Patrick Brennan attained his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and as a professional bassoonist performed with Australia’s leading orchestras for 15 years before pursuing a career as a conductor. He participated in the Symphony Australia Conductor Development Program whilst directing a number of school and community bands and symphonic wind ensembles. In 2020 Patrick won a coveted position in the Australian Conducting Academy, working with the Tasmania Symphony Orchestra.

In 2018 he was invited to speak in Richard Gill’s place as the Keynote Speaker for The Music Teachers’ Association of NSW annual conference. Through the Department of Education and Communities (now DoE) Patrick was the founding Chief Conductor of the Northern Sydney Schools Wind Orchestra (NSSWO) and in 2010 Patrick established the Northern Sydney Symphonic Wind Ensemble (NSSWE) musical extension program.

Through the Association of NSW Regional Conservatoriums, Patrick has delivered incredible performance projects for regional students with some of the world’s greatest orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin and the Australian World Orchestra. Patrick has created and developed a number of cornerstone organisations including the Northern Sydney Schools Wind Orchestra, Central Coast Opera, Regional Youth Orchestra NSW and the NSSWE program that now offers weekly professional development for tertiary music students, focusing on best practice in pedagogy and conducting.

As a music educator Patrick has worked within the Department of Education Arts Unit, in government and non-government schools as well as in tertiary institutions, including the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music. He was also appointed as the NSW representative of the Bassoon syllabus for the AMEB. As a member of the Curriculum Development Committee for the ANSWRC Patrick is currently developing a statewide curriculum for music students across regional NSW.

As Artistic Director of the Central Coast Conservatorium, Patrick musically directs the major premier music ensembles on the NSW Central Coast. Patrick co-produced and conducted the Concertante Ensemble’s production of Appalachian Spring, conducts the Central Coast Youth Orchestra, is the Musical Director for the Opera in the Arboretum and Bouddi Bells working with both national and international Opera Artists. As the Conductor, Musical Director and Producer of Central Coast Opera, a leading organisation providing unique opportunities for the development of up and coming aspiring artists and the broader community, Patrick has delivered fully staged productions of the Magic Flute, Carmen and La Boheme.

Patrick’s inspirational approach and passion for music education drives the Conservatorium to deliver excellence in comprehensive music education and performance to students and communities locally and statewide.