Brian Gilbertson's career has taken him to many parts of the world across several performance genres.


From rock singer to lawyer to international opera tenor, Brian Gilbertson has enjoyed a fascinating journey in the performance industry spanning more than 50 years. As a child he sang on national television in Australia and in children's opera. As a teenager and young man he sang in rock bands. In his 20's after completing a Law degree he added musicals, folk, jazz and cabaret to his performance experience whilst working as a lawyer by day. In 1984 after 7 years as a lawyer, Brian sold his legal practice and went to Vienna to study singing, languages and drama. Brian attended the Hochschueler fuer Musik Darstellendar Kunst and also studied voice privately with the well respected Maestro, Franz Schuch-Tovini, also in Vienna. 

Brian then enjoyed a 20 year career singing as a principal tenor in opera, concerts, oratorio and musicals. He performed in the United States, Europe, South Africa, Asia and Australia. He has produced 7 commercial CD recordings (some available on itunes, spotify and other digital outlets as well as in this websites store) and later in his career enjoyed success as a director and producer of many concerts and major events. Brian also became well known for appearing at major international sporting events singing the Australian National anthem together with the anthems of visiting countries. This started in 1996 when he first sang the Sri Lankan and Australian National Anthems at the Australia Day Cricket Test match in Adelaide, Australia. This was the first time a foreign national anthem was sung on Australia Day. It was the start of a tradition at all major sporting events in Australia at these international sporting events.

In 1999 Brian was an Arts Ambassador for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He gave concerts and voice masterclasses in nine cities around the world. Students wanted to maintain contact for additional advice. The Brian Gilbertson free weekly singing tips site began in September of 2000. Brian has since continued to post free tips and has answered thousands of emails from around the globe. For 15 years he maintained a top 10 Google position with, Singers and Singing Teachers from over 180 countries visiting. More recently Brian has continued giving free tips through his singing tips facebook site.

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Since 1999 Brian has become well known for his management, direction and production of major events and has since 2003 managed and directed the Adelaide Christmas Pageant in South Australia, one of the biggest and best Christmas Parades in the world with a history dating back to 1933.​ He still manages to find time to help singers and actors find their true voices and to deliver honesty in performance.

 

In 2021 Brian was recognised as a member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for his significant service to Festivals and Events, Opera, and Vocal Education.

​In 2016 Brian was awarded a Star on the Adelaide Festival Centre Walk of Fame.

In 2010 Brian was awarded Citizen of the Year for the City of Adelaide Australia Day awards. 

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In 1999 during his "Reaching the World" concert tour as an Arts Ambassador for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Brian also gave voice masterclasses wherever he sang. The singers who attended were keen to learn more. On his return to Australia, he set up a free weekly singing tips website posting tips that responded to their many questions. The word got out and many thousands visited the site and it became a first page organic site for singing and singing tips on Google for more than 12 years.  Brian continues to give voice masterclasses, workshops, and singing advice and mentorships in Australia and internationally. 

 

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