Australian Festival of Chamber Music announces extraordinary artist lineup and six world premieres for 2025
Tickets on sale on Monday 3rd March at afcm.com.au
This year, from 25 July to 2 August, a total of 36 extraordinary musicians including 11 international artists, two making their Australian debut, 13 artists making their AFCM debuts and three ensembles, will travel to Townsville-Gurambilbarra for what has become one of the most famous chamber music events in the world.
The 2025 artist lineup announcement follows a record-breaking 2024 festival, and recent news the event secured over half a million dollars from The Ian Potter Foundation in what is a game-changing line in the (North Queensland) sand - $525,000 funding over four years for the expansion of the AFCM Pathways Program.
"This year an incredible SIX world premieres and an Australian premiere will be staged, plus a deep dive into some of classical music's greatest feuds! I'm excited to introduce a host of AFCM debutants and young musicians as well as favourite returning artists. The collaboration of young musicians with experienced musicians will be a particular pleasure, as the interchange of ideas and knowledge will happen live on stage," said Artistic Director Jack Liebeck from his London base. "In taking chamber music beyond concert halls, I am particularly happy to welcome iconic ABC Radio National announcer Andrew Ford as our resident musicologist and speaker; his lectures on the history of music will reveal much about our wonderful artform and why performing and listening to music is such an innately human activity, and two world premieres of his works will take place."
To the SIX world premieres and one Australian premiere:
🎼 On Monday July 28 during the first Evening Concert called Final Words, the first of two world premiere's from Andrew Ford will be staged - Machnamh will be performed by Dale Barltrop, Christopher Cartlidge, William Mabo, Michael Dahlenburg and Francesca Hiew.
🎼 In Concert Conversations 5 on Friday 1 August, Sir Stephen Hough's Cherish this Night: Nocturne for flute and piano will be performed by Joshua Batty and Olga Zado. A commission from AFCM.
🎼 At the Ray Golding Sunset Series 6 The Final Sunset, Australian composer Paul Dean's work Clarinet Quintet will be showcased by Michael Collins, Timo-Veikko Valve, Catherina Lee, Adam Barnett-Hart, Sophie Nickel. This is the second time Paul Dean has premiered a work at the AFCM.
🎼 The second Andrew Ford world premiere takes place in Concert Conversations on Wednesday 31 July, called The Carnival of Insects. The work features 14 short movements for strings, with specially written poems by the great John Kinsella, that Andrew will read.
🎼 Two world premiere arrangements by Australian James Crabb, one of the world's leading classical accordionists, round out the six. The first on Sunday July 27 as part of the St James Concert, called PÄRT - My Heart's in the Highlands, arr. James Crabb, performed with Carolyn Sampson OBE and James. The second is during the Ray Golding Sunset Series 6 on Monday 28 July, Bach's Concerto for Two Keyboards in C minor BWV 1060, arr. for concert accordion, piano and string quintet by James Crabb, performed by James together with Olga Zado, Francesca Hiew, Michael Dahlenburg, Dale Barltrop, Caroline Henbest and Kirsty McCahon
🎼 The Australian premiere will take place during the Ray Golding Sunset Series 2 on Sunday 27 July and is Joseph Havlat's, A Scandal in Bohemia, to be performed by James Crabb, Stefan Dohr, Mark Smith, Tasman Compton, Lloyd van't Hoff, Alexandra Allan, Joshua Batty and Joseph Havlat himself.
Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the Australian Festival of Chamber Music attracts visitors to North Queensland to enjoy world-class musical performances in the region's stunning natural surroundings.
"The Crisafulli Government's investment will help to grow access to music excellence, generate career development and employment opportunities for Queensland artists, and drive economic benefit through cultural tourism in the region," Minister Langbroek said. "Events like the AFCM are vital to securing our state's reputation as a vibrant arts and cultural destination and maximising legacy opportunities that come with the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games."
The Festival begins this year with the inaugural Long Table Lunch, before the Opening Night Concert. Concert Conversations returns, along with AFCM Illuminates, Sunset Series, the free Queens Gardens Concert, the Festival Garden program, the unique Orpheus-Goolboddi Island Concert, and the International Masterclasses Concert.
The Artists:
International artists joining Michael Collins and Jack Liebeck at the North Queensland event include:
- Adam Barnett-Hart (Violin, USA) – a famed American violinist, known as the first violinist of the Escher String Quartet.
- Ana-Maria Vera (Piano, Bolivia/USA) – an acclaimed pianist, known for her expressive performances and technical mastery. Australian debut.
- Catherina Lee (Violin, UK) – a rising UK-based, Queensland-born violinist, described as having exceptional musicianship with a unique charm and sensitivity placing her in a league of her own
- Carolyn Sampson OBE (Soprano, UK) – a celebrated British soprano with an extensive career in opera, recital, and baroque music. AFCM debut.
- Kyril Zlotnikov (Cello, Belarus/Israel) – a distinguished cellist and founding member of the Jerusalem Quartet. AFCM debut.
- Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt (Viola, USA) – praised by Strad magazine as having "lyricism that stood out...a silky tone and beautiful, supple lines," Milena has established herself as one of the most sought-after violists of her generation. AFCM debut.
- Olga Zado (Piano, Ukraine) – a Ukrainian pianist known for her poetic interpretations and profound musicianship. Australian debut.
- Stefan Dohr (French Horn, Germany) – Principal horn of the Berlin Philharmonic and one of the world's leading horn soloists. AFCM debut.
