John Lewis
Saxophonist and clarinettist, John Lewis has built an international career between Australia and Europe, combining orchestral excellence with chamber music projects. Principal bass clarinettist at the Opera Australia Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House, he also performs on major concert and theatre stages. A versatile musician, he balances performance, artistic collaboration, and creative work.
John Lewis’s musical journey began at age ten, sparked by an initial draw to the saxophone’s ‘cool’ factor. However, he quickly found the rich, expansive repertoire of the clarinet impossible to ignore—a discovery that launched a versatile career spanning two continents.
After formative studies with Mark Walton at the Sydney Conservatorium, John moved to Europe to refine his craft under Henri Bok in Rotterdam, and later with Richard Addison, Michael Whight, Kyle Horch, and Martin Robertson in the UK.
His long-standing relationship with the Opera Australia Orchestra (OAO) began in 2008, culminating in his appointment as Principal Bass Clarinettist in 2018, where he is a mainstay of the pit at the iconic Sydney Opera House.
A dedicated chamber musician, John’s career is marked by founding roles in both the UK’s Bennelong Ensemble and Australia’s Kammer Ensemble. These projects have taken him from the Purcell Room and Aldeburgh Festival to the hills of Tuscany and extensive tours for Musica Viva.
Beyond the orchestral world, John is a veteran of the London theatre scene, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company and recording numerous film scores. While his operatic repertoire is vast, he remains particularly partial to the lush, complex world of Richard Strauss’s Salome.
A dedicated Selmer Paris artist, John performs on Selmer Privilege clarinets and bass clarinet, Super Action 80 Series II soprano and tenor saxophones, and a Mk VI alto saxophone.
Based in Sydney, John balances his professional life with composing and recording. When away from his instruments, he is usually found exploring the Blue Mountains or sailing the beautiful coastal waters of New South Wales.
