Fraillon grew up in Melbourne, a child of immigrant parents of French Huguenot, Sicilian and Austrian Jewish descent.
Her family is musical: both grandfathers were cellists, and her great-uncle Guillaume was principal double bass player with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
She studied conducting at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, Austria, from 1984, and later in Hanover, Germany.
[2][3] Later she was appointed music director and chief conductor of the Dutch National Ballet.
[4] In October 1997 Fraillon was appointed director of the Canberra School of Music, effective from June 1998.