Brian Stacey

Brian James Stacey, (3 December 1946 – 25 October 1996) was an Australian conductor who started his career with the Queensland Ballet, the Australian Ballet, and Victoria State Opera, latterly becoming known for his work in Australian musical theatre (particularly with the Australian production of The Phantom of the Opera) but continuing his cross-genre career to the end of his life.

Brian Stacey was born in Sydney, Australia.

He entered the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music in 1964, graduating with a Bachelor of Music in 1967.

In 1968 he married Monica Cunningham and had two daughters, Melinda Ann (1972) and Nicole Maree (1974).

He was employed as director of music, Southern Cross University (formerly Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education, Lismore).

He then studied for a master's degree in Music at the Queensland Conservatorium, studying with Australian composer Colin Brumby.

Stacey was a protégé of the Australian conductor Sir Charles Mackerras, studying with and assisting him in the early 1980s, and in 1995 assisting him again on a production of Janáček's Káťa Kabanová with Opera Australia.

In 1986 he began his relationship with Kathryn Sadler, with whom he would remain until his death.

His career highlights included: music director of the Australian Ballet, resident conductor for the Victoria State Opera, guest conductor with The Australian Opera, and regular appearances with the opera companies of South Australia, West Australia, and Auckland (New Zealand).

Brian Stacey died in Carlton, Melbourne, on 25 October 1996, the night before the premiere of Sunset Boulevard, due to a motorcycle accident.

Stacey was survived by his partner Kathryn Sadler, and his daughters, Melinda and Nicole.

Andrew Lloyd Webber described Stacey's death as "a loss to the world of music theatre, not just Australia".

Stacey's ashes are spread on the banks of the Yarra River, Melbourne, Victoria.

The Brian Stacey Memorial Trust was launched at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, in 1997 (on the first anniversary of his death).

The Brian Stacey Memorial Trust Fund serves to commemorate Stacey's life and work and his contribution to musical life.

The Fund's purpose was to provide support to emerging conductors in Australia who wished to enhance their conducting skills, in particular by exploring performance genres outside their normal field of work.

The final award of $10,000 from the Trust was awarded to Toby Thatcher to enable him to continue further study of the conducting profession and an opportunity to broaden his repertoire knowledge.

Seat S10 in the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, was dedicated to Brian's memory in 2008.

A tribute film was made to celebrate his life and to mark the winding up of the Brian Stacey Memorial Trust in 2016.

The film includes interviews with Sir Charles Mackerras, Guy Noble, Suzanne Johnston, Hugh Jackman, Marina Prior, Rhonda Burchmore, Sue Natrass and other Australian musicians.

In August 2018 the Brian Stacey Trust announced the 2018 Brian Stacey Professional Development Awards