eNews - June 2026

Playing in your Bach-yard

We are very pleased to be able to share our new campaign for Cairns, playfully called “In your Bach-yard”. Developed in Cairns, with volunteers from the community, in a local backyard!  We hope to bring the joy of the festival to a whole new audience with the campaign which is being supported by TV, radio, social media, YouTube and Google.

Take a peek below to see the commercial

Finalised: The Community Engagement program

This complements the Festival’s main concert program by partnering with local organisations, using community and public spaces, and creating easy entry points to make the festival more accessible to the wider public, ensuring that as many people as possible can take part and enjoy.

Take a look here.

Construction of our AFCM Pathways Road

Our end of financial year AFCM Pathways Road is being built, brick by brick, thanks to many generous donors.

So far, we have constructed a Road of 115 bricks, representing $11,500 raised. We have also released three special videos:

• Adele Ohki, professional violinist and music educator, 1995 participant in the AFCM Winterschool (now known as the AFCM Pathways Program)
• Lucy Macourt, violinist and 2025 AFCM Pathways Program participant with the Vanya String Quartet - who shares how the program gave her the confidence to found the Australis Collective, a platform supporting emerging musicians and composers in Adelaide, and to launch her own education concert series for school children.
• Lloyd Van't Hoff, leading Australian clarinettist, Head of Woodwind and Chamber Music at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, and winner of the 2015 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year - who shares what the AFCM Pathways Program means to him and to the next generation of Australian chamber musicians.

Enjoy watching these special videos here, with more to be released for every $5,000 we raise.

We’d be so grateful for your support to help our young musicians on their career pathways. Donate online here, or via bank transfer to:

Account name: AFCM Donations
BSB: 064 817
Account Number: 1076 4486
Ref: Your name

Italian Festival; Corde di Vivaldi a Cairns

In collaboration with the Cairns Italian Festival, a chamber ensemble presents a special performance of the much-loved Vivaldi's Concerto in D major for Guitar and String Quartet, RV 93, bringing an element of classical elegance to the afternoon.

Tickets to the Cairns Italian Festival, full of Italian delights and culture, can be purchased by visiting cairnsitalianfestival.com.au/events and selecting Sat July 25, 3:00PM La Festa, Fogarty Park.