2026 AFCM Opening Night Concert – Cairns Crescendo

Representing the Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation, Member for Barron River, Ms Bree James MP; Cairns Regional Council Mayor, Councillor Amy Eden and Councillors; Deputy Director-General, Arts Queensland, Ms Kirsten Herring PSM; Australian Festival of Chamber Music Chair, Ms Mary Jo Capps AM and Directors of the Board; Executive Director, Dr Ricardo Peach; Artistic Director Mr Jack Liebeck and the Festival Team, artists and corporate partners; the many distinguished guests here this evening; ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.

I would also like to begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Cairns-Gimuy, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here this evening, including special guest of the Festival, Yidinji Elder, Professor Henrietta Fourmile-Marrie AM.

As the Patron of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, I am proud and pleased to be here this evening, together with my husband Graeme, to join the community of the Cairns region in welcoming this unique Queensland festival to its new home.

Thirty-five years ago, Professor Ray Golding’s visionary concept of a chamber music festival in the tropics was greeted with scepticism. He and the inaugural Artistic Director, Theodore Kuchar, were certainly confident, but would international artists be prepared to travel to Townsville? Was there sufficient interest in chamber music in North Queensland to build an audience?

It soon became clear that they would, and there was.

In the years since that inaugural event, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music has demonstrated repeatedly that the concept works — a classical music festival can succeed outside Australia’s capital cities, and musicians of international calibre are willing to spend time in a relaxed tropical city collaborating and interacting with each other and with students and the broader community.

Over the past 12 months, I’ve been delighted to see that the people of the Cairns region have embraced this Festival with the same enthusiasm as the original Townsville community.

On behalf of all Queenslanders as well as musicians, composers and music lovers around the world, I thank them for that and congratulate the Festival’s Artistic Director, Board, staff and volunteers as well as the loyal supporters and partners who have continued to invest in this wonderful event.

Tonight, we will have the privilege and pleasure of hearing more than two dozen exceptional artists performing not as soloists but in combinations ranging from chamber groups to a trio of stellar pianists performing on one piano at the same time.

It’s a truly extraordinary line-up that includes not only Artistic Director Jack Liebeck and one of his most celebrated predecessors, Piers Lane, but the members of Sitkovetsky Trio — one of the world’s leading piano trios, and many of Australia’s and the world’s finest musicians.

And we’ll be the very first audience to hear Forest, Ocean, City, the work commissioned from Australian composer, Sam Wu, by the Cairns Regional Council to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the establishment of this marvellous city.

Tonight promises to be a memorable experience and I know the excitement will continue as the magic carpet ride of 37 fantastic events continues over the next week, taking audiences from concerts, masterclasses, conversations and lectures, to pop-ups, cruises, collaborations with the Cairns Italian Festival — even a speed-dating session to network with emerging artists5 and a highly entertaining concert inspired by the BBC’s Horrible Histories.

The fundamental message of the rich and eclectic program that Jack Liebeck has put together for us for this inaugural Festival in Cairns is that chamber music isn’t just for concert halls.

Ever since it began as music performed in the intimate spaces of wealthy households and palaces, it has been music for us all, with immense power to enrich and transform the lives of both musicians and audiences.

Have a wonderful festival!