The Talent 2026 Season 2 Episode 4 - Trombonist Archer Bryett & Pianist Lucas Cai

Originally from Darwin, Archer is an emerging Melbourne-based tenor trombonist. Currently completing his studies under Prof. Don Immel at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Archer has recently appeared with the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra & Wind Symphony, Australian Youth Orchestra, and the Darwin Symphony Orchestra. In 2025, Archer was a finalist in the university's Solo Artist Competition and will appear as a soloist with the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Concert Band in October. Archer is also a strong advocate for new and contemporary works for trombone, having premiered Max Kielly's "Afterlife for Solo Trombone" in 2024. 

You can find archer on instagram at: archerbryett_music

And on Facebook at: archer.bryett

Archer performs: 

GRØNDAHL, Concerto for Trombone and Piano or Orchestra 

For many years Brett regularly conducted the Melbourne, Sydney, Tasmanian, Queensland, Adelaide and West Australian Symphony Orchestras, along with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, the Victorian Opera and Australia’s premier contemporary opera company, Chambermade Opera. Brett was Principal Trombonist of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra from 1981 to 2019 and during his career has occupied, or been offered, similar positions in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, The Orchestra of Opera Australia, the Orchestra Arturo Toscanini (Italy) and the Singapore Symphony.

As the featured Conductor on numerous CD recordings for labels such as NAXOS, Tall Poppies and ABC Classics with his recording of the Rodrigo Concertos with Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, Brett was nominated for a 2006 Aria Award. Between 1989 & 2004 he was Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of The Academy of Melbourne, a chamber orchestra formed from his colleagues in the MSO. Specializing in works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven & Schubert the “Academy” was widely regarded as one of Australia’s outstanding musical ensembles. From 2003 to 2012 he was Music Advisor/Resident Conductor of Chamber Made Opera.

Brett has conducted the orchestral scores for more than 100 international films including Shake Hands with the Devil, The Bank Job, Red Dog, Children of Huang Shi, Knowing, South Solitary, Beneath Hill 60, Babe 2, Tomorrow When The War Began, The Way Home, Legend of the Guardian, Cloudstreet, Sanctum, Killer Elite, Happy Feet 2, The Dressmaker, The Kingsman, Mortal Combat and Baz Luhrmann’s Australia.

With a passion for engaging the wider community with the excitement and wonder of the symphonic world, Brett has presented many highly successful radio programs. He has been a core member of three outstanding Australian contemporary music ensembles, Flederman, The Seymour Group and Elision. Brett has maintained a close connection with new Australian music throughout his career and has conducted the premiere of more than two hundred new works. He has performed as soloist with the orchestras of Melbourne, Sydney and Queensland and was Director of the 1999 & 2001 Castlemaine State Festivals.

Brett Kelly has been the Music Director for Melbourne Youth Orchestras since 2018, guiding the artistic direction of Melbourne's leading organisation in developing ensemble skills for young musicians. He is also the Conductor of the Flagship ensemble, the Melbourne Youth Orchestra, bringing his wealth of knowledge and experience to benefit the next generation of orchestral musicians.