Richard Gill

Australian conductor and educator, Richard Gill, one of Australia’s best-known and best-loved musical figures, is a significant and vital key member of orchestra seventeen88. His career has taken him from teaching music in Sydney’s western suburbs to Music Director of the Victorian Opera, Artistic Director of the Sydney Symphony Education Program, and along the way an involvement with almost every major opera company and orchestra in Australia. He is one of this country’s pre-eminent conductors and a passionate advocate of music education. He specialises in opera, music theatre and vocal and choral training and his work in developing young musicians and creating opportunities for them is recognised world-wide. His appearances on the ABC’s “Spicks and Specks” and “Q&A” have made him a household name within and beyond Australia’s musical world.

What truly distinguishes Richard is his passion and enthusiasm for spreading not just the joy of music, but its myriad benefits. He is Australia’s greatest musical educator, and many say one of the best in the world. His life’s work – alongside his other roles – has been advocating music in our education system, and furthering the development of those who’ve gone on to choose music as a vocation. He brings music to life, and his knowledge and deep enjoyment of his subject is as inspiring and enlightening to a class of primary school students as it is to the cast of a major opera. The majority of Australia’s young contemporary professional musicians count Richard as a powerful influence on their musical development. He has been awarded two Honorary Doctorates and an AO for distinguished service to the performing arts as a conductor, artistic director and advisor, to the development of music education, and as a mentor of young musicians.