Music that hits hard!

Simon Hewett leads the Queensland Youth Symphony (QYS) in a powerful and heart-wrenching performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 6, often referred to as the “Tragic Symphony”.

At the height of his career as Music Director of the Vienna Opera, Mahler was celebrated, successful, and deeply in love with his wife, Alma, and their two young daughters. Yet, in this time of personal and professional fulfillment, he composed his darkest and most uncompromising work – the foreboding 6th Symphony.

The symphony’s final movement features three infamous “blows of fate”, symbolised by strikes of a massive wooden hammer. Mahler instructed the sound to evoke “a massive, wooden, dull crack, like a tree being felled by an axe.” Tragically, within a year of the symphony’s premiere, Mahler endured three devastating blows of his own: the death of his eldest daughter, his dismissal from the Vienna Opera, and a diagnosis of a fatal heart condition.

A deeply superstitious man, Mahler may have wondered if he had tempted fate. Alma later reflected, “In the 6th Symphony, Mahler described himself and his downfall: ‘He was the hero on whom fall three blows of fate, the last of which fells him, as a tree is felled’”.

This is Mahler at his most profound and prophetic – a must-hear journey into the depths of human resilience and tragedy.

A special event on 9 October welcomes finalists from the John Curro National Youth Concerto Competition, offering a rare chance to hear some of Australia’s most promising young string players as they prepare for the nation’s premier competition for young soloists.

Celebrate a milestone in Australian music as the John Curro National Youth Concerto Competition (JCNYCC) marks its 50th anniversary. For half a century, this prestigious event has celebrated Australia’s finest young string players, launching the careers of many who have gone on to achieve national and international acclaim.

Experience this landmark event as three of the nation’s most talented young musicians, selected through a rigorous nationwide audition, take the stage to perform dazzling string concertos. Accompanied by the Queensland Youth Symphony, these young virtuosos will impress you with their artistry and passion.

The JCNYCC boasts an illustrious list of past winners, including Jane Peters (1978), Richard Tognetti (1980), Nicholas Milton (1985), Li Wei Qin (1993), Emily Sun (2008), and Ray Chen (2002). As we celebrate this 50-year legacy, you’ll witness history in the making with performances by the next generation of world-class musicians.

A seasons crescendo - don’t miss the final note!

All eight QYO orchestras and ensembles perform highlights from their 2025 repertoire.

The final concert of the year on 4 December brings a festive close to the series with a thrilling selection of works, including Tchaikovsky’s dazzling Violin Concerto and York Bowen’s expressive Viola Sonata, promising a joyful and inspiring morning of music.