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Brian Stacey
Born
Brian James Stacey

(1946-12-03)3 December 1946
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died25 October 1996(1996-10-25) (aged 49)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Resting placeAshes spread on the river bank of Yarra River, Melbourne
Occupation(s)Conductor, musical director
Years active21
SpouseMonica Cunningham (divorced)
PartnerKathryn Sadler
Children2
AwardsThe Age Performing Arts Award for Best Musical Director 1995
Websitestaceytrust.wordpress.com

Brian James Stacey, (3 December 1946 – 25 October 1996) was an Australian conductor who started his career with the Queensland Ballet, the Australian Ballet, and Victoria State Opera, latterly becoming known for his work in Australian musical theatre (particularly with the Australian production of The Phantom of the Opera) but continuing his cross-genre career to the end of his life.

Biography

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Graduation photo University of NSW 1967

Brian Stacey was born in Sydney, Australia. He entered the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music in 1964, graduating with a Bachelor of Music in 1967. In 1968 he married Monica Cunningham and had two daughters, Melinda Ann (1972) and Nicole Maree (1974). He was employed as director of music, Southern Cross University (formerly Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education, Lismore). He then studied for a master's degree in Music at the Queensland Conservatorium, studying with Australian composer Colin Brumby.[1] In 1986 he began his relationship with Kathryn Sadler, with whom he would remain until his death.

His career highlights included: music director of the Australian Ballet, resident conductor for the Victoria State Opera, guest conductor with The Australian Opera, and regular appearances with the opera companies of South Australia, West Australia, and Auckland (New Zealand). Stacey was a protégé of the Australian conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, studying with and assisting him in the early 1980s, and in 1995 assisting him again on a production of Janáček's Káťa Kabanová with Opera Australia.

Career

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Post-performance photo

Awards

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Brian Stacey on the podium
  • Awarded The Age Performing Arts Award for Best Musical Director 1995[6]

Death

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A photo of seat S10 at Melbourne's State Theatre dedicated to the memory of Brian Stacey

Brian Stacey died in Carlton, Melbourne, on 25 October 1996, the night before the premiere of Sunset Boulevard, due to a motorcycle accident. Stacey was survived by his partner Kathryn Sadler, and his daughters, Melinda and Nicole.[7]

Andrew Lloyd Webber described Stacey's death as "a loss to the world of music theatre, not just Australia".[8]

Stacey's ashes are spread on the banks of the Yarra River, Melbourne, Victoria. Seat S10 in the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, was dedicated to Brian's memory in 2008.[9] A tribute film[10] was made to celebrate his life and to mark the winding up of the Brian Stacey Memorial Trust in 2016. The film includes interviews with Sir Charles Mackerras, Guy Noble, Suzanne Johnston, Hugh Jackman, Marina Prior, Rhonda Burchmore, Sue Natrass and other Australian musicians.

Brian Stacey Memorial Trust Award for emerging Australian conductors

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The Brian Stacey Memorial Trust was launched at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, in 1997 (on the first anniversary of his death). The Brian Stacey Memorial Trust Fund serves to commemorate Stacey's life and work and his contribution to musical life.

Patrons

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Trustees

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  • Kathryn Sadler (Chairman)
  • Andrew Jenkins
  • Melinda Stacey
  • Sue Nattrass
  • Stanton Sharman

Past trustee

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Director

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  • Andrea Gaze

The Fund's purpose was to provide support to emerging conductors in Australia who wished to enhance their conducting skills, in particular by exploring performance genres outside their normal field of work. The final award of $10,000 from the Trust was awarded to Toby Thatcher to enable him to continue further study of the conducting profession and an opportunity to broaden his repertoire knowledge.

Brian Stacey Memorial Trust Professional Development Awards for an emerging Australian conductor 2018

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In August 2018 the Brian Stacey Trust announced the 2018 Brian Stacey Professional Development Awards

  • Christopher Dragon ($5,000)
  • Natalia Raspopova ($2,500).[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Stace | the Brian Stacey Story". 30 August 2016.
  2. ^ Guy Noble (12 October 2016). "Guy Noble remembers the late, great Brian Stacey". Limelight.
  3. ^ "Press Release – June 2009". 17 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Victoria State Opera – la Boheme 1985". 16 June 2013.
  5. ^ "The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on February 22, 1997 · Page 3". 22 February 1997.
  6. ^ https://staceytrust.wordpress.com [user-generated source]
  7. ^ "The Age from Melbourne, Victoria on February 22, 1997 · Page 3". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Brian Stacey", Brian Stacey Memorial Trust
  9. ^ "Newsletter 2008". 17 July 2018.
  10. ^ "Stace | the Brian Stacey Story". 30 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Benjamin Northey".
  12. ^ "Brian Stacey Professional Development Awards 2018". 29 August 2018.
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