Kelly Lovelady, Conductor
Full CV

---

Current projects

Founding Artistic Director, Ruthless Jabiru; London, UK — 2011 to present
Creative direction, musical direction and management of a chamber orchestra of professional Australasian musicians in the UK

• Devising/curating contemporary music-led projects around humanitarian & social justice themes 
• Building Creative Partnerships with artist-Activists, NGOs and other initiatives from the music, campaigning and creative sectors
• Creating and maintaining an evolving database of professional Australasian musicians in the UK
• Researching, recruiting and leading a team of 20-40 members per project
• Overseeing all aspects of production and performance
• Researching, developing and implementing a portfolio of composer collaborations and commissioning projects
• Building an online and concertgoing audience through dedicated social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X)
• Creating and maintaining a dedicated orchestra website: ruthlessjabiru.com
• Writing/issuing a monthly newsletter to all subscribers (ruthlessjabiru.com & kellylovelady.com): Ruthless original
• Devising/managing all aspects of fundraising, finance, resourcing & business development

VENUE PARTNERSHIPS

• Arcola Theatre, LSO St Luke’s, Union Chapel, Hackney Showroom, King’s College London, Australia House London, Omnibus Clapham, Arts Theatre West End, St George’s Headstone

FESTIVAL PARTNERSHIPS

• Grimeborn Festival, Joy & Dissent Festival of Cultural Activism, British Council: UK/Australia Season, Australia & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts

PROJECT SUPPORT & SPONSORSHIP

• Mayor of London’s Back to Business Fund, Nonclassical, Sound and Music, Creative Europe, Creative Climate Leadership, Kulturno Izobraževalno Društvo PiNA, Julie’s Bicycle, Culture Unstained, Australia Council for the Arts/Creative Australia, Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, Creative Partnerships Australia, Australian Cultural Fund, Tait Memorial Trust, West Australian Government in Europe, Australian Business, Westfield Shoppingtowns Limited, Westpac Institutional Banking, Mighty Bright, Slingshot Sponsorship, Barbican Centre, Limelight Magazine, Chineke! Orchestra & Foundation, Oneworld Publications, Pen and Sword Books, Pluto Press, Masks for Music, Crowdfunder, Easyfundraising

PRESS COVERAGE

• Gramophone, Tempo, BBC London, BBC World Service, I Care If You Listen, The Quietus, Bandcamp Daily, Night After Night, The Wire, BBC Radio 3, Eavesdropping Conversations, Seen and Heard International, Limelight Magazine, Other Minds, International Arts Manager, The Times, The Sunday Times, Britain Magazine, ABC Arts, Australian Music Centre, Resonate Magazine, Sound and Music, The Sampler, Faber Music Fortissimo, Musical Pointers, Orpheus Complex, ABC Radio National, Classical Source, Noted, Gig Magazine, Music Council of Australia, Music Forum, Loudmouth, Australian Times

Curator, Mixtapes [kellylovelady.com] — 2022 to present
Fortnightly cross-genre playlists of experimental music with a view to expanding the definition of “contemporary classical”: kellylovelady.com/category/mixtapes 

• Commissioned mixtapes for The Voice of Cassandre, Nonclassical Selects, Cortona Sessions for New Music, Music Patron

Jury, Classical:NEXT 2026; Budapest, Hungary — 2025–26
VIP attendance at 2026 international conference centring innovation in the classical music sector; 1 of 8 “global leaders” headhunted for selection panel of 2026 Showcase performers

Conductor participant, The Atlas (of Creative Mechanisms): [Curating-Conducting] — 2025
Interviewee for research project/publication in affiliation with University of Applied Arts Vienna exploring intersections between conducting and curating practice

Freelance scorereading/pageturning; UK — 2009 to present
Clients include

ENSEMBLES

• London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, London Sinfonietta, Britten Sinfonia, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, BBC Singers

PROMOTERS

• Barbican Centre, Southbank Centre, BBC Proms, BBC Radio 3, Cadogan Hall, LSO St Luke’s, Mainland Music Foundation, Bold Tendencies, Signum Records, Stagecast, Livewire Pictures

PIANISTS

• Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Tamara Stefanovich, Igor Levit, Nicolas Hodges, Mitsuko Uchida, Antonio Pappano, Steven Osborne, Jeremy Denk, Lang Lang, Yuja Wang, Emmanuel Ax, Denis Matsuev, Denis Khozukhin, Stephen Hough, Simon Trpčeski, Leif Ove Andsnes, Piotr Anderszewski, Malcolm Martineau, Olli Mustonen, Marc-André Hamelin, James Baillieu, Victor Sangiorgio, Piers Lane, Peter Donohoe, Huw Watkins, Polina Osetinskaya, Pavel Kolesnikov, Samson Tsoy, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Alessio Bax, Evgeny Kissin

