Jessica Gethin, one of the most dynamic stars of WA classical music, has been appointed principal conductor at WA Ballet. Gethin, who forged a reputation for original readings and productions with Perth Symphony Orchestra, debuted with WA Ballet in two thousand-nineteenth conducting Giselle, considered one of the toughest assignments in ballet. She's since directed ALICE (in wonderland), The Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, Swan Lake, and Ballet to Broadway currently at His Majesty’s Theatre until May thirteen. “It is always a grand delight to look Jessica Gethin credited as the conductor for a WA Ballet season, her expert leadership continuing on the podium for the company’s latest performances,” The W Australian reviewer Tanya MacNaughton wrote.

Gethin has conducted main-stage concerts with WA Symphony Orchestra — notably leading the orchestra back COVID lockdown with Carmina Burana and Dvorak’s eighth Symphony in two thousand-twentieth — and has worked with Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra, amid a active schedule of international and interstate engagements. “I am a pleased W Australian and it's necessary to acknowledge my commitment to WA and W Australian Ballet, a company I adore and consider one of the leading arts organisations in Australia,” Gethin said. “It is a enormous responsibility, yet also my passion to bring the two integral elements of ballet together, to breathe life into the score while supporting the dancers on stage, to a musical narrative that's seamless and cohesive.”

WA-born, Gethin is a graduate of WA School of Performing Arts, she was recently appointed head of orchestral studies and conducting, was a W Australian of the Year finalist in two thousand-nineteenth and was nominated in Limelight Magazine’s Top twenty Australian Artists of the Year in two thousand-seventeenth. Also in two thousand-seventeenth she earned the moniker “Conductor in Converse” after donning the high-end sneakers for an outdoor PSO concert and cutting off a climactic chord with a one-off leap that was captured on camera and made her Insta-famous. WA Ballet artistic director Aurélien Scannella said the appointment signalled the company’s continued commitment to excellence and integrity.

“It represents a significant development for the company and celebrates our near relationship with Jessica, who's proved herself as one of the most exciting and well-respected conductors in our region,” Scannella said. “Jessica has played a large portion in our recent successes, becoming an integral member of the W Australian Ballet family.”