The Australian born conductor and musical director Kevin Purcell is one of the most distinguished musicians of his generation. Presently, Kevin serves as musical director for the Australian Discovery Orchestra whilst also maintaining a career as a much sought after orchestrator and arranger.

He originally studied conducting at the Moscow Conservatory with Gennady Rozhdestvensky (1992), with subsequent graduate conducting studies at the Janáček Academy of Music (JAMU) with Otakar Trhlík, culminating in a Masters degree in orchestral conducting at Bard College (New York) under the late Harold Farberman. Additionally, Kevin studied Opera conducting with British conductor and Glyndebourne music director, Myer Fredman.

Awards include: Opera Australia Willem van Otterloo Scholarship (1993); Bellhouse Conducting Prize (Sydney 1993); Australian Music Foundation in London Sir Charles Mackerras Prize (1995) and Tait Memorial Trust Award (London 1996).

Kevin has previously been the musical director of the original production of CATS at the New London Theatre and for the South Korean Premiere production. More recently Kevin has conducted WICKED at London’s Apollo Victoria theatre and was the originating musical director for the first national UK/Eire tour.

As a composer of musicals, Kevin has worked with his long-time collaborator, book writer and lyricist Victor Kazan on Rebecca – The Musical, The Stranger from Seville and Castle Gillian.