The Australian pianist, music director and conductor Kellie Dickerson has died. She was 53.

Dickerson’s death was announced yesterday: “It is with great sadness that we share that our beloved Kellie passed away peacefully today 9 January 2024 surrounded by her loving family.

We take comfort in knowing that she can rest and are grateful for all the love and support she has received from so many.

In coming weeks, a service will be held to remember and celebrate Kellie and all the love and memories she gifted us.”

The news comes almost four years after Dickerson announced her retirement in 2020 from conducting and keyboard playing due to illness. In the two years prior to that, she discovered she was suffering from a rare and progressive neurodegenerative condition, MSA (Multiple System Atrophy).

A highly respected, much-loved music director, Dickerson gained a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Piano Performance from Sydney University, and later participated in the Symphony Australia Young Conductor’s Program.

After touring with her own big band, Simply Swing, Dickerson worked as a pianist/keyboardist on productions such as The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon for Cameron Mackintosh, and Turandot for Opera Australia.

Her...