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Melissa Dunphy is a contemporary classical music composer who was born on October 17, 1980, in Brisbane, Australia. She grew up in a musical family, with her mother being a pianist and her father a singer. Dunphy started playing the piano at the age of four and began composing music when she was just eight years old. Dunphy's passion for music led her to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Queensland, where she studied composition with Gerard Brophy. She then went on to earn a Master of Music degree from the University of Melbourne, where she studied with Brenton Broadstock. Dunphy's early works were heavily influenced by her Australian roots, with pieces such as "The Bushranger's Lover" and "The Drover's Wife" drawing inspiration from Australian folklore and literature. However, Dunphy's style has evolved over the years, and she now draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including politics, history, and social justice issues. One of Dunphy's most notable works is "The Gonzales Cantata," which was inspired by the 2007 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the firing of U.S. attorneys. The piece is a satirical opera that uses the transcripts from the hearing as its libretto. "The Gonzales Cantata" has been performed by numerous ensembles, including the Philadelphia-based choir The Crossing, and has received critical acclaim for its wit and musicality. Another notable work by Dunphy is "Tesla's Pigeon," which was commissioned by the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia and premiered in 2018. The piece is a tribute to Nikola Tesla and his fascination with pigeons, and features a choir, soloists, and a chamber orchestra. "Tesla's Pigeon" has been praised for its inventive use of vocal and instrumental textures, as well as its emotional depth. Dunphy's other works include "What do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach?" which sets a speech by gay rights activist Harvey Milk to music, and "American DREAMers," which explores the experiences of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Dunphy's music has been performed by a wide range of ensembles, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. In addition to her work as a composer, Dunphy is also an accomplished conductor and singer. She has conducted numerous ensembles, including the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus and the University of Pennsylvania's Glee Club. Dunphy is also a member of the contemporary vocal ensemble The Crossing, with whom she has performed and recorded extensively. Dunphy's music has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the American Composers Forum's Jerome Fund for New Music, the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition, and the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award. She has also been a resident artist at numerous institutions, including the MacDowell Colony, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences. Overall, Melissa Dunphy is a talented and innovative composer whose work explores a wide range of themes and issues. Her music is characterized by its inventive use of vocal and instrumental textures, as well as its emotional depth and social consciousness. Dunphy's contributions to the world of contemporary classical music have been significant, and she continues to be a leading voice in the field.

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