Andrew Wailes - Other Arts Organisations

Other Arts Organisations

Andrew Wailes is a former Principal Guest Conductor of the Australian Classical Players Orchestra, and has appeared as guest conductor of other ensembles including the State Orchestra of Victoria, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of Stuttgart University, and Camerata Academica Freiburg (Germany), the Victorian College of the Arts Symphony Orchestra, Yale Glee Club, Harvard University Collegium Musicum (USA), Melbourne Sinfonia, the Christchurch Sinfonia (New Zealand), Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Stonnington Symphony Orchestra, Geelong Philharmonic Orchestra, and has directed student ensembles at both Melbourne University and Victorian College of the Arts. Andrew is also a regular guest conductor of various orchestras and choirs at summer schools around the country. He has conducted orchestras at the Melbourne Summer Music Camp, Geelong and State Music Camps, and for three years directed the award-winning orchestra program at Blackburn High School.

Wailes has assisted Maestro Valery Gergiev as backstage conductor and extra chorus director for the Kirov Opera’s acclaimed performances for the Melbourne International Festival of the Arts, and has prepared and directed choirs for the Perth International Arts Festival's performance of Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder with the Australian Youth Orchestra. He co-conducted the world premiere season of Julian Yu's contemporary opera The Possessed, for Chamber Made Opera and in 2005 he conducted Britten's The Rape of Lucretia for Lyric Opera of Melbourne (receiving a prestigious Green Room Award nomination for best opera conductor.) He has appeared with many leading Australian and international performers, including the legendary rock band 'Kiss' and the MSO at the Telstra Dome, and with popular artists such as Julie Anthony, John Farnham, Delta Goodrem, and Judith Durham. He has directed choirs for many major televised events, including six AFL Grand Finals, the opening of Stadium Australia, two AFI Awards, five International Comedy Festival Gala Concerts and at the Closing Ceremony of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games 2006. He recently conducted at the opening ceremony of the Parliament of World Religions.