Nicolette Ella Fraillon is one of the world’s most esteemed ballet conductors. During her trailblazing international career Maestro Fraillon has proved a brilliant and versatile exponent of both classical and contemporary ballet repertoire. Her repertoire spans all eras: from La Sylphide, through all the Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev ballets, contemporary commissions, and major choreographies by the greatest of choreographers, including, Ashton, Balanchine, Cranko, Fokine, Kylian, León & Lightfoot, MacMillan, Massine, McGregor, Murphy, Neumeier, Nijinisky, Pastor, Peck, Petipa, Ratmansky, Robbins, Tudor and Wheeldon.

Fraillon conducted her first performance aged 16. After completing her Undergraduate Degree in Australia, , Fraillon continued her studies at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna and then in Hannover with Professor Hatto Beyerle.

In 1992 Fraillon came to international attention as a prize-winning finalist in the Kirill Kondrashin Masterclass/Competition of the Netherlands Broadcasting Association at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. An invitation to work with Jiri Kylian and the Netherlands Dance Theatre in The Hague soon followed, after which Fraillon was offered the position of Music Director and Chief Conductor of Het National Ballet in the Netherlands (1994-1996). Whilst there Maestro Fraillon worked with such renowned artists as Hans van Manen, Rudi van Dantzig, Toer van Schayk, Wayne Eagling and Krzysztof Pastor.

During her five years resident in The Netherlands, she guested with many orchestras and ballet companies, oft as their first ever female conductor. These included the Finnish National Ballet, Kanazawa Chamber Orchestra (Japan), Limburg Symphony Orchestra, Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam, Noord Nederlands Orchestra, North Holland Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Residentie Orchestra. In 1995, through an invitation to work with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra she became the first Australian woman to conduct an Australian Symphony Orchestra.,

In 1998 Fraillon accepted a Professorial appointment as Director of the, then renowned, School of Music School of Music, in the Institute of the Arts, at the Australian National University in Canberra. There she left her mark, revolutionising the curriculum for classical degree programs, overseeing the building of the new Centre for the Arts and Technology and new performance and teaching spaces for the Jazz Department, and winning the University’s award for Equity and Diversity. She forged new partnerships with major national and international Institutions, whilst continuing to conduct both in Australia and overseas.

In 2002, at the invitation of the, then, newly appointed Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, David McAllister AC, Fraillon guested for seasons of Spartacus in Sydney and Melbourne. McAllister consequently offered her the position of Music Director and Chief Conductor of The Australian Ballet and in 2003 Maestro Fraillon began her landmark twenty-year artistic partnership with him and the Company .

Across the next two decades, Fraillon conducted thousands of performances, recordings and broadcasts with The Australian Ballet, working with orchestras across Australia, Europe, Japan, China and North America. International guest engagements during this period included critically acclaimed productions with Birmingham Royal Ballet, the New York City Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet.

Her work for The Australian Ballet included the commissioning of new ballet scores, taking a leading role in the development of new choreographers, composers and conductors, through the Company’s Bodytorque program and, for a period, heading up the Company’s Education and Outreach programs. With the support of patrons, Robert and Elizabeth Albert, Fraillon was able to institute training fellowships in conducting for ballet and pianism for ballet, to fill a gap in the training of young musicians in Australia and create work opportunities for the next generation.

From 2006-2009 Fraillon led a team which was awarded the, then, largest ever Australian Research Council grant to a performing arts project to examine the celebrated Ballets Russes Companies and their profound impact on dance, music, visual art and theatre in Australia. This research project brought together The Australian Ballet, University of Adelaide, The National Library of Australia and a host of other partners from across the country and included historically informed reconstruction of repertoire, the commissioning of new repertoire, the hosting of international conferences, the creation of print and online publications, and films.

In 2014 Fraillon oversaw the integration of Orchestra Victoria into The Australian Ballet, thereby ensuring the orchestra was able to continue its vital role for ballet, opera and education in Victoria. Becoming the orchestra’s Artistic Director, in addition to her role as Music Director and Chief Conductor of The Australian Ballet, she established two new regional music festivals, a new chamber music series, expanded the reach of the orchestra’s education programs and created highly successful new philanthropic initiatives, including supported Chair positions for Orchestra Victoria players and the Richard Bonynge Orchestra Fellowships for post-graduate orchestral musicians.

Since leaving The Australian Ballet, Maestro Fraillon has had performances in Australia and Europe with Short Black Opera, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for World Pride, The Australian Ballet for its 60th Anniversary programmes, the Norwegian National Ballet and, most recently, the New York City Ballet.

In 2017 Fraillon was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia by the Australian Government “for significant service to the performing arts and musical performance as a conductor, to arts education, and to women.” Fraillon is also a recipient of the Sir Bernhard Heinze Memorial award as “a testament to her unparalleled dedication, artistry, and unwavering pursuit of excellence. Her transformative interpretations, technical precision, and commitment to education have left an indelible impact on the classical music community. As she continues to inspire audiences and shape the future of the art form, Nicolette Fraillon’s legacy as a visionary conductor and mentor will undoubtedly endure for generations to come.”

Recording and Broadcast (highlights)

Swan Lake, The Australian Ballet, Sydney Opera House - national broadcast, DVD, in cinemas,

Firebird and Other Legends, The Australian Ballet/ Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Giselle, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, ABC

Sleeping Beauty, Orchestra Victoria, David Wenham, ABC

The Nutcracker, Orchestra Victoria, ABC

Carmen, Broadcast and DVD, West Australian Ballet, Perth

Jury Memberships

1997, Amsterdam Composition Prize

2006, 2009, Paul Lowin Prize for Orchestral Compositions

Composition, The Australian Music Centre

2007, Melbourne Prize for Music

2005, 2007, Ian Potter Foundation Music Awards

2011, Jury Member, Brian Stacey Award to young conductors.

2022 – Australian Conducting Academy, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra

2023/24 – Louise Crossley Conductor Training Programme, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra