AFCM welcomes you to our first ever concert in our new home in Cairns! Here we meet our incredible array of musicians, in a program that spans the ages - from Mozart to our emerging composer Sam Wu.

Music and movies: Eine kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart, used in films such as ’Amadeus’. Libertango used widely in films and adverts

Venue: CPAC Theatre

One opera. One cast of characters. One extraordinary performer.

In this thrilling reimagining, Bethany Simons transforms into every character - a virtuoso performance coupled with a powerhouse ensemble bringing Mozart’s iconic score to life. Entertaining. Hilarious. Unmissable.

Venue: CPAC Theatre

Inspired by the hit BBC TV programme Horrible Histories, this concert explores some of our most cherished composers who met a sudden, untimely demise (in slightly comic circumstances). Isaac Nathan is the Australian composer in the mix; who unfortunately was the first death by tram in Australia, Sydney in 1864.

Composers include Henry Purcell, Jean Baptiste Lully, Isaac Nathan & Ernest Chausson

Venue: CPAC Theatre

This evening, we explore pivotal years in Cairns’ history. From 1770—the birth year of Beethoven and the year Captain Cook named the bay on which Cairns was eventually built—to music written in 1876, when the settlement became Cairns, and on to 1923, when it was officially made a city. These wonderful pieces put our new home into a musical perspective.

Venue: CPAC Theatre

In this humanistic ode to nature, French cellist Christian-Pierre La Marca presents a packed multimedia programme on the theme of saving the planet. Featuring epic cinematography of our beautiful world by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and works by Fauré, Strauss, Glass, Saint-Saëns, Weill,Einaudi, and Tchaikovsky, you will be blown away!

Music and movies: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Wizard of Oz, Louis Armstrong

Venue: CPAC Theatre

Could you spend an hour listening to more glorious music than The Goldberg Variations? We don’t think so! Here, performed in a special arrangement by Dimitry Sitkovetsky for string trio, you will be transported to musical heaven.

Schubert’s Winterreise is perhaps his most famous song cycle.

In this concert, we will hear the original 12-song cycle with added poetry, performed in rarely heard and beautiful chamber arrangements, sung by our wonderful tenor, Robin Tritschler.

Venue: CPAC Theatre

As we bid farewell for now, come and celebrate the final get together of AFCM 2026 in a programme featuring Dvorak, Ravel and Rodgers and Hammerstein. See you next year!

Music & Movies: Roger and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music

Venue: CPAC Theatre

As the sun sets in Cairns-Gimuy and we embrace the gloaming light, listen to breathtaking music of the night - featuring songs from the pen of Lennox Berkeley, dreamy Arvo Pärt, nocturnal Bloch, and breathtaking Chopin.

Music and Movies: Spiegel im Spiegel, Chopin nocturnes frequent usage in multiple films

Recharge your body and soul with the first of two baroque music concerts!

Two of AFCM’s Artistic Directors, past and present, come together for an afternoon recital of violin and piano classics. Jack Liebeck is joined by Australia’s beloved pianist and AFCM’s previous Artistic Director, Piers Lane, for a program featuring Elgar and Brahms.

A magical journey to the USA using the medium of music composed on the other side of the Pacific. From Corigliano to Bernstein, via Ives, Elliott Carter and others, this program reminds us of that nation’s cultural impact on us all.

Music & Movies: West Side Story

In a special AFCM co-commission, Australian composer Lee Bradshaw has completed a work that was started by Gideon Klein 80 years ago in the Nazi concentration camp where he was incarcerated. Klein was murdered on January 25th, 1945, and that date is the title of this new work. To accompany it, we feature Mendelssohn’s incredible C minor Piano Trio, written 100 years earlier in 1845. Mendelssohn, despite being baptised at age seven, had Jewish roots and suffered denigration during his lifetime because of it; fortunately, we have subsequently recognised his genius!

Renowned violin expert Florian Leonhard takes audiences inside the hidden world of historic instruments, revealing how he authenticates, investigates and uncovers the true identities of some of history’s most important violins. This fascinating talk explores the craftsmanship, mysteries and human stories behind the world’s great instruments.

Only joking! We promise, contrary to the title, this concert will be the model of order and decorum - featuring sublime music in a glorious setting. Mozart's Divertimento, often called the Nannerl Septet will be performed alongside Brahms' beautiful and melodious Sextet no. 1 for strings. The perfect Sunday afternoon tonic for the soul.

Albert Einstein once said that if he were not a physicist, he would have been a musician. In this illuminating lecture, Professor Brian Foster explores the profound relationship between music and science, revealing how rhythm, harmony and imagination have shaped Einstein's thinking, and how music continues to influence the way we understand the universe.

Harbour Harmonies - Spirit of Cairns Lunch Cruise & Concert

Set sail on a relaxed afternoon of music, cuisine and tropical beauty aboard the Spirit of Cairns.

This two-hour lunch cruise offers a uniquely Cairns experience, combining world-class chamber music with panoramic views of Trinity Inlet and the Coral Sea. As the city skyline gives way to mangroves and open water, enjoy intimate performances from AFCM Festival artists alongside emerging musicians from our Pathways and Fellowship ensembles.

