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Monday 15 July
Tuesday 16 July
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Copyright 2024 Music Theatre Futures
How will musicals sound in the future?
Join us for a panel discussion led by noted Music Director James Simpson, exploring the dynamic changes in musical orchestras and bands amidst economic pressures and shifting music tastes.
Gain valuable insights from industry experts Michelle Nguyen, Peter Rutherford, Carmel Dean and Sean Peter.
JAMES SIMPSON
James has worked around Australia and internationally as a musical director, arranger and orchestrator. Major credits include the Australian tours of ‘Chicago’ (musical director), ‘9 to 5’ (musical director) ‘Moulin Rouge!’ (associate musical director), Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ (associate musical director) and Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ (assistant musical director). He has orchestrated three new musicals, including Eddie Perfect’s ‘Vivid White’ (Melbourne Theatre Company), Dean Bryant and Mathew Frank’s ‘Virgins: A Musical Threesome’ (Echelon Productions – Malthouse Theatre, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Regional Arts Victoria tour) and ‘My Brilliant Career’ (first performed at Monash University, and which will be performed as part of MTC’s 2024 season later this year). Whilst based in the UK, he was the musical director for the world premiere of ‘Thérèse Raquin’ (Park Theatre, London), as well as contributing additional orchestrations and vocal arrangements. He can be heard as the musical director on the original cast recordings of ‘My Brilliant Career’, ‘Thérèse Raquin’, and ‘Virgins: A Musical Threesome’ (all available on Spotify/Apple Music). James graduated with distinction from the Masters of Musical Theatre (Musical Directing) programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow.
PETER RUTHERFORD
Peter is a musical director, composer, and voice teacher. Musical Director credits include Australian and international productions of: A Christmas Carol (MD), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (MD), Jagged Little Pill (Australasian Musical Supervisor/MD), School Of Rock (Vocal Coach/AMD) Matilda The Musical, Beyond Desire, A Little Touch Of Chaos, On The 20th Century, A Little Night Music, My Fair Lady, Little Women, The Hatpin, LoveBites, Sing On Through Tomorrow, Annie (AMD), Cats (AMD), Jekyll & Hyde (AMD), The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber (AMD), amongst others. He co-wrote The Hatpin, LoveBites and A Little Touch Of Chaos with James Millar and Dangerous with Jayde Kirchert. His shows have been produced across Australia, New York, London and many other cities in the world to critical and award- winning acclaim. He was twice the fortunate recipient of the Jeanne Pratt Artist in Residence at Monash University. Additionally, he is Voice Consultant for Hamilton in Australia and now the International tour, and also voice coaches other shows including & Juliet, West Side Story, Miss Saigon and School of Rock. Most recently, he was the singing coach on the upcoming feature release of the live-action version of Disney’s Moana. Proudly, he has joined the Music Theatre faculty as a Lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts, The University Of Melbourne.
SEAN PETER
Sean Peter is the writer / producer / creator of Plan Bea.
Sean Peter is a composition graduate of Southern Cross University Contemporary Music and AFTRS Grad Dip Screenwriting. He is a multi award winning writer and composer and has worked for many of Australia’s leading arts companies and TV networks.
Sean uses music as a tool to tell stories for all ages. As a children’s music composer, Sean is the arranger of the current titles for the iconic Play School, as well as a composer and lyricist for the show itself. He has composed for Nickelodeon’s Ready Set Dance, Didi and B, Slimefest as well as ABC’s Giggle and Hoot which has lead to three AGSC Screen Award nominations, Two Aria nominations, five CDs and countless DVDs, as well as four national sold out concert tours. He also composed for the Justine Clarke Show leading to an Aria win for Every Where’s a Dance Floor
His work as composer for Disney’s Talking Friends has been viewed nearly 1 billion times. He was composer for ABC Catalyst’s Keep On Dancing which won Gold at the NY Festival. He created bespoke music for So You Think You Can Dance USA and Australia and was composer for Jimmy Rees’ Meanwhile In Australia tour and TV Special.
In Theatre, Sean was the recipient of an AWGIE for his musical Everything’s F**ked, which has been performed in Australia, UK and the Netherlands. His works have been performed as part of Dubai Expo 2020, and throughout Australia for Belvoir, STC, GFO and the Hayes Theatre amongst many others.
He works internationally as a keyboard programmer and associate keyboard programmer for countless productions including Hamilton, Moulin Rouge, working across MainStage, Ableton and Qlab. He as also created adverting music for clients such as Coke, Pizza Hut, Optus, Weet Bix, TPG, Kids Help Line and many, many more.
Sean Peter combines an experienced and versatile musical ability with an understanding of the technical challenges and boundaries involved in television, film, theatre and performance on all scales. Although working internationally, he is based in Sydney, Australia.
seanpeter.com
MICHELLE NGUYEN
Michelle Nguyen graduated from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music in 2013 having completed her Bachelor of Music (Honours) and Master of Music (Performance). During her studies she was the recipient of a number of scholarships including the Gardiner, Grace Funston, Faculty Merit and John Hellyar scholarships. Following her studies, Michelle was awarded the Robert and Elizabeth Albert Piano Fellowship (2014) with The Australian Ballet. Michelle has been part of numerous touring engagements, including Houston Ballet’s Summer Intensive (2015), the Australian Welsh Male Choir’s tours to Asia (2017), the United Kingdom (2018) and Western Australia (2022), The Australian Ballet’s Regional Tour (2018, 2019), the Australian tour of From Broadway to La Scala (2019) and Opera Australia’s Regional Tour (2021). As a Melbourne pianist, Michelle has been a pit musician for productions including Aladdin (Disney), Moulin Rouge (Global Creatures), 9 to 5 (GWB) and An American in Paris (Gordon Frost and The Australian Ballet). She was the Associate Music Director/Children’s Music Director for the Melbourne season of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (TML), Assistant Music Director for Miss Saigon (Opera Australia) and is currently the Associate Music Director of & Juliet (Michael Cassel Group). Michelle also specialises in freelancing as a collaborative artist.