About the Author
Brian Castles-Onion is one of Australia’s most exciting and best-known conductors. He has worked with Opera Australia for many years and has made regular appearances throughout Asia, New Zealand and elsewhere. His operatic repertoire is enormous and with his witty stand-up style, he is in high demand as a compère and conductor for such major events as Opera in the Park and Opera in the Vineyards. He has also made recital and concert appearances as both conductor and pianist for Kiri Te Kanawa, Sumi Jo, Placido Domingo, José Carreras, Geraldine Turner and other international celebrities.
Brian studied at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music before commencing his employment on the music staff of Opera Australia. He has been contracted to the Lyric Opera of Queensland and was appointed Young Artist, Repetiteur and Chorus Master for the Victorian State Opera in 1990. After further study abroad, he returned to Opera Australia in 1994 and was awarded the prestigious Churchill Fellowship to study conducting in Europe. Brian has also worked at New York’s Metropolitan Opera and the Rossini Festival in Italy.
Brian’s reputation as an international recording artist, record producer, orchestral arranger and broadcaster is legendary and he has appeared in cabaret in New York, Berlin, London and throughout Australasia. He is also a regular pianist and presenter on ABC children’s television Play School – a position he adores!
Brian is married to the lovely Geraldine Turner and has two beautiful ‘fur babies’, Reuben and Eloise.
(Watch Brian Castles-Onion's Showreel by playing the video below.)