Freelance graphics operation/captioning; UK — 2020 to present
Clients include

• Barbican Centre, SFL Group/D&B Solutions, White Light

View my calendar →

Back to CV index →

---

Chronology of projects, engagements & professional development

Panellist, Paul Lowin Orchestral Prize, Australian Music Centre — 2025
Selection of shortlist, finalists and 2025 winner from 49 submissions alongside elite industry peers

Project Conductor, London Symphony Orchestra Brass x Guildhall School Orchestral Artistry [Cassie Kinoshi Fanfares: Finale, Viadana La Bergamasca]; London, UK — 2025
Spatialised pre-concert performance for the 2025 LSO Discovery Showcase

8x Conductor masterclasses, Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana x Arturo Tamayo; Lugano, Switzerland —2024–2025
Certificate of Advanced Study in Contemporary Repertoire Conducting supported in part by a Career Development grant from Creative Australia

Australian delegation (Sounds Australia x Australian Music Centre), Classical:NEXT; Berlin, Germany — 2025
Conference participation representing Ruthless Jabiru

Surtitles; London, UK — 2025
– Barbican Centre: BBC Singers [James MacMillan Ordo Virtutum]
– Barbican Centre: Shirley J. Thompson [Women of the Windrush]

Musical Director & Arranger, Gothic Opera x Grimeborn Festival x Arcola Theatre [Marschner Der Vampyr]; London, UK — 2024
Reimagining of 2019 production for Grimeborn Opera Festival

• Devising proposal to reduce original production by 30+ minutes 
• Liaising with Director & Company on castings, shortlisting artists & holding live auditions
• Creating new vocal score, full score and orchestral parts with approved cuts, revised script & new underscorings (MuseScore 3, GIMP 2.10)
• Creating new chamber ensemble arrangement for 4 players (Piano/harmonium, cello, bass, sousaphone doubling mixed whistles)
• Sourcing and trialling whistle effects
• Devising strategy and schedule for soloist coachings, ensemble cast music rehearsals and orchestral sessions in line with a revival timeline (14 total rehearsal days)
• Daily score edits to suit staging concept/development
• Hiring orchestral musicians
• Preparing surtitle build (Google Slides, Keynote) and briefing operator
• Consulting on promotional/marketing materials & strategy
• Hiring & mentoring Assistant Conductor
• Preparing programme note and two promotional interviews
• Conducting 4 sold-out performances across 4 consecutive nights

Conductor Kelly Lovelady’s witty arrangement for a small band included whistles and sousaphone and was an imaginative delight.

Mark Aspen Reviews

Conductor Kelly Lovelady, heroically dynamic, has arranged Marschner’s orchestral score for just four musicians … the ensemble imaginatively captures the dark timbre of Marschner’s original.

The Guardian

Music director Kelly Lovelady’s arrangement for cello, double bass, sousaphone(!) and piano works tremendously well, with Jasmin Allpress doubling on wheezy harmonium for Scottish gothic horror atmosphere.

Bachtrack

Musically, Der Vampyr is a treat. The orchestra, under Lovelady’s direction, deftly navigates Marschner’s score in her new arrangement … a tour de force of vocal and orchestral power that had the audience on the edge of their seats.

Everything Theatre

Surtitles, Nevill Holt Festival; Nevill Holt, UK — 2024
– Shadwell Opera [Isabella Gellis The Devil’s Den]
– Britten Sinfonia [Mozart The Magic Flute]

Surtitles; London, UK — 2024
– Barbican Centre: Fatma Said & Joseph Middleton
– Live from the Barbican: National Youth Orchestra [Ascent]

Scorereader & graphics operation, Barbican Centre: Colin Stetson & London Contemporary Orchestra [Hereditary]; London, UK — 2024

• Creating a slideshow of film stills in liaison with composer’s manager & venue staff (Keynote)
• Devising a musical script for animating projections
• Showcalling as scorereader to LX technician and Stage Management
• Running slideshow live in concert 

Post-production, Soosan Lolavar x Ruthless Jabiru [Girl]; London, UK — 2023-2024

• Preparing and collating feedback on 7 rounds of edits with composer and soloists
• Communicating notes to mastering engineer
• Liaison with engineer and label staff (Nonclassical) on track/album metadata 
• Overseeing commissioning of album artwork, sleeve design, liner notes
• Researching and hiring a publicity team (Ramp Global PR) to support the album release
• Identifying media targets and overseeing album launch strategy/PR campaign
• Collaborating with composer, label staff and publicist on press release
• Devising a concept for a music video to support the release
• Researching and commissioning 3 key video artist-Activists with lived experience of displacement
• Sourcing archive and supporting materials from refugee musician organisations in Lebanon, Italy and Colombia
• Providing creative direction and musical guidance to selected video artists over a 6-month period
• Devising/managing an album launch party to include an exclusive premiere screening of the video art
• Researching and securing a launch party venue (Close-Up Cinema)
• Writing personalised invitations to key industry contacts, stakeholders & full project team
• All online and social media marketing on behalf of Ruthless Jabiru and my professional conductor profile
• Budget management and communication with supporting grant bodies

