Sydney-born Graham Abbott is a Music Education graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium. After five years as a schoolteacher, he embarked upon a new career as a conductor, initially studying with Myer Fredman. He has had more than 30 years’ experience conducting orchestral, choral and operatic music of almost every conceivable period and style. Among his many professional posts, he was Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra from 1993 to 1997, and has directed many choirs in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide

He has many years’ experience as a public speaker on music, and has developed a reputation as an engaging educator, capable of opening the world of music, particularly to the untrained music lover. He has presented adult education programs for the MSO and State Opera of South Australia and has taught in the Elder Conservatorium's Open Academy in Adelaide. He taught modules for teachers, community-based musicians and high school students in the Symphony Australia Conductor Training programme over a number of years. Graham was awarded the 2007 Bernard Heinze Award by the University of Melbourne in recognition of his services to music in Australia. He is currently patron of the Riverina Conservatorium in Wagga Wagga, and of the Young Music Society in Canberra. For fifteen years –from 2003 to 2017 –Graham produced and presented Keys To Music on ABC Classic, as well as undertaking many other presenting and producing roles with the station. He is now regarded as one of Australia’s pre-eminent communicators on music, a feature which, when combined with his conducting and teaching expertise, makes him a unique member of Australia’s arts and education world.