Dr Joanna Drimatis is a highly-respected champion of Australian music and contemporary classical music – contributing comprehensively through her output as a conductor, performer, musical director, researcher and educator. Joanna is currently Music Education Specialist for the Australian Music Centre, the Music Director/Chief Conductor of the Beecroft Orchestra and Resident Conductor of the NSW Doctors’ Orchestra. Joanna has also guest conducted the Australian Doctors’ Orchestra, Sydney Youth Orchestra, Mosman Symphony, Woollahra Philharmonic, Hourglass Ensemble, Orange Symphony Orchestra and for the Orange Chamber Music Festival. In 2022-23, Joanna has enjoyed conducting five productions for young Sydney-based opera company The Cooperative and in 2024 conducted Dialogues of the Carmeliites by Poulenc for Gente Gente Productions. Previous positions include Music Director of the Christchurch Youth Orchestra/NZ and Conductor for the Adelaide Youth Orchestra association. In these positions, Joanna initiated numerous collaborations, commissions and premieres, with select performances broadcast on NZ Concert FM and ABC Classic/Australia. Joanna has also been guest conductor in New Zealand for the Christchurch Symphony, Nelson Symphony, University of Canterbury Chamber Orchestra and St Matthews Chamber Orchestra and in Australia for the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, Burnside Symphony Orchestra and the Bishop Orchestra at the SA State Music Camp. As a violinist/violist Joanna has played professionally as an orchestral and chamber musician both in Australia and overseas and performed at festivals which include the Strawberry Creek Festival (USA), International Institute of Music (Germany). She studied violin with Eugene Gratovich at UT Austin and has performed in masterclasses for Dorothy Delay, Oleh Krysa and Charles Castleman. Joanna holds degrees in Music Education, Violin Performance and Conducting from Australia and the USA as well as a PhD in Musicology from the University of Adelaide. In 2020, Joanna received an APRA/AMCOS Art Music Luminary Award for her commitment to the performance, promotion and advocacy of Australian music. https://joannadrimatis.com/