Kelly Lovelady conducted with masterful sensitivity throughout … [her] carefully considered programming makes abundant conceptual sense … It was one of the most remarkable musical experiences of my year.
Tempo: A Quarterly Review of New Music
I’m an Australian conductor, curator and cultural Activist based in London. My practice is driven by my combined passions for experimental programming, concert dramaturgy and composer advocacy. Alongside self-producing massed musical and cross-artform conducted projects, my work also encompasses Musical Director and Assistant Conductor engagements in the UK and abroad with a focus on contemporary repertoire and composer collaboration.
A proficient, no-nonsense conductor, with excellent baton technique and a clear commitment to giving every cue in the score … her ability to stay in control of these complex works was always impressive.
Seen and Heard International
I’m the founding Artistic Director of Ruthless Jabiru, a dynamic chamber orchestra of Australasians who are now based around the UK. Our projects are dedicated to exploring, highlighting, and championing humanitarian and social justice stories through New music in an effort to promote compassion, sustainability and social consciousness in collaboration with the campaigning sector. I also curate fortnightly anti-genre mixtapes of experimental music in the hope of widening the pool of what we consider “contemporary”.
Festival invitations
Wien Modern
Zeiträume Basel
British Council: UK/Australia Season
City of London Festival
Grimeborn Opera Festival
Cortona Sessions for New Music
Joy & Dissent: Festival of Cultural Activism
Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival
Australia & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts
Brighton Fringe Festival
Pop Montréal International Music Festival
Festival St-Ambroise Fringe de Montréal
Adelaide Fringe Festival
Selected engagements
Second Conductor, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Selected Conductor, London Sinfonietta Academy
Assistant Conductor, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Assistant Conductor, Theater und Orchester Sankt Gallen
Assistant Conductor, Ensemble Phoenix Basel
Assistant Conductor, Opera Holland Park
Assistant Conductor, Britten Sinfonia
Musical Director, Gothic Opera
Artist-in-Residence & Musical Director, Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival
Curatorial Team, Festival Zeiträume Basel
Programmed Artist, Shakespeare’s Globe
Programmed Artist, City of London Festival
Rehearsal Conductor, Young Orchestra for London
Rehearsal Conductor, LSO Soundhub
Recognition includes
Presentation to HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Nomination: Qantas Australian Woman of the Year in the UK
Advocacy
Ruthless Jabiru Diversity Commitment
Ruthless Jabiru Sustainability Policy
Alumni Relations Manager, Cortona Sessions for New Music
Creative Climate Leader, Julie’s Bicycle
Ambassador, Trees for Music
artist management
Polyphony Arts
“My goal is to lay the groundwork for Never at Sea to be the hero—setting up the ear and emotional state of the audience through everything that comes before it.” Kelly and composer-performer Cat Hope discuss their shared curatorial process for the Ruthless Jabiru/Decibel New Music Ensemble collaboration at the Brunel Museum’s Thames Tunnel shaft in December 2022. 
Kelly Lovelady 