Alfred Hill spent most of his early life in New Zealand. As a child he learned cornet and violin. With his brother John, he traveled to Leipzig in Germany, where both brothers studied at the Royal Conservatorium of Music between 1887 and 1891. Alfred Hill studied under Gustav Schreck, Hans Sitt and Oscar Paul during this time, and was the winner of the Helbig Prize. Hill returned to New Zealand, and worked as a violin teacher, recitalist, chamber musician, and conductor. From 1902-11 Hill traveled between Australia and New Zealand regularly, writing and conducting operas. From 1937 he devoted himself solely to composition. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1953 and was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1960. His wife, Mirrie Solomon Hill (1892-1986) was also a composer who scored Australian documentaries.