF (Austrian Radio). In 1997 a CD recording of his music was released by the Australian National Orchestra. Since then other CDs of his music and arrangements have been released, among them, For the Beauty of the Earth, Botany Bay and Beyond and A Touch of Heaven. Known for his imaginative concert programs, he has introduced audiences to many unjustly neglected works. He has conducted the Australian premiers of Beethoven's Kantate auf den Tod Kaiser Josephs II, Saint-Saens' Le Deluge and Requiem and Bruckner's Requiem in D minor. As part of his commitment to developing young artists, he was instrumental in  establishing the Joan Carden Award for young singers which honours the name of one of Australia's greatest sopranos. In 2008 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Sydney in recognition of his contribution to its cultural life. That same year he also received the Stephen Lardner Award  in recognition of his outstanding contributions to adult education. In 2009 he received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his services to music.