Dr John “Jack” Carmody, the physician, academic and music critic whose scholarship spanned medicine, music, religion and history, has died.

Carmody combined a distinguished academic career with more than four decades of writing on opera, concert music and literature for Australian and international publications. He was also a frequent broadcaster on ABC Radio, where his contributions ranged across classical music, medicine, religion and history.

John Carmody

After graduating in medicine from the University of Queensland and editing the student paper, Semper Floreat, Carmody joined the Faculty of Medicine at the University of New South Wales, where he spent four decades teaching physiology and pharmacology to medical and science students. His research focused predominantly on neuroscience, particularly sensory and synaptic function.

He retired from UNSW in 2008 and later held an honorary position at the University of Sydney. His academic career also included several periods working at universities and research institutes in Germany.

Alongside his scientific work, Carmody developed an extensive reputation as a critic and reviewer. In 1978, he succeeded the novelist David Malouf as the opera and concert music writer for The National Times. He later wrote for the Australian Financial Review, The Australian Book Review, The Australian and Sydney’s Sun-Herald, contributing for more than 30 years.

Internationally, he wrote on opera for Opera, published in London, and Opernwelt, based in Berlin, bringing Australian readers an informed perspective on international musical life while contributing to critical discussion abroad.

Carmody’s writing extended well beyond music criticism. He contributed extensively to the Australian Dictionary of Biography and to major reference works, while his book reviews and essays covered a wide range of subjects, reflecting his breadth of knowledge and intellectual curiosity.