“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
Kelly Lovelady is an Australian conductor based in London with a passion for experimental programming, concert dramaturgy and composer advocacy. Kelly is the founding Artistic Director of Ruthless Jabiru: a London chamber orchestra dedicated to exploring humanitarian and social justice stories through New music in an effort to promote compassion, sustainability and social consciousness.
“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
Kelly recently served as Assistant Conductor for the world premiere production of the Michael Hersch/Stephanie Fleischmann opera, Poppaea, for Zeiträume Basel and Wien Modern. Further career highlights have included co-conductor with Ilan Volkov at BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra; rehearsal conductor to the renowned London Sinfonietta; and Musical Director for the inaugural production by Gothic Opera, Der Vampyr, nominated for Best Opera Production in the 2019 Off West End Awards. In addition to degree study in Australia/US and Canada, Kelly recently completed a Certificate of Advanced Study in Curating Contemporary Music at the Hochschule für Musik Basel.
Conductor Biography [744 words]
Conductor Biography [256 words]
Publicity Photos
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 guest engagements
Second Conductor, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Rehearsal Conductor, London Sinfonietta
Assistant Conductor, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Assistant Conductor, Theater und Orchester Sankt Gallen
Assistant Conductor, Ensemble Phoenix Basel
Assistant Conductor, Opera Holland Park
Curatorial Team, Festival Zeiträume Basel
Programmed Artist, Shakespeare’s Globe
Programmed Artist, City of London Festival
Musical Director, Gothic Opera
Artist-in-Residence, Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival
Rehearsal Conductor, Young Orchestra for London
Rehearsal Conductor, LSO Soundhub
Operas (roles detailed in cv)
2021 — Poppaea Michael Hersch / Stephanie Fleischmann | Zeiträume Basel & Wien Modern
2021 — L’amico Fritz Pietro Mascagni / Nicola Daspuro | Opera Holland Park
2019 — Der Vampyr Heinrich August Marschner / Wilhelm August Wohlbrück | Gothic Opera
2019 — Silk Moth Bushra El-Turk / Eleanor Knight | Grimeborn Festival
2018 — Ariadne auf Naxos Richard Strauss / Hugo von Hofmannsthal | Opera Holland Park
2015 — Written on Skin George Benjamin / Martin Crimp | Theater und Orchester Sankt Gallen
2012 — No Masque for Good Measure Matthew Ricketts / Lauren J. Rogener | Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival
2012 — Ophiuchus Rising Luke Nickel | Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival
2012 — The Gashlycrumb Tinies Heidi Ouellette / Edward Gorey | Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival
2011 — Sensual Emergency Matthew Ricketts | Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival
2007 — Miss Donnithorne’s Maggot Peter Maxwell Davies / Randolph Stow | Pop Montreal International Music Festival
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
“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 