Ko Damien ahau,
No Ahitereiria ōku tīpuna,
Kei te noho au ki Whanganui-a-tara
Coming from Ngunawal Country, Damien studied double bass with Max Mcbride at the Canberra School of Music, and with Prof. Johannes Auersperg and Prof. Timothy Dunin at the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Oberschutzen, Austria.
Damien Joined the NZSO in 2020 previously having performed as guest principal bass with orchestras all around the world including the Melbourne Symphony, the Singapore Symphony, the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria, Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa in Japan, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Graz Philharmonic and the Niederösterreichisches Tonkünstlerorchester.
Damien was a member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for 15 years and has also performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera Orchestra and is a member of the Australian World Orchestra.
Internationally, Damien has worked with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, the WDR Symphony Orchester Köln and others.
As a chamber musician and soloist, Damien has appeared in concerts throughout Australia, Germany, Austria and Japan, China, Hong Kong, collaborating with orchestras, musicians, and ensembles from all over the world.
Damien is passionate about music education and for over a decade has served as Coordinator of Double Bass at the Australian National Academy of Music, as well as giving master classes throughout Australasia. He is also involved in ensemble and chamber music coaching, working often with the Australian Youth Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s education program, Melbourne Youth Music, and the Kanazawa University Orchestra amongst others.