[Saviet is] accompanied with muscular elegance by the brilliantly named, London-based, Australasian activist chamber orchestra Ruthless Jabiru and conductor Kelly Lovelady—who sustain a fever-pitch intensity throughout this gripping debut album … it’s a knockdown debut.

night after night

Accessible captioning & surtitles, formidAbility [Song in Sign]; London, Birmingham, Manchester & Glasgow, UK — 2024

• Liaison with D/deaf actors, D/deaf director and BSL consultant/interpreters on captioning requirements
• Liaison with Stage Manager and Production Manager on build requirements and setup
• Identifying expected musical phrases and annotating scores for slide changes
• Creating multi-screen slideshow build in Glypheo (Onstage captioning & accessible surtitles)
• Streamlining build to correspond with artist interpretation/tempi/BSL phrasing
• Running slideshow from sound booth

Surtitles; London, UK — 2023
– Barbican Centre: Natalie Dessay & Philippe Cassard [Women’s Words]
– Barbican Centre: Nadine Benjamin, Michael Harper & Caroline Jaya-Ratnam [Songs of Joy]
– Barbican Centre: Europa Galante & Nardus Williams [Nature’s Voice]

• Sourcing all programmed repertoire
• Creating word translations of all works from original language
• Checking own translations against existing sung/print translations
• Identifying expected musical phrases and annotating scores for slide changes
• Creating slideshow build in Keynote
• Streamlining build to correspond with artist interpretation/tempi (General rehearsal)
• Running slideshow from sound booth

Assistant Conductor, Britten Sinfonia & Anthony McGill [Anthony Davis You Have the Right to Remain Silent]; London, UK — 2023 

• Collaborative score prep with conductor Pablo Urbina 
• Collation of errata across a problematic edition
• Liaison with Kurzweil player Earl Howard on an unnotated sampler part 
• Communication of sampler part back to conductor
• Liaison with venue and orchestra staff
• Making and delivering rehearsal notes to and from players, soloists and conductor
• Assisting Earl Howard (visually-impaired) in rehearsals and performance

Active Observer, And Other Duties: The Rite with Marin Alsop; Dublin, Ireland — 2023

• Supported by a Career Development grant from Creative Australia

Scorereader & Showcaller, Livestream: D’Oyly Carte Opera Company x Sonosphere x Eyot House [À la Carte: A Miscellany of Gilbert & Sullivan]; Weybridge, UK — 2023

• Preparing scores at short notice
• Identifying notable musical events for camera direction

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x Soosan Lolavar [Girl]; London, UK — 2023

• Raising more than £42,000 to support debut album recording and post-production
• Liaison with composer Soosan Lolavar to source scores, partsets 
• Commissioning one new work and one new arangement
• Liaison with Musicians’ Union on recording rates and best practices
• Creating project timeline and orchestral rehearsal schedule
• Recruiting a team of 30 professional musicians and production staff
• Researching and securing recording venue and stage furniture
• Meetings and conductor rehearsals with 3 soloists
• Rehearsing and recording 4 major works over 4 days

Workshop participant, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival x Opera Aperta; Huddersfield, UK — 2023
One of 6 selected by HCMF for a workshop with Ukrainian contemporary opera laboratory Opera Aperta

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x Decibel New Music Ensemble x Brunel Museum x British Council: UK/Australia Season [The Holy Presence of]; London, UK — 2022
Ruthless Jabiru and Decibel New Music Ensemble (Australia) unite for a massed bass orchestra performance in Brunel’s Thames Tunnel shaft with composer-soloist Cat Hope as part of the British Council’s UK/Australia Season. Music by Kaija Saariaho, Lindsay Vickery, Tansy Davies, Pedro Alvarez, Julius Eastman & Cat Hope: ruthlessjabiru.com/programmes

• Researching conducted repertoire and graphic scores for bass orchestra
• Co-devising musical programme with Decibel’s Artistic Director Cat Hope
• Sourcing scores/parts and creating arrangements for bass orchestra
• Researching London rehearsal/performance spaces and securing Venue Partnerships
• Liaising with local suppliers for equipment and stage furniture
• Creating project timeline and orchestral rehearsal schedule
• Devising conceptual/creative narrative around the impacts of climate change on northern Wales
• Liaising with Activists and creatives dedicated to climate action in Fairbourne, Gwynedd  
• Recruiting and leading a team of 25 orchestral players, creatives and production staff
• Budget management and payroll
• Sourcing/creating graphics and marketing imagery
• Creation and management of event pages and ticketing interface
• Devising/implementing online and social media promotional strategy
• Approaching media targets for previews and reviews
• Sending invitations to personal industry contacts
• Longform collaborative interview with Cat Hope for Decibel Journal: The Holy Presence of
• Liaison/co-creation with composer Cat Hope on world premiere of Never at Sea
• Supported in part by a Career Development grant from Creative Australia

