SHEP Guest Conductor
Patrick Pickett has been a leader, performer, conductor, artistic director, educator, fundraiser and business advisor within the arts in Australia and overseas for more than 40 years. His unique career sees him as a regular guest speaker within the arts community as well as a broad range of community organisations including Probus, Rotary, View Clubs and The Association of Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Societies.
In 2013 Patrick Pickett launched a new and innovative arts company in Queensland. The Australian Musicians and Orchestral Services (AMOS) has as its mission: to provide outstanding performance opportunities for Queensland’s growing body of high level professional musicians.
Alongside this new business Patrick has become the new owner, Artistic Director/conductor of the Queensland Pops Orchestra. This iconic orchestra has been renowned for quality entertainment since it was formed by Colin Harper in the mid 80’s. Patrick is delighted to lead the Pops on the next phase of its artistic evolution.
Patrick was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in January 2009 and retired in July 2012. Prior to that appointment Patrick completed a 37 year career in the Australian Defence Force.
At 16 years of age Patrick left his home town of Tamworth and embarked on a career with the Australian Army, joining as an Apprentice Musician and leaving as Lieutenant Colonel, Director of Music Army, Head of Corps of the Australian Army Band Corps and Commandant of the Defence Force School of Music - a position he held for five years.
Following his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and appointment to Director of Music Army in January 2004, Patrick was further honoured with the position of Adjunct Professor to the University of Queensland (UQ), where he lectured in Multi Instrumental Pedagogy, Instrumental Conducting and Group Music Skills. He is the founding Director of the UQ Wind Symphony and reappointed as the conductor of this ensemble on his return to Brisbane in 2008.
In recognition of his ongoing commitment to the development of formal relationships with the Australian Music Examination Board (AMEB) and Defence Music, Patrick was appointed as a Federal Examiner for the AMEB in 2008. He has since been appointed to the AMEB (QLD) Panel of Examiners and Advisor (Instrumental).
In 1985 Patrick was selected to attend the famed Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall in London where he completed the Bandmasters course. Whilst in London he completed Licentiate and Associate Diplomas in music at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity College of Music London where he was admitted as Fellow in Conducting in 1988. He completed his Bachelor of Music at the University of Melbourne and a Master of Music from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. He is currently a Board Member of the Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition.
In 1997 Major Pickett was awarded Conspicuous Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours List for services as Officer Commanding and Music Director of the Australian Army Band Kapooka. In 1999 the title of “Citizen of the Year” was bestowed upon him by the Mayor of Wagga Wagga. He saw active service in East Timor and operational service in Bougainville.
In January 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Pickett commanded and conducted the Australian Defence Force Band, Pipes and Drums and Ceremonial element at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, “A Salute to Australia”. Lieutenant Colonel Pickett commanded the Tri-Service Band element of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, in March 2006.
On an international level, Lieutenant Colonel Pickett contributed as the Senior Music Director and technical advisor to the Brunei International Military Tattoo 2006.
A major highlight of his career was being appointed as Music Director for the 90th Anniversary Celebrations at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli 2005.
Patrick has made his home in Brisbane where he has an active social life within the arts and on the odd occasion tries to hit a golf ball straight. Whilst far from an expert Patrick enjoys a glass of Shiras and follows cricket much to the distraction of all those around him.
