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About Anton Manuel
Anton Manuel is an Australian screen and concert composer, pianist and orchestrator based in Los Angeles. Anton's music pays respect to "classic" orchestral film scoring traditions, combining them with a contemporary sound that draws on jazz as ingredients in the overall recipe. He is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Berklee College of Music (Film Scoring & Composition double major, Conducting minor). Anton has orchestrated and interned for Bear McCreary's film/TV scoring Emmy-winning studio Sparks and Shadows, interned for renowned composer FIl Eisler and scored several short films, that have been included in film festivals globally.
Anton was born in Melbourne, Australia, and has been surrounded by music for as long as he can remember, starting with classical piano at the age of 4. A few years later, he discovered the beauty of jazz and improvisation, often finding himself freely improvising on the piano, which eventually became Anton’s creative outlet and a means of self expression. His music draws upon all kinds of different influences, from Western-Art composers (Shostakovich, Chopin and Ravel), to jazz musicians (Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk), to folk music and film music (John Williams, Ennio Morricone, Alexandre Desplat). In composition, Anton has been mentored by Alla Cohen and Vadim Neselovskyi and has received 1-on-1 masterclasses from Miguel Zenón, Missy Mazzoli and Derek Bermel.
Most recently, Anton has composed the score for short drama film Punching Up (directed by Andrei Mitoiu), short drama film Friend (directed by Joycelyn Jackson), short horror film Silent Treatment (directed by Amanda Hess), a sitcom pilot Strictly Political (directed by Lydia Evans), and short drama film Two Orphans (directed by Chinese-Australian director Kexin Zhao).
Aside from scoring for screen, Anton is a regularly-commissioned concert composer – with a body of work that includes music for orchestra, chamber ensemble, vocal groups and dance. He has an upcoming commission for Inventi Ensemble, a well-renowned Melbourne-based chamber ensemble, in 2026. Some recent achievements of 2025 include receiving the Debussy Platinum Prize and Debussy Excellence Creativity Special Award, Millican Scholarship Award and Bill Maloof Composition Award.
Furthermore, Anton has most recently released his debut jazz album emergence. in December 2025, featuring a sextet (in which he was the pianist) and layering violins. He regularly performs on piano and trumpet and has been featured alongside renowned musicians including James Morrison and Darryl McKenzie Jazz Orchestra and has played as part of the supporting act for David Lewis, trumpeter of Paris Combo. He has also collaborated with clarinetist Gabi Basman on a jazz EP sneak peak. released in 2023. In piano performance, Anton has been mentored by Vadim Neselovskyi, Tony Gould, Giorgi Mikadze, Mikhail Solovei and Ed Tomassi.
Anton holds an AMusA diploma in classical piano. He also teaches in piano, trumpet, composition, orchestration, harmony, general music theory and ear training, both in person or online. For more information, contact him here or email: antonmanuelmusic@gmail.com
(June, 2026)
RECENT AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
2025 Awarded the Wachter Fellowship through Berklee College of Music
2025 Awarded the Millican Endowed Scholarship at Berklee College of Music for composing an orchestral piece that blends classical and jazz styles
2025 Awarded the Bill Maloof Composition Award at Berklee College of Music
2025 Selected as a finalist for the Indie Film Music Contest Winter 2024
2024 Awarded the 2024 Berklee Composer Pianist Award
2023-2024 Selected for masterclasses with world-renowned composers Missy Mazzoli and Derek Bermel as part of Berklee’s Composition Program
2024 Best Classical/Operatic Composition for 'Divine Ukraine', New York-based Artists Forum Competition
2024 Anton's compositions selected to be performed at Berklee Composition Concert 'Spring at Old South' and Berklee College of Music Annual Keys Festival
2022-2025 Berklee College of Music Dean's List Recipient all semesters - (perfect 4.0 GPA Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
2022 Awarded Composition Prize as part of Australian Digital Concert Hall - 'Theme based on Elie Wiesel’s memoir ‘Night’', selected for performance by Amogus Trio
2022 Catherine Grace McWilliam Prize, University of Melbourne
2021 Edna G Forster Music Award, St Leonard’s College
2021 Outstanding Soloist Award, Victorian All-State Jazz Championships
2020 2nd place in the Australian Guild of Music UNLOCK’D Composition Competition
2018 & 2019 Future Finalist Award, Generations in Jazz Australian National Competition, directed by James Morrison and Ross Irwin
2014 1st place in the Primary Instrumental Category of the Australian Children’s Music Foundation composition competition
©2026 by Anton Manuel
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