|
Rick Prakhoff’s musical career began as a classical guitarist in Perth and led him to move to London to continue his studies.
Wanting to extend his performance opportunities into operatic and orchestral repertoire, he studied singing and conducting at the WA Conservatorium of Music. As a bass baritone he sang solo oratorio, minor principal roles and chorus with WA Opera, and performed and toured internationally with a specialist choral ensemble. Rick was also Chorus Master and back stage conductor for both Opera Australia and WA Opera in Perth.
A past finalist in the Symphony Australia Young Conductor of the Year Award, Rick has since worked with professional and community opera companies, orchestras and choirs throughout Melbourne and Perth as well as professional engagements in Canberra and Sydney.
Rick has been guest conductor with Melbourne Opera since 2004, conducting Tosca, La Traviata, the Marriage of Figaro, La Bohème, Carmen, Cavalleria Rusticana, The Barber of Seville and Così fan Tutte (which received a Green Room nomination for best operatic conductor).
He has conducted the Australian premieres of a number of works including the contemporary chamber operas Jane Eyre, with Stopera in Canberra, and The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat, with Operalive in Melbourne.
In 2009 Rick conducted Tosca and La Traviata for Melbourne Opera, Opera in the Park for the City of Stonnington and two concerts with the Melbourne Sinfonia.
In 2005 Rick was approached to form the Melbourne Bach Choir to perform the St Matthew Passion in April 2006. That same year he also performed the St Matthew Passion in Geelong’s Costa Hall with the Geelong Chorale, of which he was Musical Director from 1994 – 2008.
| 
