Hayden is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and in 2023 was the Musical Director for the Australian tour of Mamma Mia! The Musical (Louise Withers & Associates). From 2021-23 he was Associate Musical Director for the Australian tour of Hamilton (Michael Cassel Group). He was also the Associate Musical Director for Pippin (GFO) in 2020, which was the first Australian commercial musical to open after the covid-19 pandemic. He was the Assistant Musical Director for the 10th-anniversary tour of Billy Elliot (Louise Withers & Associates) in 2019-20 and the Australian tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Michael Cassel Group) in 2017-18. He worked alongside Dame Julie Andrews for the 60th-anniversary production of My Fair Lady (Opera Australia & GFO) during its Australian tour in 2016-17. His other recent theatre credits include Wicked (Crossroads Live), Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (GFO), The Book of Mormon (Important Musicals & GFO), Evita (Opera Australia & GFO), Dream Lover (GFO) and both the 2024 & 2019 productions of West Side Story on Sydney Harbour (HANDA Opera & Opera Australia).Hayden has worked in concert & cabaret with artists such as Simon Burke, Helen Dallimore, Bobby Fox and Lady Sings it Better, for which he has received multiple Green Room award nominations. He was also in the cast for Squabbalogic’s acclaimed production of Man of La Mancha starring Tony Sheldon in 2015. He has been Musical Director for several independent productions in Sydney, including Grey Gardens, Sondheim On Sondheim and The Fantasticks. He also spent years playing for and touring with the Australian Girls Choir.