OUR CONDUCTORS

our chief conductor

Stefanie Smith is an accomplished Australian conductor and dedicated educator who collaborates regularly with orchestras and bands across Queensland, the UK, and Asia. She tours regularly with Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and is a guest conductor with the Brisbane Symphony Orchestra, Queensland’s State Honours Ensemble Program and the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland. With an unwavering passion for sharing the beauty of music with the next generation, Stefanie dedicates herself to inspiring young minds and nurturing a love for orchestral and wind band artistry.

Her talents have been recognised globally, as evident in her semi-finalist placement at the 2022 Internacional de Dirección “Vila de Bétera” in Spain. Stefanie has also shone with her involvement in prestigious programs such as the Australian Conducting Academy (2019) and conducting masterclasses with notable figures like Larry Rachleff (2019) and Benjamin Zander (2018). Stefanie brings a wealth of experience to her roles as a conductor, educator, and presenter.

At the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, she teaches undergraduate conducting courses and conducts the Young Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, Wind Orchestra, and Woodwind Ensemble. Stefanie’s pursuit of excellence extends to her Doctor of Musical Arts, where she explores the ‘Pathways to the Podium,’ aiming to illuminate the career trajectories of emerging Australian conductors and provide invaluable insights for those aspiring to make a mark on the global stage.

For more info…

https://stefaniesmithconductor.com/

Our founding conductor

Antoni Bonetti is founding conductor and artistic director of Brisbane Symphony Orchestra and Noosa Orchestra. He also lectured at the University of Queensland (School of Music) where he completed a Master of Music degree. He is Senior String teacher at both St Aidan's Anglican Girls School and Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Noosa.

Antoni has performed, conducted, adjudicated and given master classes across Australia, USA, Europe and New Zealand as well as participating in symposiums for professional conductors with such acclaimed conductors as Gianluigi Gelmetti. He has conducted the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and various Brisbane opera seasons.

London born, Antoni studied violin with Robert Pikler in Sydney and played with many Australian symphony orchestras and in Europe freelanced with the Philharmonia, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Mozart Players. He accepted a position as concertmaster of the Norrlands Opera Sweden, and was for two years a member of the Mannheim Chamber Orchestra.

In 1981, Antoni accepted the position of concertmaster of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra and lectured at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music from 1982 to 1992. He and his clarinettist wife, Ruth, form the nucleus of Quartetto Bonetti. Antoni also plays with other chamber groups and has led various Baroque instrument ensembles in Germany, Sydney and Brisbane.

As  a conductor, Antoni has worked with many distinguished international musicians including Charles Castleman, Thea King and Marcus Stocker, and has an ever increasing large range of varied orchestral repertoire. During more than two decades at St Peters Lutheran College, Antoni built the programme to encompass many diverse ensembles. The Youth Orchestra of St Peters made six national tours including performances in most Australian capital cities, has completed a European tour in 1995 and toured twice to New Zealand. He teaches violin and viola, coaches chamber groups and directs music camps.