Lyall McDermott graduated from the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music in 1974, majoring in teaching, piano and viola. He was a classroom music teacher for six years and is currently a specialist woodwind teacher in Tasmanian Government schools. As a freelance musician he was performed in ensembles, big bands, rock bands, orchestra and as a piano soloist. He runs a successful recording studio and has composed a considerable amount of music Australian and American television, receiving and ACE Award nomination (with co-composer Stewart Long) for the soundtrack to the series "Frontier of Flight".