A three-day music festival is set to delight with a range of events in stunning natural locations and intimate venues.
The vibrant Sunshine Coast Chamber Music Festival will return for its third edition, during the King’s Birthday long weekend from Friday, June 9, to Sunday, June 11.
Organisers say the event will be an innovative and immersive experience, blending contemporary and classical chamber music with site-specific, cross-form and cross-cultural elements.
Three of Queensland’s finest chamber orchestras and ensembles – Camerata, the Southern Cross Soloists and Topology – will converge for the first time in the same festival.
They will be joined by an array of world-class musicians and companies, including Alex Raineri, Chris Williams, the DeepBlue Orchestra, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre, the Beier-Griffin-Pollak Trio and a line-up of First Nations artists including Deline Briscoe, Emma Donovan, Fred Leone and local Kabi Kabi songman Lyndon Davis.
Artistic director Lynne Davies said it should be a wonderful long weekend.
“Our 2023 festival provides visitors with a range of unforgettable and inspiring experiences by programming a world-class line up of musicians and connecting them with the special places, people and the cultures of the Sunshine Coast region,” she said.
“The Sunshine Coast is the perfect location, so pack your bag and join us for a long and luxurious weekend of music, sunshine, food and wine.”
This year’s event will be boosted further after it received significant national recognition.
“Our signature festival event, Singing Up Country, was awarded a grant by the Australia Council for the Arts,” festival board chairman Ralph Devlin said.
“This is the first time a Sunshine Coast arts organisation has won this recognition. We are so proud.
“Singing Up Country is the festival’s First Nations event at Buderim Village Park, fully devised, directed, produced and performed by mainly local (Kabi Kabi and Jinibara) First Nations artists and creatives.
“Kabi Kabi Elder Auntie Helena Gulash has overall artistic direction of the event, assisted by Deline Briscoe as musical director.
“Eminent First Nations performers are coming from different parts of Australia, such is the growing reputation of Singing Up Country.”
Singing Up Country is a free public open-air concert, but patrons are asked to register.
The acclaimed Camerata chamber orchestra will open the festival on Friday, June 9, at Buderim War Memorial Hall.
“We have had a close relationship with Camerata almost since the festival was founded in 2020,” Mr Devlin said.
“Camerata has been compared to the eminent Australian Chamber Orchestra.
“They have found time to fit us into their 2023 Queensland tour, so we are delighted to finally present them to our Sunshine Coast audience.”
On Saturday, June 10, Southern Cross Soloists will perform their world premiere of Earth and Sky, featuring Chris Williams on didgeridoo, at Beerwah Community Hall.
“Camerata and Southern Cross Soloists have never performed on the same festival bill,” Mr Devlin said.
“We are delighted to present two of Australia’s preeminent chamber music ensembles on consecutive nights.”
Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit Sunshine Coast Chamber Music Festival.
Sunshine Coast Chamber Music Festival
- CAMERATA IN CONCERT: Friday, June 9, 7pm to 8.30pm, Buderim War Memorial Hall, Kabi Kabi Country
- SUNSET SALON SERIES: Featuring: Alex Raineri, Saturday, June 10, 5pm to 6.30pm, Aqua Vista, Maroochydore, Kabi Kabi Country
- EARTH & SKY: Featuring: Southern Cross Soloists and Chris Williams, Saturday, June 10, 7.30pm to 9pm, Beerwah Hall, Jinibara Country
- UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF DREAMING Featuring DeepBlue Orchestra and Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre, Sunday, June 11, 1pm to 2pm, Chenrezig, Eudlo, Jinibara Country
- SUNSET SALON SERIES: Featuring Beier-Griffin-Pollak Trio, Saturday, June 10, 3pm to 4pm, Tranquil, Maleny, Jinibara Country
- SINGING UP COUNTRY: Featuring various First Nations artists, Sunday, June 11, 5.30pm to 7pm, Buderim Village Park, Kabi Kabi Country
- LONG TABLE LUNCH: Featuring Ensemble Sooon (Danielle Bentley and Martin Kay), Saturday, July 30, 11.30am to 2.30pm, Maleny, Jinibara Country
- FREE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONCERTS: Featuring Francis Atkins and Camilo Lopez, Tuesday, June 6, 11.30am to 12.30pm and 2.30pm to 3.20pm, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Kabi Kabi Country and Churches of Christ Sunshine Coast Home Care, Kabi Kabi Country
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