John Carmody studied Medicine at the University of Queensland after
which he then spent four decades as a physiologist and pharmacologist in the
Faculty of Medicine at the University of NSW in Sydney. Over that time he also
had several periods working in universities and research institutes in Germany.
In 1978 John succeeded David Malouf as the writer on opera and concert
music for the
National Times and, after that paper closed,
wrote for the
Australian FinancialReview and
the
Sun-Herald. He has contributed extensively to
the
Australian
Dictionary of Biography and to a number of substantial encyclopedias
and reference publications. His book reviews and other articles have
appeared in virtually every significant Australian publication and in a number
overseas as well. He writes on opera for
Opera [London]
and
Opernwelt [Berlin].
John has broadcast
frequently on ABC radio, notably on music, religion, history, and medicine.