Tom Rainey ONZM is a highly experienced and versatile performer, musical director, arranger, composer and conductor, with a career spanning more than four decades across classical, jazz, popular and contemporary music.

An acclaimed orchestral arranger/composer, Tom has created more than 250 scores performed by orchestras in New Zealand and internationally, including the Royal Philharmonic and Liverpool Philharmonic. His work has brought orchestral music together with Aotearoa’s artists, including Bic Runga, Stan Walker, Ria Hall, Tiki Taane, Salmonella Dub, Shapeshifter and Tame Iti, as well as orchestral tributes to ABBA, the Beatles and the Bee Gees.

As a conductor and musical director, Tom has collaborated extensively with orchestras, artists and productions in NZ and Australia. His work with the CSO includes conducting Ōtautahi Proud with Tiki Taane, and Sparks in Hagley Park in 2026. Other recent highlights include Simply the Best with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Nelson Opera in the Park, Full Metal Orchestra for Synthony in Christchurch and New Plymouth, Judy’s Encore with Ali Harper, and the NZ tour of Menopause the Musical.

As a pianist and bassist, he has performed with international artists such as Georgie Fame, John Dankworth, Lee Konitz, James Morrison, Nat Adderley, Petula Clark and Mary Coughlan, and supported artists including Cher, Art Garfunkel and the Beach Boys.

For 35 years, Tom has been a leading figure in tertiary music and creative education at Ara Institute of Canterbury. In 2020, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to music and music education.