Music Director // Sydney
Natalia Raspopova.
Conductor of the Australian Christian Orchestra, Choir and Youth Orchestra, bringing professional orchestral standards to a Christian community in Sydney.
Music Director, Australian Christian Arts
A conductor of international standing.
Natalia Raspopova is a Russian-Australian conductor of international standing, raised in the Russian Orthodox tradition and steeped in sacred music from childhood.
She has recorded piano with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and worked with some of Australia's finest orchestras, including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Queensland Symphony Orchestra. She has also led productions with Queensland Opera, the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Youth Orchestra and Sydney University Symphony Orchestra.
At Australian Christian Arts, Natalia leads all musical direction, conducting the full Orchestra, Choir and Youth Orchestra, and overseeing audition pathways for every ensemble.
International standing
A career built on the world's stages.
2013
Selected for the Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program, working with the Tasmanian, Melbourne, and Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestras.
2015
Appointed Assistant Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, working alongside conductors including Simone Young, Maxim Vengerov and Marin Alsop.
2017
Conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra at London's Southbank, and was chosen by David Zinman to conduct the Tonhalle Orchester Zurich.
2022
Quarter-finalist in La Maestra, one of the world's most prestigious international conducting competitions.
Short credential reference: QSO Assistant Conductor · La Maestra Paris quarter-finalist · BBC Concert Orchestra.
In her words
Most young musicians are forced to choose between their faith and their craft. We are the place where they don't have to.
Natalia Raspopova, Conductor
Orchestras & companies
Where she's performed and conducted.
At Australian Christian Arts
Leading the next generation.
In May 2026, Natalia launched the Australian Christian Youth Orchestra and Youth Choir in Sydney CBD for ages 11–19, rehearsing Thursdays alongside her direction of the adult Orchestra and Choir.
Her focus is excellence, preparation, and developing the next generation, bringing professional orchestral standards into a nurturing Christian environment, with a deep conviction that the best Christian music emerges from the best-trained musicians.
Every AChA rehearsal and concert across the Orchestra, Choir and Youth programs carries her musical direction and standard of preparation.
Explore further
Experience Natalia's musical direction.
Australian Christian Orchestra
The full symphony orchestra Natalia conducts, Sydney's premier Christian ensemble.
Australian Christian Choir
Musical direction across the Choir sits under Natalia's leadership too.
Auditions // Musical direction
Questions about auditions or musical direction?
Musical direction and audition pathways for every ensemble sit with Natalia. Email natalia@australianchristianarts.com.
