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Internationally acclaimed violinist Jack Liebeck first made the trip to Townsville for the famed Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) in 2007.

He’s performed at seven AFCMs. And today, 15 years since he first visited, he’s back, and this time, he’s in charge!

Under Jack’s artistic directorship, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) opens THIS WEEKEND, leading with three powerful world premieres over the first three days, part of a stunning line-up of over 130 works in total, to be staged from 29 July to 7 August in Townsville, Queensland. The 31st AFCM boasts 32 events, 33 world class artists including five international and 28 Australian musicians, and three major new festival experiences including Guilty Pleasures, AFCM Illuminates and Festival Garden. It’s a joyous 10-day celebration hosted during North Queensland’s famous wintersun!

The Festival opens with three world premieres over three days.

  • Opening Night, 29 July, Deborah Cheetham’s work Nginda Ngarrini Bi Ngya, especially commissioned for AFCM, will be performed. Written in the language of the local Indigenous people, it features Deborah singing with the Goldner String Quartet.
  • The Governor’s Gala concert on Saturday 30 July will deliver an epic world premiere music moment – 25 Australian composers were commissioned to write short variations on Beethoven’s iconic ‘Ode to Joy’ to mark the 25th anniversary of the famous Goldner String Quartet; the work will be premiered by the Goldners at this event!
  • Rounding out the trio of world firsts, Australian composer Paul Dean will unveil his premiere during the Sunday evening concert, aptly titled The 22’s, and featuring pieces straddling 400 years, from 1722 (Albinoni’s Concerto for oboe in D minor, Op. 9, No. 2), 1822 (Mendelssohn’sPiano Quartet No 1 Op 1 in C minor), 1922 (Peter Warlock’s The Curlew) and Dean’s specially written Concerto for Chamber Orchestra representing 2022.