Driving, repetitive rhythms were pushed hard, with a strong sense of urgency imparted by director Kelly Lovelady. There was something relentless and unaccommodating about this performance … as if the audience were uninvited guests at a private ritual.

planet hugill

Lovelady kept the collective ensemble tight, and the five-strong double bass section came into its own. The literally vibrant experience of being so close to massed basses will stay with me for a long time … [an] imaginative, powerful programme.

i care if you listen

Rehearsal Conductor; London, UK — 2022
– Whitehall Orchestra [Brahms Symphony #1, Coleridge-Taylor Idyll]
– Harmony Sinfonia [Rachmaninov Symphony #2]

Surtitles; London, UK — 2022
– Barbican Centre: Joyce DiDonato [Eden]
– Barbican Centre: Accademia Bizantina [Vivaldi: Sacred and Secular]
– Barbican Centre: Academy of Ancient Music [Bach Johannespassion]
– London Symphony Orchestra [Weill Die sieben Todsünden]
– British Youth Opera [Vaughan Williams Sir John in Love]
– BBC Proms: The Hallé [Puccini Il Tabarro]
– Barbican Centre: Roderick Williams & Andrew West [A Twitcher’s Delight]

Assistant Conductor to Jürg Henneberger x Ensemble Phoenix Basel x Ensemble SoloVoices [Michael Hersch Poppaea]; Basel, Switzerland and Vienna, Austria — 2021
World premiere production of a major new opera by composer Michael Hersch and librettist Stephanie Fleischmann for Festival Zeiträume Basel and Wien Modern

• Mastery of a dense microtonal score
• Making and delivering rehearsal notes across a six-week rehearsal period to principals, chorus, conductor and repetiteurs
• Offstage conducting for most rehearsals
• Composer liaison by email and in person
• Liaison with festival directors and staff
• English language coaching as required
• Private conducted coachings on request
• Preparing surtitles in consultation with librettist and festival co-director
• Operating bilingual surtitles for all performances

Curatorial Team, Festival Zeiträume Basel; Basel, Switzerland — 2021
Member of thinktank and delivery team for satellite events/content to enhance audience engagement and experience of the WP production of Michael Hersch/Stephanie Fleischmann Poppaea

Assistant Conductor to Beatrice Venezi, Opera Holland Park x City of London Sinfonia [Mascagni L’amico Fritz]; London, UK — 2021

• Cover conductor for piano rehearsals 
• Making/delivering notes to conductor for all stage rehearsals
• Collating errata across an extremely problematic orchestral arrangement
• Communicating 100s of corrections to players in 2 days (Orchestral rehearsal, 2 x Stage & Orchestra rehearsals, General rehearsal)
• Consulting with OHP producers on substandard rental partset/publisher responsibility

Back to Business Executive Education Programme, Cass Business School/London Business Hub; 2021
Online course for awardees of the Mayor of London’s Back to Business Fund

Surtitles, Barbican Centre: Jamie Barton & Jake Heggie; London, UK — 2021

Subtitles; London, UK — 2021
– Live from the Barbican: L’Arpeggiata [Monteverdi Vespers]
– Live from the Barbican: Academy of Ancient Music [Haydn The Creation]
– Live from the Barbican: Academy of Ancient Music [Vivaldi’s Four Seasons]
– Live from the Barbican: Dunedin Consort [Errollyn Wallen Dido’s Ghost]
– Live from the Barbican: London Symphony Orchestra [Mahler Das Lied von der Erde]

Campaign Manager, Ruthless Jabiru x Crowdfunder [Ruthless Jabiru: Studio Pivot]; 2020
Fundraiser to support album recording project in collaboration with composer Soosan Lolavar in lieu of live orchestral performances during Covid 

• Devising a 4-week online fundraising campaign and social media strategy
• Securing product donations in kind from Barbican Centre, Limelight Magazine, Chineke! Orchestra & Foundation, Oneworld Publications, Pen and Sword Books, Pluto Press, Masks for Music, Nonclassical 
• Designing/managing campaign website and donation interface
• Writing to past and prospective individual donors
• Daily social media posts/interactions for duration of campaign
• Securing matchfunding from the Mayor of London’s Back to Business Fund
• Raising £10,665 in 28 days

Subtitles; London, UK — 2020
– Live from the Barbican: BBC Symphony Orchestra [Magnus Lindberg Accused]
– Live from the Barbican: Sir Bryn Terfel & Britten Sinfonia

Musical Director & Arranger, Gothic Opera x Old Church, Stoke Newington [Marschner Der Vampyr]; London, UK — 2019
Headhunted for Gothic Opera’s inaugural production: a site-specific performance for the Old Church, Stoke Newington and transfer to two satellite venues. The production enjoyed a sold-out season and was nominated for Best Opera Production in London’s 2019 Off West End Awards

