2026 Festival Program

AFCM welcomes you to our first ever concert in our new home in Cairns! Here we meet our incredible

array of musicians, in a programme that spans the ages - from Mozart to our emerging composer Sam Wu.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $95 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

AFCM Concert Conversations begin each morning with Artistic Director Jack Liebeck in conversation with guest Festival artists, sharing stories and insights from their musical journeys. Each session is followed by a 45-minute performance, with tea and coffee served.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $89 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $41 for AFCM Friends.

​

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold Plus Subscriptions Only
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $69 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro needs little introduction, but this will be a performance with a difference! With all the characters narrated by the brilliant Bethany Simons and the music performed by our crack team of musicians, you will experience this celebrated opera in a thrillingly entertaining and novel way!

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $95 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $69 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold Subscriptions ONLY
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

AFCM International Public Masterclasses offer audiences a rare behind-the-scenes insight into the creative process, as AFCM Pathways Program participants work one-on-one with world-class Festival artists. Open to the public, these sessions explore interpretation, technique and musical storytelling in real time, culminating in a special Pathways Showcase concert on Friday 31 July at Bulmba-Ja, at 2:00pm.

AFCM International Public Masterclasses are FREE to attend and open to the general public, Seating is strictly limited.

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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $95 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

AFCM International Public Masterclasses offer audiences a rare behind-the-scenes insight into the creative process, as AFCM Pathways Program participants work one-on-one with world-class Festival artists. Open to the public, these sessions explore interpretation, technique and musical storytelling in real time, culminating in a special Pathways Showcase concert on Friday 31 July at Bulmba-Ja, at 2:00pm.

AFCM International Public Masterclasses are FREE to attend and open to the general public, Seating is strictly limited.

Note: no composers were harmed in the making of this programme… 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). Did you know that Purcell froze to death because his wife locked him out of the house? Or that Lully conducted his orchestra by slamming a staff loudly onto the floor, but unfortunately stabbed himself in the foot? Isaac Nathan, the "father of Australian music," was crushed by a tram in 1864 in Sydney, and in another transport-related demise, Chausson cycled into a wall and didn’t live to compose another note! Thankfully, we are able to bring their music back to life at CPAC, right before your very eyes and ears. It’s a miracle!

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $86 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

AFCM Concert Conversations begin each morning with Artistic Director Jack Liebeck in conversation with guest Festival artists, sharing stories and insights from their musical journeys. Each session is followed by a 45-minute performance, with tea and coffee served.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $89 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

AFCM International Public Masterclasses offer audiences a rare behind-the-scenes insight into the creative process, as AFCM Pathways Program participants work one-on-one with world-class Festival artists. Open to the public, these sessions explore interpretation, technique and musical storytelling in real time, culminating in a special Pathways Showcase concert on Friday 31 July at Bulmba-Ja, at 2:00pm.

AFCM International Public Masterclasses are FREE to attend and open to the general public, Seating is strictly limited.

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 shaped Einstein’s thinking, and how music continues to influence the way we understand the universe.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $41 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold Plus Subscriptions Only
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $69 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $86 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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

This three-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 onboard oyster and champagne bar. With music woven seamlessly throughout the cruise, this intimate floating concert creates the perfect balance of elegance, atmosphere and ease.

Tickets start from $240 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

Experience an unforgettable evening where music meets the tropics on the waters of Cairns Harbour.

As the sun sets and the city lights shimmer across the inlet, join AFCM artists and Pathways ensembles aboard the Spirit of Cairns for a spectacular dinner cruise concert. This three-hour experience blends exceptional live performance with relaxed luxury, set against one of Tropical North Queensland’s most beautiful backdrops.

Guests are welcomed with a drink on arrival before enjoying a hot and cold tropical buffet featuring local flavours and seafood. Throughout the evening, chamber music performances unfold to present a magical Festival night on the water - perfect for celebrating music, place and connection under the stars.

Tickets start from $240 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold Plus Subscriptions Only
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

AFCM Concert Conversations begin each morning with Artistic Director Jack Liebeck in conversation with guest Festival artists, sharing stories and insights from their musical journeys. Each session is followed by a 45-minute performance, with tea and coffee served.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $89 for AFCM Friends.

​

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

AFCM International Public Masterclasses offer audiences a rare behind-the-scenes insight into the creative process, as AFCM Pathways Program participants work one-on-one with world-class Festival artists. Open to the public, these sessions explore interpretation, technique and musical storytelling in real time, culminating in a special Pathways Showcase concert on Friday 31 July at Bulmba-Ja, at 2:00pm.

AFCM International Public Masterclasses are FREE to attend and open to the general public, Seating is strictly limited.

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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $41 for AFCM Friends.

​

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold Plus Subscriptions Only
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $69 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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, Dvořák, Einaudi, and Tchaikovsky, you will be blown away!

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $86 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

AFCM Concert Conversations begin each morning with Artistic Director Jack Liebeck in conversation with guest Festival artists, sharing stories and insights from their musical journeys. Each session is followed by a 45-minute performance, with tea and coffee served.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $89 for AFCM Friends.

​

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

AFCM International Public Masterclasses offer audiences a rare behind-the-scenes insight into the creative process, as AFCM Pathways Program participants work one-on-one with world-class Festival artists. Open to the public, these sessions explore interpretation, technique and musical storytelling in real time, culminating in a special Pathways Showcase concert on Friday 31 July at Bulmba-Ja, at 2:00pm.

AFCM International Public Masterclasses are FREE to attend and open to the general public, Seating is strictly limited.

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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $41 for AFCM Friends.

​

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold Plus Subscriptions Only
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $69 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

Could you spend an hour listening to more glorious music than Bach's 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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $86 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

AFCM Concert Conversations begin each morning with Artistic Director Jack Liebeck in conversation with guest Festival artists, sharing stories and insights from their musical journeys. Each session is followed by a 45-minute performance, with tea and coffee served.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $89 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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: 11:30am

·      Sunday 26th July: 4:00pm

·      Monday 27th July: 1:00pm

·      Wednesday 29th July: 1:00pm

·      Thursday 30th July: 1:00pm

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $55 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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!

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $69 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $86 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

AFCM Concert Conversations begin each morning with Artistic Director Jack Liebeck in conversation with guest Festival artists, sharing stories and insights from their musical journeys. Each session is followed by a 45-minute performance, with tea and coffee served.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $89 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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.

Tickets start from $10 for children under 15, and $32 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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.

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $41 for AFCM Friends.

​

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold Plus Subscriptions Only
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions 

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!!

Tickets start from $30 for patrons under 30 years of age and $95 for AFCM Friends.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

• Included in Gold and Gold Plus Subscriptions 
• Available for selection in Silver & Silver Plus Subscriptions