Born in Sydney Antony Walker studied composition, cello, voice and conducting at the University of Sydney. While still a student, he was invited to conduct the Sydney Symphony and the Melbourne Symphony, and then was part of the Australian Opera Young Artists Program. He also established the Contemporary Singers, who under his direction premiered many new Australian works. Soon after graduation, at the age of 22, he began working with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, becoming Musical Director soon after, and over the next five years he prepared and conducted many large-scale works including Mendelssohn's Elijah, Mozart's Requiem, Bach's Mass in B Minor and St Matthew Passion and Britten's War Requiem.

In 1997 Antony Walker moved to London and was offered a position as Chorusmaster and staff conductor at the Welsh National Opera where he conducted, among others, Queen of Spades, Madame Butterfly, Carmen, Rigoletto and La Traviata. He became a regular visitor to the USA and worked at Wolftrap Opera and with the opera companies in Minnesota and Cincinnati.

In 2001 with Alison Johnston he formed the professional chorus Cantillation and the chamber orchestras Sinfonia Australis and Orchestra of the Antipodes, all of which have since made numerous recordings for ABC Classics.

In 2002 Antony was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of Washington Concert Opera in Washington DC, and divides his time between commitments in Washington, work in Australia and other guest assignments. Also in 2002 Antony became an artistic director of Sydney's Pinchgut Opera and has conducted all their performances (Handel's Semele, Purcell's The Fairy Queen, Monteverdi's L'Orfeo and in 2005 Rameau's Dardanus) to great critical acclaim.

In 2003 Antony Walker conducted the North Americanpremiere of The Handmaid's Tale for Minnesota Opera, Rameau's Dardanus for Wolf Trap Opera, Béatrice et Bénédict and Stiffelio for Washington Concert Opera and several performances at the Barossa International Festival. CDs released in 2003 included the ARIA nominated complete Beethoven Piano concertos, the Pinchgut production of Handel's Semele, a disc of masterpieces of the Renaissance and the best seller Bach arias & duets with Sara Macliver and Sally-Anne Russell (also nominated for an ARIA award).

In 2004 Antony made his debut with Hawaii Opera (Cosi fan tutte), Pittsburg Opera (Il Ritorno d'Ulisse) and the Sugar Creek Festival (Roméo and Juliette) as well as continuing his work with Washington Concert Opera (Roberto Devereux and La Donna del Lago), Cantillation, Sinfonia Australis, Minnesota Opera (Madame Butterfly) and Pinchgut Opera (L'Orfeo). Recordings included works by Pergolesi and Ross Edwards, a CD of Christmas carols, a disc with Teddy Tahu Rhodes which won the 2004 ARIA award winner for Best Classical album and Purcell's The Fairy Queen.

In 2005 Antony conducted Nixon in China for Minnesota Opera, Handel's Orlando for New York City Opera, Esclarmonde and Luisa Miller for Washington Concert Opera, Cenerentola and Beethoven Symphonies for Sugar Creek Festival, a tour with soprano

In 2006 Antony conducts Tancredi for Washington Concert Opera, The Elephant Man for Minnesota Opera, Tosca For Hawaii Opera Theatre, Handel's Semele for New York City Opera, Samuel Barber's Vanessa for Chautauqua Opera and Idomeneo for Pinchgut Opera.

In 2007 Antony makes his Glimmerglass debut conducting Monteverdi's Orfeo and his Arizona Opera debut conducting Madame Butterfly and conducts The Magic Flute and Billy Budd for Pittsburgh Opera, Rossini's Otello for Washington Concert Opera, Alcina for Opera Australia, and Messiah for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra amongst many other projects.

• Music Director, Pittsburgh Opera, 2006-present
• Music Director, Washington Concert Opera, 2002-present
• co-Artistic Director, Pinchgut Opera, 2002-present
• Music Director and founder, Cantillation, Orchestra of the Antipodes & Sinfonia Australis, 2001-present
• Chorusmaster and conductor, Welsh National Opera, 1998-2002
  
• Musical Director, The Contemporary Singers, 1987-2000
  
• Musical Director, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, 1993-1997
  
• Musical Director, Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra, 1992-1997
  
• Artistic Committee, Fourth World Choral Symposium, 1996
  
  Guest Conductor

Awards

• Richard F Gold debut award, New York City Opera 2005
• British Council and the Australia Britain Society: Sir Charles Mackerras Conducting Award, 1997 (inaugural)
  
• Australia Council Development Award, 1996
  
• British Council Travel Grant, 1996
  
• Churchill Fellowship, 1995
  
• Queen's Trust Award, 1995
  
• Australian Music Foundation (London) Scholarship, 1995

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Music (Hons 1st Class), University of Sydney, 1990
  
• A.M.E.B. Scholarship (cello), A.Mus.A (cello), 1985

Antony's portrait by Sydney artist Sally Robinson was a finalist in the 2001 prestigious Archibald Competition.

© Sally Robinson 2001

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