Orchestra Victoria has announced the appointment of Jessica Gethin to the role of Artistic Advisor, the orchestra’s lead artistic role.

Gethin will work with orchestral management in relation to musician recruitment and performance, collaborate with key artistic personnel from Orchestra Victoria’s performance partners, as well as offer expert guidance to uphold performance standards as a pit orchestra for performance partners including Opera Australia (OA) and The Australian Ballet (TAB).

Jessica Gethin. Photo supplied

Gethin brings a wealth of experience to the role, and currently holds the positions of Principal Conductor of the West Australian Ballet and Head of Orchestral Studies and Conducting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). She was Founding Chief Conductor of the Perth Symphony Orchestra until 2019 and remains the Ambassador for its Women on the Podium conducting initiative.

Gethin has a string of impressive accolades, including being named among Limelight’s Top 20 Artists and AFR’s 100 Most Influential Women. She is also a Churchill Fellow and was recently inducted into the 2024 WA Women’s Hall of Fame. She is regularly engaged as keynote speaker on leadership, diversity and high-performance teams, contributing to her rapidly growing profile as a leader in the arts both on and off the podium.

“Orchestra Victoria holds a unique resonance for me as an artist; with its rich history, diversity of repertoire and exceptional musicianship,” said Gethin.

“As the Artistic Advisor, I’m excited to bring my experience in conducting for stage, opera, and ballet to further elevate Orchestra Victoria’s profile and reach new artistic heights. I am very much looking forward to working closely with the musicians and fantastic Orchestra Victoria team steering their creative vision and delighting audiences throughout Victoria and beyond.”

Formerly the State Orchestra of Victoria, the Orchestra Victoria became an independent, self-governing organisation in 2001. After 44 years of performances together, in 2014 Orchestra Victoria became a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Australian Ballet.

Since then, building on its role as the performance partner for Australia’s national companies for both TAB and OA, Orchestra Victoria continues to perform with leading artists from around the world. It regularly collaborates with other state and international organisations to present a broad spectrum of events at Arts Centre Melbourne and in theatres, schools and other venues across Victoria.