Dr Joanna Drimatis Joanna Drimatis has a Masters in Music from the University of Texas at Austin and has degrees from the University of Western Australia and the Canberra School of Music. She has participated in conducting masterclasses in New Zealand and the USA and studied with conductors that include; Matthias Bamert, Murry Sidlin, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Timothy Muffitt and David Effron. Previous positions include – Music Director of the University Orchestra -UT Austin, Music Director of the Christchurch Youth Orchestra and Conductor for the Adelaide Youth Orchestra association. In these positions Joanna initiated collaborations, commissions, premieres and many of her performances have been broadcast on NZ Concert FM and local radio stations in Adelaide. In 2008 Joanna’s orchestra, the Adelaide Youth Sinfonia was the feature of an ABC Classic FM documentary – “From Pen to Performance” documenting the rehearsal preparation and performance of an Australia Council funded ‘New Work’ by Australian composer John Polglase. In addition Joanna has been engaged as a Guest Conductor in New Zealand for the Christchurch Symphony, Nelson Symphony, University of Canterbury Chamber Orchestra, St Matthews Chamber Orchestra and in Australia, for the Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, Burnside Symphony Orchestra and SBS Youth Orchestra. Joanna is active as a performer and has played professionally as a violinist/violist in orchestras and festivals in the USA, Germany, and Australasia. In 2009, Joanna graduated with her Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology from the Elder Conservatorium of Music. Her PhD thesis is titled, “A Hidden Treasure: Symphony No.1 by Robert Hughes” and was awarded the University of Adelaide’s Inaugural Doctoral Research Medal. A major part of the dissertation was the editing of Robert Hughes’ Symphony No.1 which is published by All Music Publishing and Distribution and ABC Classic FM has shown interest in having Joanna record the work for a radio broadcast and documentary. In 2010, Joan relocated with her family to Sydney where she is currently a Part-time Lecturer and Honorary Research Fellow at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.