Internationally recognised composer Richard Mills, AO, pursues a diverse career as composer, conductor and artistic director, with an extensive discography of orchestral works including his own compositions and the film music of Franz Waxman with the QSO (Preis der Deutschen Schallplatten Kritik,1992). 

Richard’s posts have included Artistic Director of both Victorian Opera and West Australian Opera, Artistic Director of the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra, Director of the Australian Music Project for Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and Musica Viva’s Composer of the Year. From early 2026 Richard takes up the position of Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra.  

Most recently Richard has conducted the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows in a program of Australian composers for the ABC; the premiere of his Double Bass Concerto with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra: a regional tour and Voyages for Darwin Symphony; the premiere of his new opera Galileo, Elektra, Butterfly Lovers, La Cenerentola and Salome for Victorian Opera; Glimpses and Dialogues from Galileo at Perth Festival; Lucia di Lammermoor, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, a gala concert and Tosca for Opera Queensland; Voss and Summer of the 17th Doll for State Opera South Australia; The Sound of History (Adelaide Festival) and his Christmas oratorio Nativity with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. His opera Butterfly Lovers was also performed in collaboration with Wild Rice Theatre Company in Singapore.   

Richard’s concert performance of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde with the Australian Youth Orchestra for Queensland Music Festival, won the Helpmann Award for Best Classical Concert in 2005.