Celebrate 60 years with us!
Check out all of the free events and activities we have on offer below
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This is the one day of the year when the rehearsal door is thrown wide open and you are welcome to step inside for a real-time, real-life experience of what happens as our young musicians learn, listen, work together and finetune their craft. This is a unique way to introduce children to the world of making orchestral music.
Come and go as you please across the day and the different rehearsal spaces.
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See another side to our talented young musicians as they break out into small ensembles and entertain, impromptu-style.
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Wander through our beautiful heritage gardens and find a spot to relax and soak up the sunshine.
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There will be no shortage of entertainment to enjoy! Grab delicious food, refreshing drinks and maybe even a sweet treat like fairy floss while you explore. Get your souvenirs at our merch stall or try out instruments with Brisbane’s best suppliers.
If you’re looking to join QYO our team will be able to answer all of your questions at our information stalls.
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Bring your little ones along for a fun day out. Try out some colouring in or perhaps face painting while you’re in between events.
Food trucks, stalls & activities all day
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Food trucks, stalls & activities all day 🎵
What’s On
Saturday 6th June 2026, The Old Museum
Open Door Rehearsals
10am - 11am | Queensland Youth Symphony | Concert Hall
10am - 11am | Junior String Ensemble 1l | Studio 2
11am - 12pm | Wind Symphony | Concert Hall
11am - 12pm | Junior String Ensemble 2 | Studio 2
12pm - 1pm | Queensland Youth Orchestra 2 | Concert Hall
12pm - 1pm | Wind Ensemble | Studio 2
1:30pm - 2:30pm | Queensland Youth Orchestra 3 | Concert Hall
2pm - 3pm | Big Band | Studio 2
Concerts and Events
3pm - 4pm | Animals, Adventures & Orchestras Concert | Concert Hall | FREE - registration required
4:30pm - 5:30pm | Music Trivia | Studio 2
6pm - 7pm | Alumni Concert | Concert Hall | PAID - purchase tickets
Sunday 7th June 2026, QPAC
3pm - 5pm | Visions of Nature Concert | QPAC Concert Hall | PAID - purchase tickets
Concerts
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Animals, Adventures & Orchestras
Join us for a fun-filled, family-friendly experience designed to spark imagination and delight young audiences! Queensland Youth Orchestra 2 and Symphoria will bring two beloved musical stories Peter and the Wolf and The Carnival of the Animals to life.
Relaxed floor seating - you’re welcome to bring blankets and cushions. Standard seating will also be available. *No cost but bookings essential.
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Together, Again: QYO 60th Anniversary Alumni Concert
QYO alumni of all ages and across the decades will regroup for one fabulous concert featuring the Alumni Community Orchestra and the Alumni Symphonic Winds to celebrate and commemorate our 60th Anniversary.
This is a paid event - tickets and bookings essential. All welcome.
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Visions of Nature
Our 60th celebrations move across the river as Queensland Youth Symphony and conductor Simon Hewett present Visions of Nature, featuring Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Pastoral and Strauss’ Eine Alpensinfonie. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience extraordinary music played by extraordinary young emerging musicians!
This is a paid event - tickets and booking essential. All welcome
Reconnect and reminisce
Are you QYO Alumni? Register for the Anniversary Community Orchestra or Symphonic Winds!
Visit The Old Museum
480 Gregory Terrace
Bowen Hills, QLD, 4006
Phone
(07) 3257 1191
Parking
There is no parking available on site. Limited street parking is available in the surrounding streets. The nearest parking stations are the RNA Showgrounds and on King Street.
Public Transport
The Old Museum is located 0.6km north of the Fortitude Valley Railway station.
Bus stop 7 is located directly outside of The Old Museum.
We’re 60 years young…
For 60 years Queensland Youth Orchestras (QYO) has been the State’s major orchestral training and performance organisation for young musicians aged 8 to 25. It was founded by John Curro AM MBE (1932-2019) in 1966, and is now under the artistic leadership of Simon Hewett.
QYO is renowned for our world-class youth orchestras, and for providing generations of Queensland musicians with life-changing experiences. What began as a 94 piece orchestra formed for a festival performance has since grown to over 540 musicians across eight ensembles and we continue to nurture and inspire a diverse community of young musicians. Through rehearsals, camps, performances and tours our musicians develop musical excellence and deepen their love of orchestral music.
We will be celebrating this rich history of music-making with our 60th Anniversary Celebration. The Old Museum, our home since 1988, will be filled with live music and entertainment on Saturday 6 June. The Queensland Youth Symphony will then follow this up with their concert Visions of Nature at the QPAC Concert Hall on Sunday 7 June.