• Creating a revised vocal score to support a reduced cast and newly-commissioned libretto
• Creating an arrangement for chamber ensemble of 7
• Auditioning singers
• Recruiting orchestral players
• Co-creating cast and orchestra rehearsal schedules with director Julia Mintzer 
• Conducting all calls across an intensive 5-week rehearsal season and 5-show run

The music was wonderful and the young singers were outstanding. The ensemble work in particular was astonishingly good; the Musical Director must be a genius!

facebook.com/rictor.norton

Workshop Conductor, London Sinfonietta Academy [Hans Abrahamsen Märchenbilder]; London, UK — 2019
Short notice invitation to conduct an ensemble of 14 London Sinfonietta members for a 1-hour rehearsal

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x Arcola Theatre x Grimeborn Festival [Silk Moth]; London, UK — 2019
Fully-staged realisation of music by Bushra El-Turk, Liza Lim and Cassandra Miller in collaboration with director Heather Fairbairn: ruthlessjabiru.com/programmes 

• Devising musical programme around Bushra El-Turk’s chamber opera Silk Moth
• Pitching proposal to Grimeborn Festival producers
• Recruiting and leading a team of 20 musicians, cast, creatives & production staff
• Sourcing scores/parts and creating piano reductions of all scores
• Securing rehearsal Venue Partnerships in kind
• Creating project timeline and rehearsal schedule
• Liaising with Activists and creatives supporting survivors of honour crime
• Budget management and payroll
• Sourcing/creating all marketing graphics and copywriting
• Devising and implementing online and social media promotional strategy
• Writing and distributing production press releases
• Liaising with festival PR/publicity team
• Longform interview for Composers Edition: On staging Bushra El-Turk’s Silk Moth this August for Grimeborn
• Conducting all calls across an intensive 5-week rehearsal season and 5-show run
• Nomination for 2020 True Honour Awards (Iranian & Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation): annual celebration of individuals/organisations who have taken a stand against ‘honour’-based abuse

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 … demanding that we look and listen. A sincere and sensitive exploration of ethnicity, domesticity and violence.

tempo: a quarterly review of new music

Utterly captivating … This was a daring and powerful theatrical evening which lasted less than an hour, but whose emotion will resonate for far longer.

i care if you listen

Rehearsal Conductor, Fortismere Community Choir [Beethoven Missa Solemnis]; London, UK — 2019

Second Conductor to Ilan Volkov, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra [Gloria Coates Symphony No.11]; Glasgow, UK — 2018
Short notice jump-in as co-conductor for rehearsals and performance of Gloria Coates Symphony No.11 [WP revised version] recorded for delayed broadcast on BBC Radio 3 Hear and Now

Surtitles, Barbican Centre: Academy of Ancient Music [Purcell Dido and Aeneas]; London, UK — 2018

Conducting Fellow, Cortona Sessions for New Music; Cortona, Italy — 2018, 2019
Selected for one of 2 fellowship positions at 2-week residential festival of contemporary music

Assistant Conductor to Brad Cohen, Opera Holland Park x City of London Sinfonia [Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos]; London, UK — 2018

Conducting Apprentice & Orchestra Manager, Music in the Alps International Music Festival and Master Course; Bad Gastein, Austria — 2018
Selected for 3-week residential conducting masterclass and festival programme

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x King’s College London [The Drowners]; London, UK — 2018
Baritone Morgan Pearse and Ruthless Jabiru in collaboration with the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies — programme of Nicole Lizée, Rosa Lind, Andrew Ford, Wolfgang Rihm, Fausto Romitelli: ruthlessjabiru.com/programmes

Delicate, dedicated modernism … as ever with this orchestra the performance standards were impressively high, especially given the technical demands of the music.

the arts desk

Guest Speaker, Desautels Faculty of Music, University of Manitoba; Winnipeg, Canada — 2018
Presentation to composition seminar on professional/creative sustainability

Guest Conductor, Wind Chamber; Winnipeg, Canada — 2018
University of Manitoba/Brandon University massed clarinet choirs in music by Holst, Rossini, Philip Glass and Artie Shaw

Surtitles, Barbican Centre: Birmingham Contemporary Music Group [Stravinsky Renard]; London, UK — 2017

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x Hackney Showroom x Joy & Dissent: Festival of Cultural Activism [Fuel]; London, UK — 2017
Ruthless Jabiru at Joy & Dissent: Festival of Cultural Activism — programme of Julia Wolfe, Gloria Coates, Cat Hope, Michael Cryne, Osvaldo Golijov: ruthlessjabiru.com/programmes

Guest Speaker, School of Music & Performing Arts, Canterbury Christ Church University; Canterbury, UK — 2017
Presentation and Q&A on professional experience in the creative industries

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x The Joy Offensive [ocean.]; London, UK — 2017
Cameo by Ruthless Jabiru in curated performance at Omnibus Clapham — music by Liza Lim

Creative Climate Leadership Programme, Julie’s Bicycle/PiNA; Koper, Slovenia — 2017
Selected for elite leadership training exploring the role of culture and creativity in responding to climate change and environmental challenges

