Rick began studying classical guitar in Perth at the age of ten, continuing those studies at the University of WA and London. After teaching classical guitar for two years and spending a further 18 months in London, Rick returned to Perth to study conducting with Richard Gill, and singing at the WA Conservatorium of Music (WAAPA). Since moving to Melbourne in 1994, Rick has undertaken further conducting training with Symphony Australia’s Young Conductor Development Program from 1995 to 1998, and in 2002 with Opera Australia, conducting the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, the Adelaide and Queensland Symphony Orchestras and the State Orchestra of Victoria. Tutors included Johannes Fritsch (Germany), Gustav Meier (USA), Jorma Panula (Finland), Noam Sheriff (Israel) and Vernon Handley (UK).

Rick’s operatic experience began while studying at WAAPA, where he was variously Conductor, Chorus Master, cast and chorus member, while also singing as occasional bass/baritone soloist in concert. He also worked as Chorus Master for Opera Australia in Perth as well as singing for OA as chorus and WA Opera as both chorus and minor principal. In Melbourne Rick has conducted Così fan Tutte for Melbourne Opera, the Australian première of Michael Nyman’s The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat for Operalive, La Bohème for Eastern Metropolitan Opera and Lo Sposo Deluso (Mozart) for Period Pieces Opera, as well as numerous musical theatre productions. Most recently he was Chorus Master and back stage Conductor for the Australian Puccini Foundation’s Turandot, conducted by Richard Divall.

Rick has been Musical Director of The Geelong Chorale since 1994, most recently conducting a highly successful performance of Britten’s St Nicolas cantata. He has also been the Musical Director of the Monash Chorale since 2001. Rick was Conductor of Jane Eyre, and it was Rick’s first production with Stopera and his fourth collaboration with director Caroline Stacey.