Celebrated composer Richard Mills AO to take the helm of Darwin Symphony Orchestra

An internationally-acclaimed conductor and composer, best known in Australia for reorchestrating the ABC's news theme, is set to take the helm of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO).

In a significant coup, Richard Mills AO will become the orchestra's new artistic director from its 2026 season.

The Toowoomba-raised musical visionary is best celebrated for operas Batavia and The Love of the Nightingale, that won him two Helpmann awards.

But Mills's reorchestrating of Charles Williams's Majestic Fanfare is perhaps what he's best known for nationally, with the work becoming synonymous with the ABC's radio news.

"It's symbolic. The power of the tune was such that: 'be quiet — shut up kids, here comes the news', you know," Mills told media in 1988.

Opera Australia head of music Tahu Matheson described Mills as "one of the most important people in the Australian musical scene".

"I think it's incredibly significant to have a man of this stature coming to take over this orchestra," he said.

"He comes with a wealth of experience that's second to none.

"He will bring a stature and a prominence to the [Darwin Symphony] orchestra that I think will not have happened before."

Speaking to the ABC on an empty stage at the Darwin Entertainment Centre, Mills shrugged off these significant successes.

"It's important to look at the future, not at the past," Mills said of his extensive body of work.

"I have had a wonderful life, but now is the time to contribute."

Mills's DSO appointment sets the scene for the Northern Territory's unique First Nations cultures to be shared with the rest of the country and the world.

"We'll be looking north to make work with Indonesia, with Dili and with Melanesia," Mills said.

The sky is the limit in terms of what form that collaboration could take.

"We'll be looking to manifest that work both in media and in physical presence in other places, because the Darwin Symphony Orchestra has the potential," Mills said.

It's an exciting prospect for the 18 paid principal artists and more than 60 volunteers that make up the orchestra.

DSO chair Claire Kilgariff described the orchestra as unlike any other in Australia, and one that was embedded in its community.

"What we can offer Richard is the opportunity to explore things in a different way, that perhaps he may not have the opportunity to do in the southern states," she said.

"We all know that music is the thing that connects people and Richard firmly believes in this."

For Mills, the position will be centred on community service.

"Music has always given that sense of spiritual enrichment and that's why it's very important in a community," Mills said.

He believes that's what keeps the musical greats like Beethoven and Brahms evergreen.

"The thirst for beauty and the thirst for hope are constants of the human condition," Mills said.

"When you play a great work, for that moment, everything checks out … and this gives people hope.

Richard Mills will take up the baton from outgoing DSO artistic director Jonathan Tooby next year.