Australian conductor Nathaniel Griffiths has been named as a candidate for the 2027 Hong Kong International Conducting Competition. Presented by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the competition is open to conductors aged 35 and under to support the development of the classical music scene in Asia.

Nathaniel Griffiths. Photo supplied

The sole Australian amongst 16 international candidates, Griffiths will compete in the first round on 27 January. Successful conductors will then move onto the semi-finals on 28 & 29 January, and the finals on 31 & 30 January.

The competition’s First Prize includes $200,000 HKD ($36,288 AUD), an engagement with the Sinfonietta and mentorship from conductors in this year’s jury. The second prize awards $100,000 HKD ($18,144 AUD), and the third prize $70,000 ($12,700 AUD), with an Orchestra Prize and two Audience Prizes (live and online) also to be presented.

The 2027 jury is co-chaired by Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s Music Director Emeritus Yip Wing-sie and Music Director Christoph Poppen. The other members are conductor Nicolás Pasquet; General & Artistic Director of the Weiwuying Center for the Arts, Chien Wen-pin; Hong Kong Sinfonietta Concertmaster James Cuddeford and violinist Ambrose Lui; Managing Director of Karsten Witt Musik Management, Xenia Groh-Hu; and Director of Artistic Planning at the KBS Symphony Orchestra in Seoul, Youri Son.

Born in Queensland, 30-year-old Griffiths has held engagements with the Melbourne, Queensland and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, and the Australian Youth Orchestra. He was The Australian Ballet’s 2025 Robert and Elizabeth Albert Conducting Fellow, and led the orchestra in performances of Carmen, Manon and The Sleeping Beauty. In December, he will lead Queensland Ballet’s brand new production of The Nutcracker.

Griffiths was the 2023 New Zealand Assistant Conductor-in-Residence, working with the Auckland Philharmonic and Christchurch and Dunedin Symphony Orchestras. He was also a participant in the 2023/24 Australian Conducting Academy, and has assisted in conducting for Opera Australia under Dane Lam.

More information about the 2027 Hong Kong International Conducting Competition can be found here.