Conductor Dane Lam has been announced as Artistic Director of the State Opera of South Australia.
Currently the Music Director of the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of China’s Xi’an Symphony Orchestra, Lam will continue building on his impressive international freelance career, which as seen him perform with the Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, Canberra, Adelaide and West Australian Symphony Orchestras, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Het Residentie Orkest, Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Beethoven Orchester Bonn and the Verbier Festival Orchestra, as well as his operatic work with Scottish Opera, West Australian Opera, Opera Australia and Opera Holland Park.
On this prestigious appointment, Lam has said: "I've long admired State Opera and its trailblazing work presenting a succession of Australian firsts, bringing more opera to more people across the state, and stewarding this most human of art forms. The skill of storytelling through the power of the unamplified human voice, opera is an art form that stands apart for its ability to unite music, words, drama, design and much more - an exemplar of people working together to tell stories that speak to universal themes. This is what inspires me. I’m honoured to build on Stuart Maunder’s vibrant work, and to move the company towards its 50th anniversary in 2026. My vision is to champion Australian artists and opera makers in joyous, diverse works in partnership with Executive Director Mark Taylor and the whole team."
