FIRST KIWI CONDUCTOR @ the ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC

Having made a decision as a teenager to dedicate my entire life to great music making, I've never let go of aiming to represent NZ at the top of the world. This journey has allowed me to pursue an New Zealand career as a conductor - a discipline I strongly believe has the magnitude and influence to touch people's hearts and shape our music's future.

As a young muso, I've had a series of grateful opportunities thrust upon me from friends, mentors and schools who have all at some point believed in me. A former Macleans College boy and House Captain, I studied piano and cello privately in Auckland before being awarded a full scholarship at 18 to study piano performance at the renowned Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in bustling Singapore. Through four years and much sweat (from both hard work & humidity), I discovered a newfound love in the art of conducting which the conservatory soon supported with all their might - sending me overseas to several European festivals, mastercourses and competitions. This all accumulated in me becoming the youngest First Prize winner of the 2012 Graz New Zealand Conducting Mastercourse Competition (Austria) and the becoming Assistant Conductor in my senior year to the YSTCO.

After an extensive New Zealand audition process held in London this year, I was finally offered one of only two New Zealand places at the Royal Academy of Music's prestigious postgraduate orchestral conducting programme (starting Sept '14) - the first kiwi to have ever been accepted. As amazing as this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is, living & studying in London comes at a cost of $60,000 NZD/per annum for this 3-year course.

With your belief and support, I aspire to fulfil this dream and be equipped, exposed and inspired by legends of the highest calibre. This then would set in motion my deep belief and desire to return home one day  and enrich the ever-growing kiwiana cultural fabric we are so proud of.

There's a quote by E. ROOSEVELT that says that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams". Will you believe in mine?

A recent Herald article

See more at my Website