Recent Highlights - Term 1 2026
Queensland Youth Symphony: Visions of the Supernatural
The evening opened with a striking reimagining of Schubert’s Der Doppelganger, featuring principal Trombone Tristan Pofandt as soloist, joined by Alexander Smith and Matt Redman as high haunting ‘doubles’. Together, they created a chilling sense of unease and drama.
In Schumann’s Konzertstuck for Four Horns and Orchestra, horn soloists Thomas Ferreira-Montague, Lachlan Smith, Craig King and Zach Hayes delivered a performance of remarkable precision and flair. Navigating one of the most demanding works in the horn repertoire, their cohesion and virtuosity were a standout.
The concert culminated in a gripping performance of Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, with QYS bringing vivid colour and dramatic intensity to the piece’s hallucinatory narrative.
QYS returns to the stage on 7 June at QPAC for Visions of Nature, featuring Strauss’ monumental Eine Alpensinfonie and Beethoven’s Pastoral symphony..
Concerts at the Old Museum
Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony combined to perform their Term 1 concert Lift-Off, featuring classics like An American in Paris by George Gershwin (arr. Jenny Brubaker) as well as a world premiere of Threads by Wind Symphony conductor Prof. Rob McWilliams.
Junior String Ensembles 1 and 2 performed with Varsity College Acacia String Ensemble (led by Nicky Griffiths, former Assistant Conductor with QYO). It was spectacular to see all 125 musicians on stage for a joint performance of Silhouettes by Alan Lee Silva.
The final concert of the term was Queensland Youth Orchestra 3 with Mansfield State High School Orchestra.
Queensland Youth Orchestra 2 & The Academy of Queensland Ballet
Queensland Youth Orchestra 2 and the Academy of Queensland Ballet came together to enchant audiences with Nature’s Gathering, a luminous evening of ballet and live orchestral music in collaboration. The concert marked a joyful return to The Old Museum and highlighted the artistic growth of Queensland’s emerging musicians and dancers.
Under the baton of David Deacon, QYO2 set the stage with Grieg’s In Autumn overture, establishing a rich emotional landscape. The orchestra’s performances of the Peer Gynt suite, Norwegian Dances, Piano Concerto, and Nordic Melodies were full of nuance, colour, and vitality. The Clark Pre-Professional Program dancers, guided by Resident Choreographer Paul Boyd, brought to life the mythological world of Grieg’s Norway.
For QYO2, performing alongside live dancers offered a unique challenge and learning opportunity, shaping tempo and character to support the choreography on the stage.
