Australian Conductor Simon Thew was a regular guest conductor with The Australian Ballet between 2013 and 2016, conducting performances in most of the company's seasons during that time. In 2017 he accepted an invitation to become The Australian Ballet’s assistant conductor, a position he held until mid 2022. He has also worked as a guest conductor for English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Houston Ballet.
Mr. Thew was The Australian Ballet’s Conducting Fellow in 2011 and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship. The Churchill Fellowship enabled him to undertake further professional development opportunities with ballet companies, opera houses and orchestras in London, Birmingham, Vienna, Berlin, and New York across 2012.
In 2007 Mr. Thew was awarded the Dame Joan Sutherland/Richard Bonynge Travel Scholarship, which enabled further study in Europe, culminating in his position as musical intern at the Bayreuth Festival in 2008. Simon was an assistant conductor with Opera Australia from 2007 – 2010. In 2010 he held the Hephzibah Tintner Fellowship, which gave him performance and mentoring opportunities with The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia, and the Sydney Symphony.
Mr. Thew undertook studies in Sydney, Vienna, Berlin, and Barcelona with mentors including Sebastian Weigle, Nicolette Fraillon AM, Harry Spence Lyth, Richard Bonynge AC CBE, and John Hopkins AM OBE.
Mr. Thew also has an active concert and recording conducting career and is committed to the education of young conductors and instrumentalists.
He joined Houston Ballet as Associate Conductor in August 2022 for the 22/23 season. Mr. Thew starts as the new Music Director and Chief Conductor beginning the 24/25 season.