Australian conductor and educator, Richard Gill, one of Australia's best-known and best-loved musical figures, WAs a significant and vital key member of the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra.
His career took 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 was one of this country's pre-eminent conductors and a passionate advocate of music education. He specialised 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” made him a household name within and beyond Australia’s musical world.
What truly distinguished Richard was his passion and enthusiasm for spreading not just the joy of music, but its myriad benefits. He was Australia’s greatest musical educator, and many say one of the best in the world. His life's work - alongside his other roles - was advocating music in our education system, and furthering the development of those who have gone on to choose music as a vocation. He brought music to life, and his knowledge and deep enjoyment of his subject was as inspiring and enlightening to a class of primary school students as it was 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 was 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.
