Smith, Noel (1928 - 2007)

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Noel Smith was born in Granville in 1928. He attended Granville Public and Granville Boys High schools before winning a scholarship to the Sydney Conservatorium, studying flute and conducting. On graduating, he became a flautist with the Borovansky Ballet where he met and married ballerina Rosemary Mildner. Smith was appointed assistant conductor of the Borovansky Ballet in 1957, and musical director in 1960. During his years with this company he also spent eight months with the Royal Ballet. When the Australian Ballet was established in 1962, Smith was appointed inaugural musical director, initially remaining in this position until 1967, the year in which he helped establish the Elizabethan Trust Orchestra (now the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra).

Late in 1967 Smith was appointed musical director for J C Williamsons. During his fifteen years with this organisation, he conducted nearly forty musicals and operettas, also frequently guesting as conductor with the Australian Ballet. In 1980 and 1981 he was the musical director for the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York and in 1985 returned to his position as musical director of the Australian Ballet, remaining in that post until 1997.

On his retirement, Smith held the honour of being the conductor who had given the most performances at the Sydney Opera House. He was greatly respected for the depth of his ability to meet the unique demands of conducting for ballet.

Over the course of his career, Smith conducted many international orchestras including the Moscow, Montreal, Honolulu, Mexico, Rio de Janeiro and Seattle symphonies, the Buenos Aires and Tokyo Philharmonics and the China Broadcasting Orchestra. He conducted in the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Kirov St Petersburg, The Kennedy Centre Washington and City Centre New York. Smith was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2006.

See also: Australian Ballet, The ; Borovansky Ballet

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