Victorian Youth Symphony Orchestra

Patron - Professor John Hopkins OBE

In 2004, the Victorian Youth Symphony Orchestra welcomed with delight Professor John Hopkins as Patron of the Orchestra. In recent years John Hopkins has supported the work of the VYSO, in particular by encouraging a number of his talented students to gain experience by conducting the orchestra. In 2008 & 2009 John has appeared as a guest conductor with the VYSO.

Born in England, John Hopkins was appointed ABC Director of Music in 1963. His previous positions included BBC Scottish Orchestra Assistant Conductor, BBC Northern Orchestra (now BBC Philharmonic) Chief Conductor, and National Orchestra of New Zealand Broadcasting Service (now NZSO) Conductor. For much of the six years that he was in New Zealand, he was also Musical Director of the New Zealand Opera Company. He conducted over 100 opera performances in New Zealand and helped to launch many young singers in their careers.

From 1973 to 1986 he was the founding Dean of the School of Music at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne and from 1986 to 1992 he was Director of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Since then he has continued to be very active as a conductor, administrator and educator in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. He now devotes most of his time to teaching conducting at the University of Melbourne, where he is a Professor.

For more than a decade he conducted Kiri Te Kanawa's concerts in Australia, New Zealand and Japan and he has conducted the Australian Opera and the Victorian State Opera in a wide range of works from Mozart and Puccini to Sculthorpe and Conyngham.

He has been the recipient of several awards including the O.B.E. in 1970 and the Queen's Jubilee Medal in 1977.