• Personal sustainability practice→
• Ruthless Jabiru Sustainability Statement→

Production Manager, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group Canal Serenade; Birmingham, UK — 2017
Assisted on two spatial performances of commissions by Richard Baker, Ondřej Adámek and Yannis Kyriakides on the Birmingham canal network

Guest Conductor, Scordatura Women’s Music Collective; London, UK — 2017
Programme including world premiere of chamber orchestra commission by Yfat Soul Zisso

Assistant Conductor to Vladimir Jurowski, London Philharmonic Orchestra; London, UK — 2016

Guest Conductor, Greenpeace Requiem for Sinking Cities; London, UK — 2016
Conducted a popup performance at the British Museum calling for ethical arts sponsorship

Guest Lecturer, School of Music, University of Western Australia; Perth, Australia — 2016
Q&A and masterclass in contemporary performance practice

Guest Presenter, BBC World Service; London, UK — 2016 
Invited to co-present a radio broadcast with BBC Radio 3’s Andrew McGregor discussing Ruthless Jabiru and the Australian work ethic alongside a live Proms performance by violinist Ray Chen/BBCSO

Workshop Leader, Heart n Soul x Sound and Music; London, UK — 2016 
Chamber music workshop with London Symphony Orchestra musicians — music by Bobbie-Jane Gardner and Lizzie Emeh

Guest Conductor, Lewisham Choral Society x The Membranes; London, UK — 2016
Devised/conducted a unique choral collaboration with acclaimed British post-punk band

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x Australian Business x Arts Theatre West End [Australia Day in the Apartment]; London, UK — 2016 

Assistant Conductor to Otto Tausk, Theater St Gallen [ George Benjamin Written on Skin]; St Gallen, Switzerland — 2015

Guest Conductor, Shakespeare’s Globe; London, UK — 2015
Conducted an ensemble handpicked by guitarist John Williams for the Concerts by Candlelight series in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

Guest Conductor, Greenpeace Requiem for Arctic Ice; London, UK — 2015
Conducted singer Charlotte Church and an expanded Ligeti Quartet in a popup performance for the Save the Arctic campaign generating international media attention

Librarian & Rehearsal Conductor, Young Orchestra for London; London, UK — 2015
Preparation and management of orchestral parts for 100 players; liaison with production teams from Barbican and Southbank Centres, publishers, composers, arrangers, agents, tutors and conductors Sir Simon Rattle, Duncan Ward and Ben Gernon

• Short notice jump-in as rehearsal conductor for world premiere of Zero at the Bone: mixed-ability commission by Stephen Montague for large orchestra of students aged 11-17

Guest Panellist Collaboration in Contemporary Music, Australia & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts; London, UK — 2015
One of three experts selected for a panel discussion on musical identity, working relationships between artists, experiences of producing/performing New music

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x Australia & New Zealand Festival of Literature & Arts[The Past]; London, UK — 2014
Ruthless Jabiru and countertenor Russell Harcourt at King’s College Chapel, London — programme of Michael Tippett, Andrew Ford, Tansy Davies, Chris Williams, Egidija Medeksaite: ruthlessjabiru.com/programmes

Regular Guest Conductor, Tait Chamber Orchestra; London, UK — 2010–2014
Annual charity gala Winter Prom at venues including St John’s Smith Square, Australian High Commission, St Paul’s Knightsbridge

The lively and innovative Australian conductor Kelly Lovelady held a diverse evening together with her wide-ranging musical skills … [not least] her ability to fine-tune an orchestra like a well-trained piano accompanist, following her soloists with great skill and offering support at every turn.

limelight magazine

What was not in doubt was the quality of the performers on show throughout this Winter Prom … perfectly balanced against the Tait Chamber Orchestra, unfussily and sympathetically conducted—here and elsewhere—by Kelly Lovelady.

seen and heard international

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x Sound and Music: Portfolio Composer Workshops — 2013–14
Two workshops for full string orchestra to develop new works by British-based composers Egidija Medeksaite, Michael Cryne and Eugene Birman

Selection Panellist, Australian Music Centre x Australian Performing Rights Association [Art Music Awards: Orchestral work of the Year] — 2014

Selection Panellist, International Society of Contemporary Music x Sound and Music [Composer/Curator European Cultural Exchange]; London, UK — 2014
Candidate selection to represent UK for ISCM partnership scheme with Sweden/Estonia/Croatia

Assistant to Artistic Director, Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra; London, UK — 2012–14
Personal assistant to conductor James Blair: consultation, grantwriting, auditioning, audiotyping, orchestral management, artist liaisons, secretarial support

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x Union Chapel [Maralinga]; London, UK — 2013
Violinist Lara St John and Ruthless Jabiru — programme of Linda Buckley, Matthew Hindson, Paul Stanhope, Arvo Pärt, Samuel Barber: ruthlessjabiru.com/programmes

Kelly Lovelady is both a cultural ambassador for Australia and a campaigner for recognition for Australian artists abroad … Ruthless Jabiru is a brilliant company.

