Brian Stacey


Brian James Stacey, was an Australian conductor who started his career with the Queensland Ballet, the Australian Ballet, and Victoria State Opera, latterly becoming known for his work in Australian musical theatre but continuing his cross-genre career to the end of his life.

Biography

Brian Stacey was born in Sydney, Australia. He entered the NSW Conservatorium of Music in 1964 graduating with a Bachelor of Music in 1967. In 1968 he married Monica Cunningham and had two daughters Melinda Ann and Nicole Maree and was employed as Director of Music, Southern Cross University. He then studied for a master's degree in Music at the Queensland Conservatorium studying with Australian composer, Colin Brumby. In 1986 he began his relationship with Kathryn Sadler with whom he would remain until his death.
His career highlights included: Music Director of the Australian Ballet, Resident Conductor for the Victoria State Opera, guest conductor with The Australian Opera, and regular appearances with the opera companies of South Australia, West Australia, and Auckland. Stacey was a protege of the great Australian conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, studying with, and assisting him in the early 80s, and in 1995 assisting him again on a production of Janáček's Káťa Kabanová with Opera Australia.

Career

Brian Stacey died in Carlton, Melbourne on 25 October 1996, the night before the premiere of Sunset Boulevard, due to a motorcycle accident. Stacey was survived by his partner Kathryn Sadler, and his daughters, Melinda and Nicole.
Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber described "Stacey's" death as "a loss to the world of music theatre, not just Australia".
Stacey's ashes are spread on the banks of the Yarra River, Melbourne, Victoria. Seat S10 in the State Theatre, Melbourne Arts Centre was dedicated to Brian's memory in 2008. A tribute film was made to celebrate his life and to mark the winding up of the Brian Stacey Memorial Trust in 2016. The film includes interviews with Sir Charles Mackerras, Guy Noble, Suzanne Johnston, Hugh Jackman, Marina Prior, Rhonda Burchmore, Sue Natrass AO and many other luminaries from the Australian musical world.

The Brian Stacey Memorial Trust Award for emerging Australian Conductors

The Brian Stacey Memorial Trust was launched at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne in 1997. The Brian Stacey Memorial Trust Fund serves to commemorate Stacey's life and work and his contribution to the musical life.
Patrons
Trustees
Past Trustee
Director
The Fund's purpose was to provide support to emerging conductors in Australia who wished to enhance their conducting skills, in particular by exploring performance genres outside their normal field of work. The final award of AUD$10,000 from the Trust was awarded to Toby Thatcher to enable him to continue further study of the conducting profession and an opportunity to broaden his repertoire knowledge.
In August 2018 the Brian Stacey Trust announced the 2018 Brian Stacey Professional Development Awards