Nigel Westlake

Nigel Westlake (born 6 September 1958) is an Australian composer, performer and conductor.

Westlake was born on 6 September 1958 in Perth, Western Australia, to Donald Westlake (principal clarinet with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra) and violinist Heather Westlake (née Sumner).

He went to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, but left the school early to pursue a professional career in music, studying clarinet with his father.

At age 17, Westlake started freelancing with various orchestras As a clarinettist, he worked doing recording sessions, chamber music concerts, theatre & ballet performances and tours.

In 1979, Westlake formed a 7 piece instrumental fusion band to play all original material.

In June 2008 his son Eli was struck by a car and killed. His tribute, "Missa Solis - Requiem for Eli", was premiered by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2011.

The APRA-AMC Classical Music Awards are presented annually by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) and Australian Music Centre (AMC).

The annual APRA-AGSC Screen Music Awards are presented by APRA and Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC) for television and film scores and soundtracks.

Westlake is married to Jan Loquet Westlake, and together, they had two sons, Joel (born 17 October 1983) and Eli (born 22 July 1986). Eli died on 7 June 2008 in a road rage accident, a few weeks before his 22nd birthday.

Westlake composed Missa Solis - Requiem for Eli and dedicated it to Eli. It was premiered by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Myer Music Bowl in February 2011.

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