Jason Barry-Smith
DIRECTORJason’s study in Brisbane, Munich, London and Rome led him to a career as a singer who’s equally in demand as a singing teacher, conductor, arranger, and director.
With 39 opera and music theatre roles in his repertoire, Jason’s performed operas, musicals, and concert works in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Japan.
In 2001 Jason directed a production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas which won the Perform/4MBS Award for Best Opera Production; he co-wrote and directed two of Opera Queensland’s most popular touring shows, The Food of Love and Waltzing our Matilda; from 2014 to 2016 he was co-creative director of Blue Roo Theatre Company’s diversity embracing collaborations with OQ; as assistant director of La bohème in 2014, and The Barber of Seville in 2016 for OQ, Jason also took on the role of creative director of the industry-acclaimed Project Puccini and Project Rossini – an initiative in which regional performers were trained as the chorus for full-scale professional touring productions; in 2017 directed The Merry Widow for OQ and Queensland Music Festival, and in 2021 was rehearsal director for Lindy Hume’s production of The Barber of Seville for WAO.