Justin Khoury

Justin Khoury
Name	Justin Khoury
Occupation	Musician; Actor; Producer
Instruments	Piano; Keyboards; Vocals

Justin Khoury is a composer, pianist, arranger and actor known for work spanning contemporary pop, musical theatre and film. He has been associated with productions and recordings across Australia, the United Kingdom and Lebanon, contributing to stage productions, studio albums and film scores. Khoury's career bridges performance, composition and production, engaging with institutions and artists across the entertainment and cultural sectors.

Early life and education

Khoury was born in Sydney and raised in a family engaged with the arts, studying piano and theory from an early age under teachers connected to Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney affiliates and private studios. He attended secondary schooling with programs linked to New South Wales Conservatorium High School and pursued tertiary studies that included composition and performance at conservatoires with ties to Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama exchange programs and visiting lecturers from Juilliard School. During his formative years he participated in masterclasses and workshops administered by artists associated with Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and touring faculty from Royal Northern College of Music, establishing networks that later informed both theatrical and studio work.

Musical career

Khoury's musical career encompasses concert work, studio sessions and composition for media, involving collaborations with producers and arrangers affiliated with Abbey Road Studios, Air Studios and Australian recording houses previously used by Coldplay, Adele, and Sia. He has performed in venues linked to Sydney Opera House, London Palladium, and festivals associated with Melbourne International Arts Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His repertoire ranges from solo piano recitals influenced by pianists connected to Martha Argerich, Lang Lang and Vladimir Ashkenazy traditions, to pop-sesh keyboards in projects with artists from labels tied to Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group. Khoury’s compositional output includes short-form film cues and arrangements for theatrical productions similar to works commissioned by National Theatre (UK), Belvoir St Theatre and independent film companies that premiered at festivals such as Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival.

Acting and theater work

Parallel to his musical activities, Khoury developed an acting career within musical theatre and dramatic productions, training with companies and academies connected to National Institute of Dramatic Art and L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq methodologies. He has appeared in roles in productions staged by institutions like Sydney Theatre Company, Royal Shakespeare Company, and regional companies whose touring circuits include Belgrade Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Australian state theatre networks. His stage work has encompassed leading and supporting roles in musicals that draw on repertoires similar to Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and contemporary pieces premiered at festivals curated by Arts Centre Melbourne and Barbican Centre. Khoury has also contributed to workshops and development labs run by producers affiliated with Cameron Mackintosh and directors linked to Trevor Nunn and David Leveaux.

Notable recordings and collaborations

Khoury’s discography includes studio credits as pianist, arranger and vocal coach on albums produced by teams that have worked with Imogen Heap, Florence + The Machine, Khaled and Youssou N'Dour. He collaborated with composers and orchestrators from circles involving Stephen Schwartz, Alan Menken, and film composers whose credits include collaborations with Hans Zimmer and Alexandre Desplat. His recorded arrangements have been released on projects distributed by labels with catalogues featuring Peter Gabriel, Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue. Khoury has also been involved in soundtrack work for independent films and documentaries screened at festivals alongside programs presenting films from studios such as A24 and StudioCanal, and has worked with conductors and session musicians who routinely perform with ensembles like London Symphony Orchestra and Australian Chamber Orchestra.

Awards and recognition

Khoury has received acknowledgments from industry bodies and festival juries, including nominations and awards from organizations comparable to Helpmann Awards, ARIA Music Awards and regional theatre prizes issued by state arts councils. He has been shortlisted for composition and arrangement prizes in competitions associated with conservatoires and festivals akin to Australian Music Centre commissions and international composition forums that recognize emerging composers from institutions like Royal Academy of Music and Royal College of Music. His theatre work has been cited in reviews appearing in publications connected to critics writing for The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Telegraph.

Personal life and philanthropy

Khoury resides between Sydney and London and maintains ties to cultural communities in Beirut and other Middle Eastern cities, collaborating with arts organizations linked to Beirut Art Center and heritage projects associated with UNESCO cultural programs. He is active in philanthropy, supporting charities and nonprofit initiatives connected to music education and cultural access such as foundations modeled on Save the Children, Australian Children's Music Foundation and fundraising events in partnership with venues like Sydney Opera House and community organizations similar to Carriageworks. Khoury mentors emerging artists through workshops and residencies associated with conservatoires and arts councils, contributing to outreach programs that partner with institutions like Australia Council for the Arts and international cultural exchange platforms.

Category:Australian pianists Category:Australian theatre people