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27th Governor of Queensland Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM

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Queensland Symphony Orchestra 75th Birthday Celebration

Minister for Communities and Housing, Minister for Digital Economy and Minister for the Arts, the Honourable Leanne Enoch MP; Shadow Minister for Seniors, Communities and Disability Services and Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Mr John-Paul Langbroek MP; Queensland Symphony Orchestra Chair, Mr Rob Pilbeam, the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Ms Yarmila Alfonzetti; distinguished guests; supporters; donors; QSO musicians and guest conductor Guy Braunstein; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the original custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and extend my respectful greetings to Elders, past, present and emerging, including any First Nations people here today.

I would also like to acknowledge and offer my thoughts and prayers to anyone here tonight or at home who is facing flooding or other consequences of the current severe weather we are seeing in our State.

Back in 1947, Queensland’s 16th Governor, Sir John Lavarack, was in the audience of two-and-half-thousand people who filled this magnificent auditorium for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s very first concert.

Eleven subsequent Governors have proudly given their support to this marvellous organisation, and Graeme and I are delighted to be with you tonight to celebrate 75 wonderful years of music.

That first performance on the 26th of March 1947 was under the baton of guest conductor, Percy Code, and was reviewed on page three of The Courier-Mail the following day.

The critic concluded that the performance represented “a welcome improvement in the standard of Queensland’s orchestral music”.

And look at what has been achieved since then!

As Joint Patrons, Graeme and I congratulate the musicians, the Board and the entire QSO team on reaching this significant milestone and, as Governor, on behalf of all Queenslanders, I thank you for bringing music so delightfully into our lives for three quarters of a century.

Enjoy your evening.