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Cairns-Gimuy, QLD
Starts 24 July 2026
EXPLORE PROGRAM
Musical Memories

Musical Memories

AFCM 2022 FESTIVAL FLASHBACKS

MOZART - Sonata in E Minor for Violin and Piano, K.304 - Daniel Grimwood (Piano) and Jack Liebeck (Violin)

SAINT-SAENS - Fantasie in A Major for Violoin and Harp - Alice Giles (Harp), Jack Liebeck (Violin)

LOESSER - The Inchworm - Kristian Chong (piano), Lotte Betts-Dean (Soprano)

VASKS - String Quartet No.3 - Goldner String Quartet

ALBINONI - Concerto in D Minor for Oboe, Strings and Continuo, Op.9, No.2 - Emmanuel Cassimatis (oboe), Phoebe Russell (bass), Goldner String Quartet

MORE AFCM FLASHBACKS

This first video shares a variety of images from the 2019 Festival with music from the Sunday night church concert - a beautiful piece by Charles Koechlin, Épitaphe de Jean Harlow, Op.164 and performed by Amy Dickson (saxophone), Sally Walker (flulte) and Charles Owen (piano). Enjoy!

Our second Video Story shares images from the 2018 Festival with music from Ravel's Rhapsodie Espagnole performed by Timothy Young (piano) and Katya Apekisheva (piano).

Our third Video Story takes us on a journey of all 29 years of AFCM, from the early days when Theodore Kuchar was AD, through Piers Lane's time at the helm and most recently with Kathryn Stott. Enjoy this wonderful timeline of images whilst listening to Jean Françaix's Dixtour for Wind and String Quartet performed on Opening Night of the 2019 Festival.  

Our fourth Video Story showcases the stunning location that AFCM takes place in - Townsville, North Queensland. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Townsville, along with nearby islands including Magnetic Island, Orpheus Island and Palm Island, and some of the tropical rainforests just north of Townsville. The music is from last year's Governor's Gala concert - Mozart’s Oboe Quartet in F major K370/368b, the first movement, performed by Rachael Clegg (oboe), Elizabeth Layton (violin), Jennifer Stumm (viola) and Timo-Veikko Valve (cello). Enjoy!

Artist Connections

This segment allows us to stay connected with the musicians as we get to hear from artists who previously attended AFCM, and find out what they’ve been up to during the pandemic period. Our first Artist Connection features the talented Yumi Kurosawa. Yumi was an award winning koto star from a young age, and is now one of the world’s most exciting soloists on what is Japan’s national instrument. Her solo repertoire includes classical Japanese compositions, as well as her own innovative and enchanting original works. 

Our second Artist Connections takes us to Adelaide to hear from Mark Gaydon, bassoon extraordinaire! Mark is an avid teacher of music, has been Principal Bassoonist with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra since 2003 and has appeared as guest principal bassoon with the Sydney, Queensland, Tasmanian and New Zealand symphony orchestras. 

Our third Artist Connections video takes us to California via China where we hear from Wu Man, recognized as the world’s premier pipa virtuoso and leading ambassador of Chinese music. She wowed our audiences in 2019 with her extraordinary talent on the pipa. Wu Man has forged an impressive career as a soloist, educator, and composer; she has toured the world many times and premiered hundreds of new works for the pipa. Enjoy this lovely video from Wu Man where she chats briefly about her fond memories of Townsville and also delights us with a short performance.

Monday July 27

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.


* Excludes bookings fees.


SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

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

Concert Details

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

ANTONIO VIVALDI
Concerto in D major for Guitar, Two Violins, and Continuo, RV 93
Karin Schaupp

DJANGO REINHARDT (Stẻphane Grappelli)
Minor swing
Jack Liebeck, Simon Martyn-Ellis

JORGE MOREL
Danza Brasilera
Karin Schaupp

ROBERT KAHN
Serenade in F minor, Op. 73
Emmanuel Cassimatis, Stefan Dohr, Alexander Krichel

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.

Concert Details

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.


* Excludes bookings fees.


SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

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

Concert Details

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.


* Excludes bookings fees.


SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

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

Concert Details

JOHANN FRIEDRICH FASCH
Concerto, FaWV L:d1, for gallichon
Jack Liebeck, Emmalena Huning, Stefanie Farrands, Julian Smiles, Simon Martyn-Ellis

HENRY PURCELL
“If music be the food of love” Z. 379A
Robin Tritschler, Simon Martyn-Ellis

HENRY PURCELL
Now that the Sun hath veiled his Light
Robin Tritschler, Simon Martyn-Ellis

HENRY PURCELL
'Tis Nature's Voice, fr. Ode to St. Cecilia
Robin Tritschler, Simon Martyn-Ellis

HENRY PURCELL
Music for a while
Robin Tritschler, Simon Martyn-Ellis

ANTONIO VIVALDI
Trio Sonata in G minor, RV 85
Simon Martyn-Ellis, Dene Olding AM, Julian Smiles

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Cantata Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht, BWV 55
Robin Tritschler, Joshua Batty, Emmanuel Cassimatis, Emmalena Huning, Dimity Hall, Irina Morozova, Charlotte Miles, Simon Martyn-Ellis

Concert Details

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 

Concert Details

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Sextet for Two Horns and String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 81b
Alexander Sitkovetsky, Emmalena Huning, Stefanie Farrands, Charlotte Miles, Stefan Dohr, Ben Jacks

GABRIEL FAURE
Sonata No. 1 in A major for Violin and Piano, Op. 13
Alexander Sitkovetsky, Wu Qian

JOAQUIN TURINA
Sinfonia Sevillana, Op. 29
Karin Schaupp

Gondwana Indigenous Children's Choir
Gondwana Indigenous Children's Choir