Afternoon Reception to Farewell Mr Piers Lane AO, Artistic Director, Australian Chamber Music Festival

Attorney-General of the Commonwealth, Senator George Brandis; Shadow Minister, Mr Ian Walker; Member for Townsville, Mr Scott Stewart; all other distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen. Kaye and I warmly welcome to Government House today the friends and extended family of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, and of Piers Lane.   

AFCM Chair Sandra Yates and Executive Director Justin Ankus and I first discussed the idea of this reception in November last year. As Patron of the AFCM, I was delighted at the idea of paying tribute to Piers’ eleven wonderful years as Artistic Director of the Festival.

And here we are!

Those eleven years have seen Piers take the great vision of Ray Golding and Theodore Kuchar, and further develop the depth, breadth, and reach of the Festival.

One of Piers many great gifts to the Festival has been access to his deep knowledge of the national and international music scene, and his huge network of music contacts around the world – all developed during his own stellar career.

Add to that Piers’ vast knowledge of chamber music repertoire, and his own consummate musicianship, and we understand how he has created such memorable music partnerships and programs for the Festival.

Piers and his team have consistently managed this large, complex, and multi-faceted event with great professionalism. They have brought popular innovations to the Festival – concert conversations, the concert crawl, and performances at exotic locations, among others.   

Piers and his team have been at pains to further engage the Townsville community as a major partner in the Festival.  Not surprisingly, given Piers’ personal connection with the city, they have ensured that the Festival creates a marvellous local legacy.  

And, of course, Piers has single-handedly depleted Australia’s supply of colourful socks.  

Piers has placed the Festival prominently into the ‘must-not-miss’ category of musical experiences for local, State, national and international music lovers.

The debt that we owe him is immense.

As Governor, proud Patron of the AFCM, on behalf of everyone here, and of all Queenslanders, I thank Piers for that immense contribution to the Festival, to Townsville, to the State, and to chamber music.

Kaye and I wish Piers every success for his final Festival as Artistic Director, and warmly welcome his successor, Kathryn Stott. 

And we wish Piers great success in whatever exciting adventures he chooses to take on next. Thank you.