Guests are welcomed on board with a complimentary drink before indulging in freshly prepared canapés and the oyster bar. With music woven seamlessly throughout the cruise, this intimate floating concert creates the perfect balance of elegance, atmosphere and ease.

From coral reefs to turtle sanctuaries and crocodile habitats, Green Island plays a vital role in protecting Tropical North Queensland’s fragile marine ecosystems. In this engaging presentation, Bekki Hull explores local biodiversity, conservation efforts on Sea Country, and how science, tourism and environmental stewardship work together to safeguard the reef for future generations.

What does it really mean to age well? Dr Eddy Strivens introduces the work of the HART (Healthy Ageing Research Team), examining the science behind longevity, brain health and quality of life. This insightful session explores practical, evidence-based approaches to staying active, engaged and healthy at every stage of life.

Enjoy a full-length concert of exceptional young musicianship from the next generation of chamber musicians from Australia and abroad. The AFCM Pathways Program presents its Pathways International Masterclass ensembles in concert, showcasing the skills and artistry they have developed over two weeks of intensive coaching.

Throughout the week, audiences are also invited to attend five public masterclasses, offering a rare opportunity to observe the next generation of performers working closely with world-renowned mentors.

AFCM Pathways Program FREE Public Masterclasses are held at Bulmba-ja Theatre as follows:
* Sunday 26th July: 12:00pm
* Sunday 26th July: 4:00pm
* Monday 27th July: 1:00pm
* Wednesday 29th July: 1:00pm
* Thursday 30th July: 1:00pm

In this playful and interactive concert, classical instruments become storytellers, painting pictures of animals, plants and imaginary landscapes through sound. A fluttering flute might turn into a bird, a cello into a growling bear, or a violin into a silly bull.

Designed especially for families and young listeners, this concert invites children to listen, imagine and discover how music can create whole worlds without a single word being spoken.

A joyful introduction to classical music that sparks curiosity, creativity and wonder - for kids and grown-ups alike.

The human heart is a marvel of rhythm, resilience and precision. Professor Robin Choudhury takes audiences inside one of the body’s most vital organs, exploring how the heart functions, why it fails, and how medical innovation is transforming the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease - the world’s leading cause of death.

Interview Guests: Alexander Sitkovetsky, Isang Enders, Wu Qian, Alexandra Raikhlina

VITTORIO MONTI
Csárdás

KURTÁG
Sonatina: transcribed fr JS Bach, Cantata BWV 106

CLAUDE DEBUSSY
“Clair de lune” arr. cello and guitar

SERGEI PROKOFIEV
Sonata in D major for Flute and String Quartet, Op. 94, arr. Lee Bradshaw

The Artistic Director’s Circle Concert, features an intimate performance by the internationally acclaimed Sitkovetsky Trio. Renowned for their expressive depth, technical brilliance, and exceptional musical cohesion, the Trio’s appearance at AFCM marks a significant artistic milestone as we begin a bold new chapter in Cairns–Gimuy.

This concert is made possible through the generous support of the Artistic Director’s Circle, whose commitment enables us to bring world-leading ensembles to northern Queensland and elevate the Festival’s global reach.

Interview Guests: Karin Schaupp, Simon Martyn-Ellis, Ben Jacks, Stefan Dohr

ANTONIO VIVALDI
Concerto in D major for Guitar and String Quartet, RV 93

JORGE MOREL
Danza Brasilera

DJANGO REINHARDT (Stephane Grappelli)
Minor swing

ROBERT KAHN
Serenade in F minor, Op. 73

GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN
Sonata in F minor for Bassoon, TWV 41:f1

Interview Guests: Jackie Newcomb, Charlotte Miles, Dene Olding AM, Irina Morozova

HENRY MANCINI (Johnny Mercer)
Moon River fr. Breakfast at Tiffany's

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola in E-flat major, K. 364, movt. 2

HARRY SDRAULIG
Cantilena

GUSTAV MAHLER
Piano Quartet in A minor

Interview Guests: Stefanie Farrands, Robin Tritschler, Emmanuel Cassimatis, Benjamin Roskams

FRANZ DOPPLER
Andante and Rondo for Two Flutes and Piano, Op. 25

TOMMIE CARR/CONNOR/LEACH
The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot

ROSS EDWARDS
Ulpirra

FRANCIS POULENC
Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano

DUNCAN/MEYER/THILE
Voila

Interview Guests: Christian-Pierre La Marca, Alexander Krichel, Lloyd van't Hoff, Dimity Hall, Julian Smiles

PEGGY GLANVILLE-HICKS
Concertino de Camera: for flute, clarinet, bassoon and pianoforte

FRANZ SCHUBERT
“Ständchen” from Schwanengesang D. 957, No. 4 arr. Liszt

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA
Ave Maria

ARISTEA MELLOS
Song Without Words for Flute and Piano

GEORGE GERSHWIN (arr. Mangani)
Blues from An American in Paris arr. Mangani

Interview Guests: Piers Lane AO, Joshua Batty, Leon Bosch, Lee Bradshaw

ZEZ CONFREY
Dizzy Fingers

FERDINAND RIES
Piano Sextet, Op. 100

KARL PILß
Serenade for Wind Quintet in G major

CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS
Introduction et rondo capriccioso