After graduating with Master of Music Degrees in both musicology and performance from the University of Melbourne and the Royal College of Music, London, Alex Furman commenced a career as a professional classical pianist. During a five year period, he gave a number of concert performances of solo piano and chamber music throughout Australia and the UK, and recorded and broadcast for the ABC?s national radio networks and Move recordings. Returning to Australia in 1992, he became Music Director of the Victoria State Opera Schools Company, the educational touring opera arm of the company.
Coming to the realization he would be more useful to the music profession behind a desk rather than a piano keyboard, Alex made a transition to arts management. Over a 20 year period, he held a number of senior management roles in artistic operations, marketing, public relations and fundraising with Australia?s leading companies. These include Opera Australia, Victorian Opera, the Melbourne International Arts Festival, and for eight years was Senior Associate Director of Jenifer Eddy Artists Management, a leading specialist music agency representing international classical musicians. Alex has been closely involved with the management and development of careers of a number of leading Australian singers including Yvonne Kenny, Cheryl Barker, Peter Coleman-Wright, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Suzanne Johnston and David Hobson. He has also authored a number of articles about music for journals and concert programs.
He has been a strong advocate for the development and promotion of young Australian musicians, including founding the long-running concert series, Twilight Chamber Music at Ripponlea. He is currently a committee member of Mietta Song Recital Award and a member of Musica Viva Australia?s national artistic advisory council. He is on the Development Board of the Childrens Bioethics Center at the Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne and a patrolling lifesaver at Aspendale Lifesaving Club.
Alex is particularly interested in developing a wider philanthropic culture in Australia and currently manages the major gifts program at Murdoch Childrens Research Institute at the Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne.