Internationally recognised composer Richard Mills, AO, Senior Fellow, Faculty of Music, at the University of Melbourne, pursues a diverse career as composer, conductor and artistic director, with an extensive discography of orchestral works including his own compositions.

Richard’s posts have included Artistic Director of Victorian Opera, Artistic Director of 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. He has also been the recipient of an Ian Potter Foundation Fellowship. Richard’s recording of Franz Waxman’s film music with the QSO was awarded the Preis der Deutschen Schallplatten Kritik in 1992.

Most recently Richard has conducted the world premiere of his new opera, Galileo, for Victorian Opera, as well as Glimpses and Dialogues from Galileo at Perth Festival, Jessica Pratt in concert, Elektra, Butterfly Lovers (Mills), La Cenerentola and Salome for Victorian Opera; Voss and Summer of the 17^th Doll for State Opera South Australia; The Sound of History with Adelaide Symphony for Adelaide Festival; and the world premiere of his Christmas oratorio Nativity with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. His opera Butterfly Lovers was also performed in collaboration with Wild Rice Theatre Company in 2023 in a sold-out season at the Victoria Theatre, Singapore.