Joining the international music-makers are some of Australia's finest musicians, including:
- Alexandra Allan (Oboe, Melbourne, AUS) – a skilled oboist from Melbourne (MSO Academy) with a strong presence in Australian classical music, making her AFCM debut in 2025.
- Caroline Henbest (Viola, Melb, AUS) – a leading violist and Feldenkrais Practitioner.
- Christopher Cartlidge (Viola, Sydney, AUS) – a prominent violist known for his performances in Australian orchestras, and as a member of the Australian String Quartet. Making his AFCM debut.
- Dale Bartrop (Violin, Adelaide, AUS) – a leading violinist, Concert Master at the MSO for 10 years and now first violin with the Australian String Quartet.
- Emily Beauchamp (Violin, Sydney, AUS) – Emily (MSO Academy) was a member of the Sydney Youth Orchestras for 10 years where she was Concertmaster of the Flagship Orchestra.
- Emily Sun (Violin, Adel, SA) - "Possessed of a superb talent" (The Australian), Emily is in demand internationally. She has performed at Buckingham Palace alongside Maxim Vengerov at the Royal Gala in the presence of King Charles III, and at the Royal Palace of Brussels in the presence of the King and Queen of Belgium and is currently Violin Professor at the Royal College of Music, London. She performs on a 1753 G.B. Guadagnini 'The Adelaide' violin, loaned to her by the UKARIA Cultural Trust.
- Francesca Hiew (Violin, Adelaide, AUS) – a young, exciting and multi-award-winning violinist, co-founder of the Auric Quartet and second violin with the Australian String Quartet.
- Henry Docker (Sax, Sydney, AUS) – passionate and rising saxophonist, he is a student at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and joined Andromeda Sax Quartet in 2024, performing at the AFCM.
- Ian Brunskill (Percussion, Townsville, AUS) – a famed percussionist and music educator.
- James Crabb (Accordion, Sydney, AUS) – one of the world's leading classical accordionists.
- Joseph Havlat (Piano, Hobart, AUS) – a pianist and composer now based in London, famed for his passion for modern and contemporary music.
- Joshua Batty (Flute, Sydney, AUS) – in demand internationally and Principal Flute, SSO since 2019, Joshua is a musical superstar. This will be his AFCM debut.
- Kirsty McCahon (Double Bass, Melb, VIC) - Bass player, curator, presenter, educator, ambassador, mother and avid tree planter, Kirsty is acknowledged as one of Australia's foremost double bassists.
- Lloyd van't Hoff (Clarinet, Adelaide, AUS) – an award-winning Australian clarinettist with a passion for chamber music and education.
- Loni Fitzpatrick (Harp, Brisbane, QLD) – a professional harpist for over 10 years, Loni has been guest principal and section harpist for Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Australian Youth Orchestra and the Australian and International Symphony Orchestra Institute and has performed nationally and internationally.
- Dr Mark Smith (Trumpet, Townsville, QLD) – an experienced conductor, composer, educator & performer.
- Michael Dahlenburg (Cello, Sydney, AUS) – a founding member of the acclaimed Hamer Quartet, Michael is a leading cellist, conductor and educator who was Principal Cellist with MSO. Also a member of the ASQ.
- Paige Gullifer (Sax, Sydney, AUS) – with the Andromeda Quartet, Paige graduated from the Sydney Con with First Class Honours and won a Global Excellence Scholarship from University College Dublin.
- Phoebe Russell (Double Bass, Brisbane, AUS) – Principal Double Bass at QSO, Phoebe is a dynamic young artist, performing around the world with major Australian and international orchestras.
- Peter Neville (Percussion, Melb, VIC) – percussionist and composer, Peter is Head Of Percussion at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, and at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM).
- Rachel Down (Sax, Sydney, AUS) – Andromeda Sax Quartet member, Rachel is a musician with an eye for innovative and ambitious programming and graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium in 2023.
- Ryan Piccione (Sax, Sydney, AUS) – Andromeda Quartet member, honours student at the Sydney Con of Music, researching the role of electronics in classical saxophone pedagogy.
- Tasman Compton (Bassoon, Melbourne, AUS) – an emerging bassoonist from Hobart, member of the TSO and the MSO Academy. Making his AFCM debut
- Timo-Veikko Valve (Cello, Sydney, AUS) – a Finnish-born Australian cellist and long-time principal of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
- Simon Martyn-Ellis (Theorbo & Lute, Hobart, AUS) – a specialist in historical plucked instruments with a strong presence in early music. Making his AFCM debut.
- Sophie Nickel (Viola, Cologne, Germany/AUS) – an accomplished violist with an international career spanning Australia and Europe. Making her AFCM debut.
- William Mabo (Didgeridoo, Townsville, AUS) – a didgeridoo player preserving and sharing Indigenous Australian musical traditions.
The AFCM has called Townsville-Gurambilbarra its home for 34 years. Each year the event, now under the Artistic Directorship of famed international violinist Jack Liebeck, attracts musicians from around the world to perform across 9 days in July and August. Independent research shows the 2024 event generated a total spending in Queensland of $19.98million, up 114% from $9.32million in 2023. The total attendance of 22,106 across all events, was an increase of 31% on 2023, with interstate and overseas visitors increasing by 16%.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music: 25 July – 2 August
TICKETS ON SALE HERE www.afcm.com.au | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | #afcm
Options for full Festival passes include Gold and Gold Plus subscriptions, or pick and choose concerts with a Silver or Silver Plus subscription, plus three-night holiday packages at afcm.com.au
AFCM is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland and Arts Queensland, and Townsville City Council.
