Biography

Australian conductor Benjamin Northey is the Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Principal Conductor in Residence of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and, commencing in 2025, the Conductor in Residence of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He has previously held the posts of Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (2010–2019), Resident Guest Conductor of the Australia Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra (2002–2006) and Principal Guest Conductor of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (2007–2010).

Northey studied conducting at Finland's Sibelius Academy with Professors Leif Segerstam and Atso Almila after being accepted as the highest placed applicant in 2002. He completed his studies at the Stockholm Royal College of Music with Jorma Panula in 2006. He previously studied conducting with John Hopkins OBE at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music from 2000–2002.

Northey appears regularly as a guest conductor with all major Australian symphony orchestras, Opera Australia (La bohème, Turandot, L'elisir d'amore, Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Carmen), New Zealand Opera (Sweeney Todd) and State Opera South Australia (La sonnambula, L’elisir d’amore, Les contes d’Hoffmann).

His international appearances include concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, the Malaysian Philharmonic and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Northey has collaborated with a broad range of leading artists including Pinchas Zukerman, Maxim Vengerov, Anne-Sofie von Otter, Julian Rachlin, Karen Gomyo, Piers Lane, Alban Gerhardt, Johannes Moser, William Barton, Lu Siqing, Amy Dickson, Slava Grigoryan, Marc-André Hamelin, James Morrison, Kurt Elling, Archie Roach, Ben Folds, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, Paul Grabowsky, Tim Minchin, kd Lang, Patti Austin, Kate Miller-Heidke, Megan Washington, Barry Humphries, Meow Meow and Tori Amos.

Northey is highly active in the performance and recording of new Australian orchestral music having premiered dozens of major new works by Australian composers. He has previously been a board member of the Australian Music Centre.

An ARIA, AIR and Art Music Awards winner, he was voted Limelight Magazine’s Australian Artist of the Year in 2018. Northey's many recordings can be found on ABC Classic.

In 2024, he conducts the Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Queensland and Christchurch Symphony Orchestras and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.