australian stage

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x West Australian Government in Europe x Australia House London; London, UK — 2013
Ruthless Jabiru in partnership with West Australian Government in Europe — programme of Leah Kardos [WP], Brett Dean, John Adams

A proficient, no-nonsense conductor, with excellent baton technique and a clear commitment to giving every cue in the score … [Lovelady’s] ability to stay in control of these complex works was always impressive … Musical standards are high, and the enthusiasm of all the musicians onstage was abundantly clear. The orchestra has a clear musical identity, and its future looks very bright indeed.

seen and heard international

The skill and professionalism of this orchestra, and of its founder and principal conductor Kelly Lovelady, was clearly evident throughout … a remarkable and moving performance.

australian times

Musical Director & Artist-in-Residence, Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival; Winnipeg, Canada — 2012
Conducted/devised 3 new operas by Canadian composers for the 2012 festival: Matthew Ricketts No Masque for Good Measure [WP], Luke Nickel Ophiuchus Rising [WP], Heidi Ouellette The Gashlycrumb Tinies

Guest Conductor, City of London Festival; London, UK — 2012
European premiere of Philip Houghton The Light on the Edge at Fishmongers’ Hall by invitation of guitarist John Williams

Conductor/Producer, Ruthless Jabiru x City of London Festival x LSO St. Luke’s; London, UK — 2011
Soprano Emma Pearson and Ruthless Jabiru at LSO St Luke’s — programme of Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, Peter Sculthorpe

The most enjoyable concert of our sampling of the City of London Festival has been one of American and Australian music by a new orchestra of Australian Londoners … The group which debuted last night was welded into a real entity by its founder conductor Kelly Lovelady, one of two bright stars of the night. She led the music sensitively with good ensemble and a feeling that everyone was listening to each other. Her rapport with her players and with soloist Emma Pearson was a delight.

musical pointers

Guest Conductor, Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival [Matthew Ricketts Sensual Emergency]; Winnipeg, Canada — 2011
Commissioned/devised a Surrealist kabarettfor mixed ensemble of 7 players on texts of Frederic Rzewski

Assistant Conductor to Richard Bonynge x Tait Chamber Orchestra x Naxos Records [William Vincent Wallace Chopinesque]; London, UK — 2011

Production Manager, Donatella Flick Conducting Competition; London, UK — 2010
Management of a major international competition and gala dinner for 150 VIP patrons including British and European royalty; liaison with London Symphony Orchestra, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Barbican Centre, 20 international candidates, Selection Committee, international jury, Donatella Flick

Guest Conductor, West Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra; Leeds, UK — 2009–10
10-week community orchestra rehearsal season culminating in performance of Jean Sibelius Symphony No.2

Administrative Support, London Symphony Orchestra; London, UK — 2009–16
Switchboard, inbox and general office management for a major international orchestra interfacing with CEO and all departments

• Additional project support through direct hires by Development (fundraising data collection and analysis), Marketing (mailouts) and Orchestral library (part preparation)

Committee Member, Tait Memorial Trust; London, UK — 2008-14
Fundraising events, progress meetings and consultation to benefit London-based musical charity

Customer Experience, Barbican Centre; London, UK — 2007-14
Backstage & corporate event assistance, sales, ushering, patron information & guidance

Telesales & Fundraising, Artsmarketing Services; Montreal, Canada — 2006-07
Subscription campaign targeting existing, past and projected L’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal patrons; selling customised season packages and soliciting community donations in the wake of the 5-month OSM musicians’ strike of 2005

Founding Artistic Director & Conductor, Pazzia Collective; Canada, Australia, UK — 2005-12 
Creative direction of experimental initiative combining chamber music with Live Art to deliver 25 unique projects for festival performances and tours on three continents

• Cross artform collaborations including guided improvisation by practitioners of interpretative dance, puppetry, contortion, stiltwalking, live sculpture, film, VJ, spoken word

FESTIVAL PARTNERSHIPS

• Cluster New Music & Integrated Arts Festival, Pop Montréal International Music Festival, Festival St-Ambroise Fringe de Montréal, Brighton Fringe Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, V22 Summer Club, Artrage

VENUE PARTNERSHIPS

• Société des Arts Technologiques de Montréal, Café L’Utopik Montréal, Toronto Australia New Zealand Club, Ace Art Inc Winnipeg, Breadbox Gallery, Latymer Projects, Art Lobby

PRESS COVERAGE

• Winnipeg Free Press, Resonance FM, Australian Times, Indyish, McGill Tribune, Happenings

Back to CV index →

---

Formal education

Certificate of Advanced Study (Contemporary Repertoire Conducting)
Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana; Lugano, Switzerland — 2024–2025

Certificate of Advanced Study (Curating Contemporary Music)
Hochschule für Musik, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz; Basel, Switzerland — 2021

