Dr David Kram AM, Artistic Director of the MTO- German-Australian Opera Grant and of Concertori Recordings (USA) and Senior Fellow, The University of Melbourne, is a distinguished conductor, artistic director, academic, composer and pianist in Australia, Europe and Asia.

In 2020 David was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia for “significant service to the performing arts, to opera and chamber choirs, and to education”.

Conducting positions include Kapellmeister, Stadttheater Basel; Erster Kapellmeister, Nationaltheater Mannheim; Resident Conductor, The Australian Opera, and Music Director, State Opera of South Australia.

David gained a PhD in musicology from Monash University, Melbourne in 2000. He was Head of Opera at the Victoria College of the Arts 1996-2006 and Senior Lecturer at Melbourne University until 2010.

Guest conducting 2016-2023 has included a CD with Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra; Pecan Summer and Eumeralla for Short Black Opera; Così fan tutte for Iopera; the world premiere of Alon Trigger’s Kristallnacht Cantata and, for Melbourne Opera, Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Der Rosenkavalier and Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

David returns to Europe for part of 2024 for a number of artistic projects including teaching and lecturing. He will also launch his own production ‘Family Opera Afternoon’ in the UK. This includes his multimedia version of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, condensed to sixty minutes.