TOM WOODS

Conductor Tom Woods is widely considered to be one of the leading talents in Australia’s musical life. Born in Tanzania to Australian parents, Tom grew up in Perth, Western Australia, studying conducting, cello and piano at the West Australian Conservatorium before undertaking conducting studies in Moscow under Maestro Vladimir Ponkin.

Between 1993 and 1997, Tom was Assistant Conductor for over sixty operas at Opera Australia, assisting such maestri as Richard Hickox, Simone Young, Christopher Hogwood, Sir Charles Mackerras, Richard Bonynge and Carlo Felice Cillario. He became one of the youngest conductors in the company’s history with his debut A Midsummer Night’s Dream at age 23, to critical acclaim. Other operas conducted include Les Dialogues des Carmelites, The Cunning Little Vixen, Gianni Schicchi, La Fille du Regiment, Patience, The Gondoliers, The Mikado, Die Fledermaus and Die Lustige Witwe.

In Australia, Tom has conducted the Sydney Symphony Sinfonia, West Australian Symphony, The Queensland Orchestra, Queensland Philharmonic, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, State Orchestra of Victoria and the Sydney Opera House Orchestra and was the Artistic Director of the Sydney Youth Orchestra until 2005.

He has conducted in Hong Kong and Russia, and in 2001, conducted the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and the London Festival Orchestra on tour to Brunei, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, as well as touring with the Sydney Youth Orchestra to Denmark and Sweden.
In 2003, he conducted A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Opera Australia and led the Australian Youth Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia in two world premieres – John Taverner’s Lament for Jerusalem and Matthew Hindson’s Symphony No. 1.

In Opera Australia’s 2005 and 2006 seasons, Tom conducted seasons of La Bohème, Madama Butterfly, Turandot and Carmen. In 2007, he conducted a new season-highlight production of Andre Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire and La Traviata for Opera Australia and travelled to Adelaide for Il Barbiere di Sivilglia with State Opera of South Australia; Tom also conducted concerts with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and led many performances by the Australian Ballet.

He currently holds the position of Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. In 2008, he conducted La Bohème in Sydney, Madama Butterfly in Melbourne, Il Trovatore in Christchurch and Rigoletto in Adelaide. In 2009, he leads performances of Madama Butterfly and Streetcar for Opera Australia, The Magic Flute for Southern Opera, conducts the New Year’s Eve Gala at Biwako Hall, Japan and makes frequent appearances with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

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