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Graham Abbott

CONDUCTOR

A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium, Graham Abbott has been Conductor-in-Residence at the Elder Conservatorium of Music,  Musical Director of Adelaide Chorus (now Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus), Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Musical Director of Melbourne Chorale, Music Advisor to Chamber Made Opera, Melbourne and Guest Chorus Master for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

In a career spanning more than thirty years, Graham has conducted all the major Australian orchestras, opera companies, choral societies and many early music and contemporary music ensembles.

In 2021, Graham’s engagements have included returns to the Melbourne and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras, Bendigo Chamber Music Festival, 4 Winds Festival Bermagui, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (Unwrap the Music series), and leading Chamber Music Weekends for Hayllar Music Tours.

An enthusiast for the music of Handel, he has conducted Messiah with all the major Australian orchestras, in the UK and New Zealand, and given the first Australian performances of works including Athalia, Ariodante, Agrippina and La resurrezione, and the complete Carmelite Music.

Highlights in recent years include conducting The Pearl Fishers (State Opera and Opera Queensland), Israel in Egypt and Rachmaninov Vespers (Sydney Philharmonia Choirs), Handel’s Water Music (Tasmanian Symphony), semi-staged performances of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion for Opera Queensland, Dvořák’s Stabat Mater with the Prague Chamber Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony with Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and Camerata (Brisbane).

Also a respected music educator, Graham has most recently been engaged to create a series of Podcasts for the Melbourne Recital Centre and for Universal Music.