George Torbay

George holds degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, the University of Sydney and Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

A distinguished conductor, music educator, singing teacher, adjudicator, performer and director, he has served as Artist in Residence for Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore, Chief Conductor for NSW Department of Education & Training, Artistic Director of the Sydney Opera House Concert Series and advisor to Hal Leonard Australia. He is currently Head of Music Theatre at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide.

In 2000, he arranged, conducted, and recorded the National Anthem for the Closing Ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and was also the vocal coach for the Opening Ceremony. He was the Choral Director of the Schools Spectacular from 1998-2007 and the Victorian Schools Spectacular from 2011-2014. In 2008, he was the Director of Music and Judge on Channel 7’s Battle of the Choirs.

As a director, he has considerable credits both in opera as well as musical theatre. He directed the Sydney production of Chess: The Musical, Blood Brothers, David Williamson’s Up for Grabs, Spring Awakening, and Urinetown in Singapore, Titanic – the Musical, The Hatpin, Jesus Christ Superstar as well as Music Director for Les Misérables at NIDA. His opera credits include La bohème, La Traviata, Susannah and The Marriage of Figaro for Opera New England.

George is a published arranger with Warner Brothers, Morton Music and Hal Leonard Australia. For Hal Leonard he has published eight books entitled CHORALTIME. In 2015 he was the author of the first national musical theatre syllabus for the Australian Music Examinations Board and currently serves as their advisor.

In 2023, he was named in the King’s Birthday Honours with an Order of Australia. George received an AM for services to the Performing Arts.