For over 40 years Joseph Talia has sung, directed, conducted, and taught opera, as well as achieving a PhD from La Trobe University on the topic of cultural hegemony and the economics of the performing arts. He began his career in Melbourne, studied in Milan, was engaged to sing at the Teatro Eliseo in Rome, and has performed as a concert artist in Milan, and Vercelli. His repertoire consists of over 50 major tenor roles. He has been involved in over 140 opera productions and has directed such masterpieces as La Boheme, Carmen, Andrea Chenier, Tosca and La Rondine. Dr Talia was artistic director of the Globe Opera Company for ten years, followed by the Melbourne City Opera from 1997 to 2015, and formed the Millennium Opera in 2015. He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2007 for his dedicated service to opera. He currently maintains a successful voice studio in Melbourne where apart from his regular students, he teaches visiting students from New Zealand, Europe, Japan and Korea. He is also in high demand as an adjudicator of international competitions, such as the Paolo Tosti, in Ortona, the Mattia Battistini International in Rieti, and The Izmir International in Turkey. He regularly conducts International master classes, in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Italy, Belgium and Austria.