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David Kram - conductor and composer, PhD(Monash), ARCM(London), FRSA(London)

David Kram is a distinguished conductor who has worked in Australia and in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, China, France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia and Switzerland. He has a repertoire of over 200 works, has conducted more than 30 orchestras and has collaborated with Richard Bonynge and Dame Joan Sutherland, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Mark Elder, Simone Young, Giancarlo Menotti and Lotfi Mansouri.

Kram studied composition and conducting at the Royal College of Music (London), at Luigi Ricci (Rome) and at Adelaide and Monash Universities where he completed his PhD. After his first international conducting debut the Spoleto Festival in Italy, a series of full-time European engagements followed where Kram worked as repetiteur for the Grand Théâtre de Genève, as Kapellmeister at the Stadttheater in Basle, and as Erster Kapellmeister, Nationaltheater in Mannheim.

In 1978 David became resident conductor at the Australian Opera for eight years. He then relocated to Adelaide as Music Director, State Opera of South Australia. During the 1990s, David had frequent guest conducting engagements in Berlin, Cologne, Dusseldorf, Karlsruhe, Nantes, and Wiesbaden, before settling in Victoria.

In 2000 David was awarded his PhD by Monash university. As a researcher and teacher he held academic positions as a senior lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) where he taught orchestration and was Head of Opera from 1999 - 2005. He continues his association with the University of Melbourne as a Senior Fellow.

In 2000, David established 'More Than Opera' to expand the reach of opera to many diverse audiences in the community. More Than Opera continues to flourish with many projects realised through innovation and artistic excellence.

David's first composition, a film score, was recorded in 1966. He has since written a range of music including incidental songs, orchestral overtures, children's operas and arrangements of existing works. In 2013 he wrote the award-winning Ring. Wagner. Animated, an adaptation of Wagner's ring cycle for children with chamber orchestra, condensed from sixteen hours to two hours, presented on tour and at Melbourne Recital Centre.

A deep respect for the life and work of Sir John Monash and associations with Rotary, the 0808 Committee and Spirit of Australia, led him to compose PEACE - A Cantata for John Monash in collaboration with Kevin O'Flaherty. Premiered at Hamer Hall in 2017, PEACE is performed in Amiens, France in April and September.

David Kram — current to May 2018