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Mrs Jessica Gethin - Head of Orchestral Studies and Conducting
Mrs Jessica Gethin
Lecturer
| Email: | j.gethin@ecu.edu.au |
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Jessica is a Lecturer and the Head of Orchestral Studies and Conducting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Background
Jessica Gethin is an award-winning Australian conductor known for her musical insight, versatility and vibrant presence on the podium. Working across symphonic, ballet, opera, film and contemporary repertoire, she is recognised as one of Australia’s leading conductors.
Her engagements include the Sydney, Melbourne, West Australian, Tasmanian, Canberra, Queensland and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras, Singapore Symphony, Malaysian Philharmonic, Dallas Opera, Orchestra Victoria, Perth Symphony, Opera Queensland, Orchestra Macao, West Australian Ballet and The Australian Ballet. Notable artist collaborations include Sir Bryn Terfel, Michael Bolton, Chrissy Amphlett, Makoto Ozone and Harry Connick, Jr.
Jessica is Principal Conductor of West Australian Ballet, Artistic Advisor for Orchestra Victoria and Head of Orchestral Studies and Conducting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), where she mentors emerging orchestral musicians and conductors. She previously served as Chief Conductor of the Perth Symphony Orchestra and is now Ambassador and lead faculty for its Women on the Podium initiative.
Her honours include the Brian Stacey Emerging Australian Conductor Award, a Churchill Fellowship and The Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors Fellowship. She has been listed twice in Limelight’s Top 20 Australian Artists, named in the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Most Influential Women, finalist in the WA of the Year awards and inducted into the 2024 WA Women’s Hall of Fame.
Professional associations
- West Australian Ballet
- West Australian Symphony Orchestra
- WA Philharmonic Orchestra
- Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
- Singapore Symphony Orchestra
- Sydney Symphony Orchestra
- Macao Orchestra
- Malaysian Philharmonic
- Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
- Canberra Symphony
- Perth Symphony Orchestra
- Perth Chamber Orchestra
- Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
- Melbourne Youth Orchestra
- Adelaide Festival Orchestra
- Camerata Chamber Orchestra
- Auckland Philharmonia
- Dallas Opera Orchestra
- Perth Pops Orchestra
- Sydney Lyric Orchestra
- Prime Philharmonic (Seoul, Korea)
- Dallas Opera
- West Australian Opera
- Opera Queensland ABODA
Awards and recognition
- 2019 - Finalist for West Australian of the Year (Arts and Culture)
- 2019 - Ambassador for PSO Women on the Podium Conductors
- 2019 - Online Orchestra Ambassador for AMEB Australia
- 2017 - Limelight Magazine ‘Top 20 Australian Artists of the Year’,
- 2016 - Churchill Fellowship Recipient for Performance Excellence
- 2015 - Brian Stacey Emerging Australian Conductor Award
- 2015 – Inaugural Fellow at the Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors
- 2015 - Australian Financial Review's ‘100 Most Influential Women’
Research areas and interests
- Conducting across a broad range of genres: symphonic, opera, ballet, film and contemporary
- Mentoring emerging musicians and conductors
- Mental health and well being within the arts industry
- Leadership within high performance teams
Published paper: Churchill Fellow Report 2016
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Music Performance, Edith Cowan University, 2003.
Research Student Supervision
Assistant Supervisor
- Master of Arts (Performing Arts), Conducting with Positive Instruction: An Action Research Study in String Ensembles at an Australian Girls' School