Graham Sattler - director

Graham began his musical career as a trombonist, playing with the major orchestras of Sydney and Melbourne, and ensembles ranging in style from early music, through commercial musical theatre, to contemporary and experimental. As a singer, He has worked as an ensemble member of the Australian Opera (1990 – 1994), soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia and the Symphony Orchestras of Sydney, Tasmania and West Australia and as a member of Sounds Baroque, touring with Musica Viva-in-Schools from 1997 to 2000. Graham has been Musical Director of several school band programs, the Manly Warringah Choir and Orchestra, Sydney's Grange Orchestra and Ensemble, as well as various events such as the Sydney Paralympic Games team meet and the opening of Sydney's Fox Studios. From 1997 - 2000 he was Musical Director of several Australian Youth Choir ensembles.

After consolidating his musical activities with a Master of Performance (Conducting) in 2000, he was appointed Music Director of the Orange Regional Conservatorium (Director/CEO since 2005), where he has undertaken to develop the music education resources for that region. Since taking the reins at the ORC, development in programs includes curricular-support in local schools, distance learning via video-conferencing, and partnerships with community and allied organisations such as F.O.O.D, Orange Regional Vigneron's Association, Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Orange Theatre Company, Charles Sturt University, OCTEC inc., PCYC, and Greater Western Area Health Services (Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Services).

As a Committee member of the Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums since 2003, he has developed a keen awareness of the broad-ranging music education issues affecting rural and remote students and communities across the state. He is currently involved in postgraduate research in the area of socio-cultural development through ensemble music programs, and spent several weeks at the end of 2006 studying programs in the United States and Bolivia. Graham recently returned from a five-week North American fellowship, working with adult community music education programs, and is currently engaged in the design and delivery of the Associate Degree in Music Education course offered through Charles Sturt University.

Graham regularly conducts the Orange Symphony Orchestra and various ORC ensembles; has acted as Music Director and Conductor for the Orange Theatre Company's productions of CATS (2007), Oliver! (2009), and the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2010); and was recipient of the 2007 Canberra Area Theatre Awards 'Gold Cat' for musical direction, singing and acting. Current performance engagements include regional NSW tours performing song cycles by Kevin Barker and Franz Schubert.