OUR Blue Water Wonderland of Port Stephens attracts an array of visitors to our shores every year.

The past week brought about a chance meeting and introduction to Mr Lee Bracegirdle.

Lee had  stopped to view a Koala that had chosen to perch itself snugly in the branches of a gumtree overhanging Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay.

Lee Bracegirdle and his family have holidayed in Shoal Bay for more than three decades.

Who is Lee Bracegirdle I hear you ask?

Lee Bracegirdle is an Australian – American Composer, Horn player and Conductor, best known for his compositions that have been performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Lee has held positions as Principal Horn in Orchestras on 3 Continents spanning more than three decades.

His Career as a Composer began in 1998 as winner of the Kodaly Composer’s Competition, followed by numerous commissions and requests for new works from his orchestral colleagues.

As a conductor, Lee trained at Salzburg’s Mozarteum.

In New York he freelanced with the New York City Symphony Orchestra, and the Brooklyn Philharmonia.

“We love this area and we have been coming up every year for just over 30 years,” Mr Bracegirdle told Bay News Of The Area.

“My Mother- in- law Heidi flies, over from Bavaria each year and always makes sure that we have  Port Stephens on the agenda,” said Lee.

This talented man has won numerous awards over the span of his career.

Since 1996, Lee has been Musical Director and Composer in Residence of the Australian Chamber Ballet and he appears frequently as guest conductor with many Sydney based ensembles.

2014, as guest conductor of the ‘Orquesta Sinfonica de Oriente, saw Mr Bracegirdle become the first Australian to conduct in Cuba and the first Australian Composer to perform there.

Although now retired Lee still guest conducts in Australia and Latin America.

He resides in Sydney and his many compositions are published by C.F.Peters.

This beautiful area of ours attracts diverse and unique people who have lived interesting lives just like Lee Bracegirdle.

You can contact Lee  at  www.LeeBracegirdle.net

 

 

By Jewell DRURY