Luke Spicer is an Australian conductor and music director renowned for his dynamic leadership in both operatic and symphonic contexts. Initially trained as a violist and chamber musician, he transitioned into conducting, earning acclaim for his expressive interpretations and engaging performances.
Spicer completed his Master of Conducting at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, furthering his studies in Freiburg and Manchester. He also attended the Fondazione Musicale Chigiana in Siena, where he studied under Maestro Gianluigi Gelmetti. In 2016, he participated in the Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program, collaborating with renowned conductors such as Johannes Fritzsch, Giordano Bellincampi, and Marco Letonja.
In 2014, Spicer was appointed Principal Conductor of the Sydney University Symphony Orchestra, a position he still holds. He has made a significant impact in this role, bringing an innovative approach to the orchestra’s repertoire. Spicer also became Music Director of Blush Opera in Sydney in 2016 and served as Associate Conductor of the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra for several years. His operatic debut came in 2015 with Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, featuring Silvia Colloca, Stacey Alleaume, and Catherine Bouchier in principal roles. In 2016, he conducted a sell-out production of Puccini’s Il Tabarro, directed by Constantine Costi.
Spicer has conducted numerous prestigious orchestras, including the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra, where he served as Guest Assistant Conductor under Simone Young and Vladimir Ashkenazy. He has also worked as a guest Assistant Conductor at The Bruckner Orchestra Linz and the Saarländisches Staatstheater of Saarbrücken.
In December 2022, Spicer conducted a critically acclaimed production of Handel’s Alcina with the National Opera Canberra, further establishing his expertise in the Baroque opera repertoire. In addition, he conducted Bizet’s Carmen for Opera Australia’s National Tour in 2021, and in 2022, he also conducted Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. His dedication to musical excellence and education continues to shape Australia’s vibrant musical community, with a focus on nurturing the next generation of musicians.