About Us

Paul Dyer - Artistic Director

Paul Dyer is one of Australia’s leading specialists in period performance styles. A charismatic leader, he founded the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra in 1990 as a natural outcome of his experience as a performer and teacher of baroque and classical music, and has been the Orchestra’s Artistic Director since that time. Paul has devoted his performing life to the harpsichord, fortepiano and chamber organ as well as conducting the Brandenburg Orchestra and Choir.

Having completed postgraduate studies in solo performance with Bob van Asperen at the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague, Paul performed with many major European orchestras and undertook ensemble direction and orchestral studies with Sigiswald Kuijken and Frans Brüggen.

As well as directing the Orchestra, Paul has a busy schedule appearing as a soloist, continuo player and conductor with many major ensembles, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Orchestra, Australia Ensemble, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Opera Australia, Australian Youth Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Vancouver, and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, London.

Paul has performed with many prominent International soloists including Andreas Scholl, Cyndia Sieden, Elizabeth Wallfisch, Andreas Staier, Marc Destrubé, Christoph Prégardien, Hidemi Suzuki, Manfredo Kraemer, Andrew Manze, Yvonne Kenny and Emma Kirkby, Philippe Jaroussky and many others. In 1998 he made his debut in Tokyo with countertenor Derek Lee Ragin, leading an ensemble of Brandenburg Orchestra soloists, and in August 2001 Paul toured the Orchestra to Europe with guest soloist Andreas Scholl, appearing in Vienna, France, Germany and London (at the Proms). As a recitalist, he has toured Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States, playing in Carnegie Hall in New York.

Paul is an inspiring teacher and has been a staff member at various Conservatories throughout the world. In 1995 he received a Churchill Fellowship and has won numerous International and National awards for his CD recordings with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Choir, including the 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2009 ARIA Awards for Best Classical Recording. Paul is the presenter of the Inflight program “Symphony” on Qantas International flights and is a Patron of St Gabriel’s School for Hearing Impaired Children. In 2003 Paul was awarded the Australian Centenary Medal for his services to Australian society and the advancement of music and in 2010 the Sydney University Alumni Medal for Professional Achievement.