Richard Gill (conductor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Gill AO
At TEDx Sydney, 2011
Born	(1941-11-04)4 November 1941 Sydney, Australia
Died	28 October 2018(2018-10-28) (aged 76) Sydney, Australia
Occupation	Conductor, educator
Signature

Richard James Gill (born on 4 November 1941 – died on 28 October 2018) was a famous Australian conductor. He led choirs, orchestras, and opera performances. Richard Gill was also well-known for teaching music and for believing that music education was very important for all children.

Life and Music Career

Richard Gill grew up in Eastwood, a suburb of Sydney. He went to Marist College Eastwood for school. Before becoming a professional conductor, he taught music at Marsden High School in Sydney. One of his students, Kim Williams, later became a close friend.

In 1969, Richard Gill helped start the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra in Sydney. He was their first conductor. He also studied music in Salzburg, Austria, at the Orff Institute. Later, he even taught there. From 1975 to 1982, he worked at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He also led the Sydney Youth Orchestra from 1977 to 1982.

Richard Gill held many important jobs in music. He was the dean (a leader) at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) from 1985 to 1990. He also directed the choir at Opera Australia from 1990 to 1996. In 2005, he started the Victorian Opera in Melbourne.

In 2013, he helped create the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. He was the main conductor for this group. In 2014, he became the musical director for the Sydney Chamber Choir.

In 2017, Richard Gill led the first Sydney Flash Mob Choir. This was a fun event where people could come together and sing, even if they weren't professional singers.

Richard Gill passed away on 28 October 2018, when he was 76 years old. The day before he died, over 70 musicians gathered outside his home. They played music for him and his family as a special tribute.

Richard Gill: Music Educator

Richard Gill strongly believed that music, arts, and physical education were important for every child. He thought that singing should be the main way children learn about music.

Before he died, there were plans to open a special music-focused primary school. This school, called The Richard Gill School, opened in 2021 in Muswellbrook. It started with 13 students. The school's learning plan focuses on music, physical activity, and STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This makes it a STEAM school, adding "Arts" to STEM.

At The Richard Gill School, music is a core part of learning for all students. It's not just for those who are already good at music. This was something Richard Gill always wanted. The school even has its own song, "O Come Now My Friends."

Music Performances

Richard Gill conducted many operas and concerts. He worked with groups like Opera Queensland and Opera Australia. He also led new operas for the first time, such as The Eighth Wonder and Lindy.

He had special concert series called Discovery and Ears Wide Open. In these concerts, he would take famous classical music pieces and explain them in a funny and interesting way. He wanted people to listen to music "with new ears" and understand what made it special.

Compositions

Richard Gill also wrote music. He composed the school song for Brisbane Girls Grammar School. The song's title is "Nil sine labore", which means "Nothing without work."

Awards and Recognition

Richard Gill received many awards for his amazing work in music.

• In 1994, he received an Order of Australia Medal.
• In 2001, he was given a Centenary Medal.
• He also received the Bernard Heinze Award for his contributions to music in Australia.
• He earned an honorary doctorate from Edith Cowan University. This was for his service to Australian music and musicians.
• In 2005, he won the Don Banks Music Award.
• In 2016, he was promoted to Officer level within the Order of Australia.

In 2018, Richard Gill received an Achievement Award from MOST (Music & Opera Singers Trust). This was for his great work as a conductor and music educator. Soon after, he won the Arts Leadership Award at the Creative Partnerships Awards.

After his death, the Australian Music Centre and APRA AMCOS renamed one of their awards in his honor. It is now called the Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music. He had won this award himself in 2014.

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards celebrate songwriting and music performance in Australia and New Zealand.

Bernard Heinze Memorial Award

The Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award honors someone who has made an outstanding contribution to music in Australia.

Don Banks Music Award

The Don Banks Music Award recognizes a senior artist who has made a great and lasting contribution to music in Australia.

Public Appearances

Artist Jasper Knight painted a portrait of Richard Gill in 2005. This painting was a finalist for the Archibald Prize. Jasper Knight had been a music student of Richard Gill.

In 2006, Richard Gill appeared in an ABC TV show called Operatunity Oz. This show looked for Australian singers who had the potential to sing opera. He also appeared in a follow-up episode in 2007.

He was a frequent guest on the popular ABC-TV music quiz show Spicks and Specks. A special reunion episode of the show in 2018 was dedicated to his memory.

In 2009, Richard Gill worked with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's National Youth Orchestra. This was part of their 50th anniversary celebrations.