Biography

Malcolm Williamson was born on November 21, 1931 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was a composer and writer, known for The Matrix Reloaded (2003), Watership Down (1978) and Crescendo (1970). He was married to Dolores Daniel. He died on March 2, 2003 in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK.

Was the first non-Briton to be appointed Master of the Queen's music in 1975. The post is the musical equivalent of poet laureate, and the incumbent is expected to write fanfares and other works for royal or state occasions.

Williamson converted to Roman Catholicism in 1952 and immersed himself in the compositions of the French organist Olivier Messiaen.

Composer of operas, ballets, choral and orchestral music. He was trained in composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.