Melanie Penicka-Smith is a Producer, Production and Stage Manager, International Tour Manager and Event Manager.

With a passion for working with community, Mel and her wife Sarah run Pacific Pride Choir, a touring choir founded to travel to regions where LGBTQIA+ rights may be legalised, but not accepted. Together they began the Lifehouse Volunteer Orchestra, bringing music to patients and their families at the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, a Sydney oncology hospital.

Mel is the Co-Producer of 'OCDiva', a new Australian, one-woman, autobiographical opera by Eve Klein, about mezzo-soprano Yasmin Arkinstall's struggle to do life, art and mental health.

As a freelance stage and event manager, Mel has worked in NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, The State Theatre, City Recital Hall, Sydney Town Hall and The Concourse. She has also stage managed events in MONA, Hobart, the Casula Powerhouse and in international venues including the Vietnam National Academy of Music, Hanoi, and Polskie Radio S.A, Warsaw.

More recently, she was engaged to stage manage ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’, as part of The Pinnaroo Project, a 3+ years arts and health initiative aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of the Pinnaroo Community (South Australia).

She regularly works as a Stage Manager for River City Voices and recently joined the team at Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

Her stage management opera production credits include Purcell’s The Fairy Queen (Tom Mann Theatre, 2009), Krasa’s Brundibar (City Recital Hall, 2014), and Menotti’s The Medium (Experiment Farm Cottage, 2015).

Mel recently attained a Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services and holds a NSW White Card.

OPERA

Menotti - The Medium (Opera Prometheus, 2015)
Cummins - Timor* (Opera Prometheus, 2015)
Leon - Monsoon* (Opera Prometheus, 2015)
Krasa - Brundibar (Joseph Toltz/Opera Prometheus, 2014)
Campra - Tancrede (Opera Prometheus, 2013)
Glass - Akhnaten (Ondine Productions, 2013)
Cummins - Anacreontea Antipodean* (Opera Prometheus, 2011)
Purcell - The Fairy Queen (Sydney Gay & Lesbian Choir, 2009)

* = world premiere

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Certificate III in Live Production and
Technical Services 
TAFE St Leonards (2023)

Statement of Attainment in Undertaking Projects and Managing Risk
TAFE Digital Campus (2020)

Diploma of Events
Sydney Institute of TAFE (2012)

Diploma in Business (Marketing), majoring in Event Management
APM Training Institute, St Leonards, Sydney (2004)

Bachelor of Arts & Diploma of Education
Macquarie University, Sydney (1984-87)

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Event Management | Risk Management Planning & Assessment | Production Management | Event Management Documentation | Venue Liaison

Concert Production | Chamber Opera Production | Choral Event Consultancy

Photo: Penny Ryan, Penny Ryan Photography