Master of Music (Conducting)
University of Manitoba; Winnipeg, Canada — 2002–04

Bachelor of Music (Performance)
University of Western Australia; Perth, Australia — 1998–01
University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, USA — 2000 [International student exchange]

Back to CV index →

---

Masterclasses

• Certificate of Advanced Study: Contemporary Repertoire Conducting (Arturo Tamayo) — 900presente, Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana; Switzerland 2024–2025
• And Other Duties: The Rite with Marin (Marin Alsop) — Ireland 2023
• Conductors Retreat at Medomak (Kenneth Kiesler) — Virtual Retreat 2020
• Cortona Sessions for New Music (Chris Kim) — Italy 2018, 2019
• Music in the Alps International Music Festival and Master Course (Kenneth Kiesler) — Austria 2018
• International Masterclasses Berlin (Kenneth Kiesler) — Berlin Sinfonietta, English Choir Berlin; Germany 2016
• School for Orchestral Conductors dedicated to Maestro Piero Bellugi (Kenneth Kiesler) — Orchestra Classica di Roma; Italy 2015
• Eötvös Music Foundation Master Course for Conductors and Composers (Peter Eötvös, Jean-Philippe Wurtz, Gregory Vajda) — ThrEnsemble; Hungary 2015
• Ensemble Linea Summer Academy (Jean-Philippe Wurtz) — Ensemble Linea; France 2014
• Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute Advanced Conducting Programme (Alexander Briger, Jeffrey Schindler, Myer Fredman) — Australia 2010
• Symphony Australia Advanced Conducting Auditor (Christopher Seaman) — Australia 2008
• Canford Summer School Orchestral Conducting (George Hurst, Denise Ham) — UK 2008
• I Maestri Repertoire Workshops — UK 2008-2009
• Symphonic Workshops Repertoire Workshop (Frantisek Vajnar, Otakar Trhlik) — Hradec Kralove Philharmonic Orchestra; Czech Republic 2005
• Conductors Guild Symphonic Workshop Auditor (Kenneth Kiesler, Gustav Meier) — USA 2004
• Canadian Wind Conductors Development Programme (Dale Lonis, Glenn Price, Fraser Linklater) — Winnipeg Winds; Canada 2003, 2004
• Conductors Retreat at Medomak (Kenneth Kiesler) — USA 2004
• World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conducting Symposium (Allan McMurray, Robert Gifford) — South East Missouri State Symphonic Wind Ensemble; USA 2004
• University of Toronto Wind Band Conducting Symposium (Denise Grant) — Canada 2003
• Master of Music: Conducting (Dale Lonis, Fraser Linklater) — University of Manitoba ensembles; Canada 2002–2004
• Australian Young Conductors Development and Leadership Programme (Dale Lonis) — Australian Youth Wind Orchestra, National Children’s Wind Orchestra of Australia; Australia 1999, 2000

Back to CV index →

---

Awards, grants & recognition

• Grant — National Lottery Project Grant [Ruthless Jabiru: Debut album]; Arts Council England (2022)
• Bursary — Musik-Akademie Basel, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (2021)
• Grant — Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund: Phases 1, 2 & 3; Help Musicians UK (2020–2021)
• Grant — Back to Business Fund [Ruthless Jabiru: Studio Pivot]; Mayor of London (2020)
• Grant — Theatre Artists Fund (2020–2021)
• Nomination — True Honour Awards [Silk Moth]; Iranian & Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation (2020)
• Nomination — Best Production [Der Vampyr], Off West End Awards (2019)
• Grant — Career Development Grant; Australia Council for the Arts (2019)
• Grant — Creative Climate Leadership in Action; Julie’s Bicycle/PiNA (2018)
• Fellowship — Cortona Sessions for New Music (2018, 2019)
• Grant — Transmission Fund; Help Musicians UK (2017)
• Bursary — Creative Climate Leadership; Julie’s Bicycle/PiNA (2017) 
• Bursary — Eötvös Music Foundation (2015) 
• Nomination — Qantas Australian Woman of the Year in the UK (2014) 
• Grant — New Work; Australia Council for the Arts (2012) 
• Presentation to HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (2011) 
• Bursaries — Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute, World Association of
  Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Canadian Wind Conductors Development Programme, University of Toronto Summer School (2003-2010) 
• Project support — Tait Memorial Trust (2010-2012), Australia Council Young and Emerging Artist Initiative (2006), IdeasTap (2012) 
• Musicianship awards — University of Western Australia (1998-2001), Australian Winds (1999)

Back to CV index →

---

Referees

1. Kenneth Kiesler: Director of Orchestras and Professor of Conducting, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
2. Otto Tausk: Music Director, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (Vancouver/Utrecht)
3. Cat Hope: Professor, Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance, Monash University (Melbourne)
4. Anja Wernicke: Music Specialist, Pro Helvetia; Outgoing Co-Director, Festival Zeiträume Basel (Basel/Zurich)
5. Katie Manasse: Founder and Director, Polyphony Arts (Newcastle)

Back to CV index →