Recently named General Music Director of the Saarländisches Staatstheater in Saarbrücken, Germany, Nicholas Milton AM has established an outstanding reputation for his charismatic stage presence and powerful interpretations of an extensive concert and opera repertoire. Renowned for his dynamic conducting style and compelling musical integrity, he continues to attract international attention as one of the most outstanding Australian conductors working today.
Appointed as the youngest-ever concertmaster of a major Australian orchestra, Nicholas Milton enjoyed a distinguished career as a violinist and chamber musician before dedicating himself exclusively to conducting. Now a regular guest at several leading opera houses, he has appeared for six consecutive seasons as conductor at the Volksoper in Vienna (La traviata, Carmen, Hänsel and Gretel, Die Fledermaus, The Magic Flute). At the Komische Oper in Berlin he has most recently conducted The Tales of Hoffmann, Carmen and Die Fledermaus. Other recent productions include The Flying Dutchman in Dortmund, La fanciulla del West and The Magic Flute in Innsbruck, Don Pasquale in Linz, Carmen in Mainz, Don Giovanni in Leipzig, Tosca in Sydney and The Magic Flute in Munich.
Recent concert engagements include appearances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, NDR Sinfonieorchester Hamburg, SWR Radio Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken, Stuttgart Philharmonic, Dortmund Philharmonic, Staatsorchester Wiesbaden, Staatsorchester Darmstadt, Orchester des Nationaltheaters Mannheim, Staatskapelle Halle, Bremen Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana and Bruckner Orchester Linz. In 2013, he served as Assistant Conductor to Mariss Jansons on an extensive European and United States tour with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Nicholas Milton was Concertmaster of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (1996–2002) and leader of Australia’s renowned Macquarie Trio (1998-2005). He served as General Music Director of the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra from 2004 until 2010. Since 2001, he has been Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and, since 2007, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra. He will continue to serve as Chief Conductor of the Innviertler Symphony Orchestra of Austria until 2017.