Warwick Potter

Warwick Potter is one of Australia's leading conductors and presenters.

In 2011, he has already conducted West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) in two performances: a concert with Justine Clarke and an education concert in Perth featuring Stravinsky's 1919 Firebird Suite.

He holds debut engagements with both Canberra and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras this year and will also debut with leading freelance ensemble, Camerata of St. John's in Brisbane. He holds multiple return performances with Adelaide, Queensland and West Australian Symphony Orchestras.

His career highlights have included conducting WASO in its annual Symphony in the City concert in front of 22,000 people last year, conducting the same orchestra in its collaboration with The Panics in 2010 as well as conducting the Australian premieres of both Takemitsu's 'How Slow the Wind' (Darwin Symphony Orchestra) and Hindson's 'Dangerous Creatures' (WASO).

2010 also saw his debut both with Queensland Youth Symphony and at the prestigious Stradbroke Chamber Music Festival where he conducted Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf with many of Australia's leading players.

In 2011, Warwick adjudicated for Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition in the United Kingdom, ABC/Symphony International Young Performer of the Year and Redlands Eisteddfod. Furthermore, he has been engaged to conduct the 2011 Great Public Schools Music Day Symphony Orchestra as well as 'Carmina Burana' for Queensland Music Festival later this year.

Additionally, he will conduct ensembles for both MOST and SHEP education programs within Queensland. He continues to be contracted to Australian Music Examinations Board to help re-write its bassoon syllabus for its mainstream launch in 2012.

Warwick conducts University of Queensland Symphony Orchestra and lectures at UQ in instrumental conducting. Elsewhere in the field of education, he conducts Queensland Youth Orchestra Wind Symphony and Queensland Young Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra. He has significant experience in directing youth music ensembles, both instrumentally and vocally over a vast range of styles and genres.

As a bassoonist, Warwick trained at Royal College of Music, London winning every prize available to him including an Exhibition Scholarship. He enjoyed a successful freelance career until moving to Australia in 2002. He has toured nationally with Australian Chamber Orchestra on multiple occasions and played Guest Principal Bassoon for both Queensland Symphony Orchestra and WASO.

The Panics with WASO: ...the pairing scaled incredible heights…The band seemed genuinely overwhelmed that about 4500 fans (theirs and WASO’s) had come along to Kings Park for this special local pairing. The orchestra, WASO – led by Warwick “Wokka” Potter – seriously hit their mark…on Saturday night…the two elements blended beautifully. ’Twas almost as if we were witnessing the birth of Perth’s best – and only – 73 piece rock/classical band.
SIMON COLLINS, The West Australian, February 2010

Rising star Warwick Potter conducts the ASO in an educational concert designed to showcase the varied elements of music that composers use when composing. Potter brings a wealth of educational experience to this outstanding event with musical excerpts by Beethoven, Bizet, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Rossini, Sibelius, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and Walton.

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, January 2010

This was probably the best student concert I have attended. Other staff members learned things and said how clear the explanation was. The conductor’s commentary was a highlight of the performance.

JANETTE COPLEY, Head of Music Floreat Park Primary
post WASO “How Music Works” concerts May 2009

The DSO had the pleasure of working with Warwick Potter, from Western Australia, this last week for the 2nd Concert of the 2008 DSO Season and I highly recommend him to you for consideration as conductor. It's a rare thing for me to be impressed by a conductor, but I certainly was with Warwick.

He is energetic, knowledgeable, clear and has a good sense of humour. He handled both the Orchestra and the audience extremely well in what was a very complex program. I will certainly be inviting him back next year.

Martin Jarvis, Artistic Director, Darwin Symphony Orchestra, April 2008

Warwick Potter had obviously put in the hard yards in preparing for this performance, conducting Brahms’ Symphony No.2 from memory….most satisfying listening…

NEVILLE COHN, The West Australian, August 2007

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