About
Photo by Will Johnstone
Toby Alexander is a Brisbane-based composer and music producer specialising in music for film, games, and live performance. With a background in orchestration, contemporary production, and dramatic musical storytelling, he combines expressive writing and modern tools to create evocative, cinematic sound worlds.
In 2021, Toby created and produced the string arrangements for Holy Holy’s fourth studio album Hello My Beautiful World, nominated for Best Rock Album at the ARIA Awards and Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards. The album debuted at #4 on the ARIA Albums Chart and #1 on the ARIA Australian Albums Chart, with two tracks (“How You Been” and “The Aftergone”) placing in the 2021 Triple J Hottest 100. His arrangements combined sampled strings with live studio performances by The Letter String Trio, and included the album’s title track, a standalone string arrangement accompanying a spoken word performance by Tim Carroll. Three of these arrangements were later reinterpreted for Holy Holy’s 2025 release Sweet Bitter Sweet, featuring vocals by Australian duo CLEWS and production and guitar by Oscar Dawson.
In 2025, Toby contributed original music and additional arrangements to BIG Live’s premiere production Dracula. His work included the Act I finale, scene transitions, and the pre and post show music, alongside additional music contributions across selected parts of the production. The broader classical repertoire for the production was selected and curated by BIG Live. The ballet toured across Australia and New Zealand, with seasons including State Theatre (Sydney), Hamer Hall (Melbourne), The Opera House (Wellington), and QPAC (Brisbane).
In 2022, Toby composed and arranged music for Brisbane alternative rock band Selfish Sons, including an orchestral arrangement performed live at QPAC’s Playhouse Theatre as part of the inaugural Ballet International Gala. The performance featured principal dancers from The Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Astana Opera, and Queensland Ballet, alongside excerpts from Romeo and Juliet, Spartacus, and Swan Lake. The program closed with Selfish Sons performing "Heroine" backed by Toby’s orchestral arrangement.
Other credits include string arrangements for Hayley Marsten’s Girlhood (2023), collaborative work with artists and bands including Fresco Kyoto, Jake Whittaker, and Jordan Merrick, and music and sound design for the premiere production of Hilary Bell’s The Bloody Bride (2008; dir. Julian Louis) and NORPA and The Street Theatre’s production of Hoods (2009; dir. Bridget Balodis). He also develops sampled instruments through Chromatic Instruments for the Kontakt platform.
Toby’s work is defined by strong melodic writing, clear emotional intent, and a production sensibility shaped by years of arranging, recording, and mixing. Moving fluidly between orchestral writing, hybrid production, and artist collaboration, he brings a flexible, story-led approach to projects across film, games, recorded music, and live performance.
Photo by Louis Devereaux
