Biography
Biography
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Natalia Raspopova Australian conductor has proven herself as a versatile musician. She is currently working as guest orchestra conductor, concert pianist, opera coach and piano pedagogue.
As an active guest conductor, she has enjoyed working with the Monash Academy University Orchestra, Griffith University Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Opera, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Youth Orchestra, Sydney University Symphony Orchestra, Coast Opera Australia and New Zealand Secondary Schools Symphony Orchestra.
Natalia came to Australia aged sixteen and has performed widely in Australia as a pianist-including an appearance with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as a concerto soloist. Concerts and important collaborations with singers led Natalia to developing an interest in opera, and subsequently to the study of conducting.
In 2013 Natalia was selected from a large pool of applicants to be part of the Symphony Services international Conductor Development Program, which has seen her working with the Tasmanian, Melbourne, Auckland Philharmonic, Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestras. Natalia was mentored by internationally renowned conductors such as Christopher Seaman, Johannes Fritzsch, Eckehard Stier and Giordano Bellincampi.
During 2015-16 Season Natalia joined Queensland Symphony Orchestra as first ever Assistant Conductor, selected from an international pool of seventy applicants.
In this role, Natalia has assisted international conductors such as Simone Young, Maxim Vengerov, Fabien Gabel, Yu Long, Alondra de la Parra, Ainars Rubikis, Jessica Cottis, Rory Macdonald, Johannes Fritzsch, Lukasz Borowicz, Santtu-Matias Rouvali and Jacques Lacombe. She has also conducted many of QSO’s concerts in her own right – including their family concerts, education programmes and on tour. In 2016/2017 Natalia has appeared with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Monash University Academy Orchestra, Queensland Conservatorium Orchestra and Opera Queensland.
In 2017 Natalia has been selected to participate in the Southbank BBCCO International Masterclass lead by Marin Alsop and in the 9th International Masterclass lead by David Zinman with Tonhalle Orchester. In 2018 Natalia was awarded the Rockend Berlin New Music Opera Award for Young Australians from the Australian Opera Foundation, as well as becoming a recipient of the Brian Stacey Professional Development Award for Conductors.
In 2021-22 Natalia will appear with Monash Academy University Orchestra, Sydney University Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand Secondary Schools Orchestra.
In 2022 Natalia was chosen as one of the 14 finalists for the La Maestra International Competition in Paris.
From 2023-2026 Natalia is completing Doctorate Degree in Conducting at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Research area of this degree will be a dissertation on conductor/soloist leading orchestra from their solo instrument of choice: performance craft and effective strategies of rehearsal process. In 2023 she was also chosen as a semi-finalist at the Ferenc Friscay International Conducting Competition out of 526 applicants and is currently serving as an assistant conductor with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra.