The Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) is a nine-day international festival focused on chamber music held in Cairns-Gimuy, North Queensland at the end of July each year. The AFCM also incorporates a International Masterclass for emerging artists. Some 30 to 40 chamber musicians from around Australia and the world converge on Cairns, each year to perform and teach emerging artists.

The festival was founded in July 1991 and has been held annually ever since. In 2020 it celebrated its 30th anniversary. It is the largest festival dedicated to chamber music in the southern hemisphere."Dynamic team gears up". Townsville Bulletin "The Guide". Published 20 November 2006, p. 24

The AFCM is presented in partnership with all three levels of government as well as several commercial, tourism, regional development, and educational, organisations. The festival's patron is Jeanette Young, Governor of Queensland.

In 2026, the festival moved from Townsville to Cairns.

History The festival was founded in 1990 for a 1991 premiere by Professor Ray Golding, the then Vice-Chancellor of James Cook University and Theodore Kuchar who continued as the artistic director for the next 16 years until 2006. The festival began conservatively focusing on the more contemporary music of the classical and romantic periods, over the first five years Kuchar started inserting works of Bartok, Bloch, Martinu, Shostakovich, expanding the musical depth for enthusiasts while maintaining the popular appeal.Matthew Westwood: "MATP Festival to tackle new directions". The Australian Features, Published 4 July 2006, p. 14

The festival has tried to avoid a perception that it is only there for cultivated southerners, for example in 2005 for the first time the AFCM had a presence at a Cowboys football match and in 2006 increased publicity focusing locally.

2007 Australian Festival of Chamber Music In 2007 the AFCM gained a new artistic director in Piers Lane AO. Lane, an Australian, a leading international pianist who is based in London;Isis Stuckenschmidt 'New AFCM director cases the joint. Townsville Bulletin, Published 28 October 2006 p. 5 The 2007 programme involved vocalists and more variety than previous years to appeal to a broader audience, taking a "lifestyle approach" and focussing on music, wine and food.

2017 Australian Festival of Chamber Music The 2017 Festival – the last under Piers Lane, was the highest box off results on record.

2018 Australian Festival of Chamber Music In 2018 Piers Lane AO. Lane. passed the Artistic Directorship to his friend and colleague, Kathryn Stott, also a leading international pianist based in Manchester; The 2018 programme & Festival was a resounding success with the second highest box office on record.

2022 Australian Festival of Chamber Music In 2022 British/German violinist, director and festival director Jack Liebeck delivered his first program as artistic director. Located in Townsville the festival runs 29th July-7 August 2022 Incoming Artistic Director Jack Liebeck created the program for the first Festival. The program showcased the classic composers and favourite works of chamber music through the centuries.

There are some new elements too, including what he's describing as

Guilty Pleasures – musicians playing their all time favourite piece (classical or other), AFCM Illuminates – informative lectures connecting music to science, and Festival Garden – an informal outdoor space for listening to music and enjoying food and wine.

The 2022 Festival Program was unveiled on Tuesday 1 March.

AFCM Friends Priority Booking Period – commenced 10am AEDT, Tuesday 1 February and closed at 5pm, Wednesday 23 February 2022.

General Public Ticket Sales – commenced 10am AEDT, Tuesday 1 March 2022.

2023 Australian Festival of Chamber Music The 2023 Festival was 28 July 2023 – 6 August 2023. The Festival had Jack Liebeck as the Artistic Director.

1 February 2023 – Tickets on sale for AFCM Friends

1 March 2023 – Tickets on sale for everyone

2026 Australian festival of Chamber Music The 2026 Festival was 24 July - 1 August 2026 and the first Festival held in Cairns. With Jack Liebeck as the Artistic Director

Audience Festival attendance has reached over 17,000 in recent years, with the free concert in the park attracting close to 5,000 attendees. About 60% of the Festival audience are visitors to Townsville, mostly intrastate and interstate visitors. International guests make up 2-3% of the audience.

AFCM Pathways Program An important element of the festival is its education program.

AFCM Outreach Tour & Workshops AFCM Fellowship Ensemble takes to stage across northern Queensland as part of the yearly AFCM Outreach Tour.

Throughout the tour, the AFCM Fellowship Ensemble will engage with secondary school students throughout the region, offering hands-on workshops, mentorship, and meaningful insights into the world of chamber music. Their mission: to inspire the next generation of musicians and share the transformative power of music.

AFCM Emerging Composers Initiative This initiative provides young Australian composers with an immersive residencies in North Queensland, mentorship by seniro composers from the Festival program, and the opportunity to compose with the AFCM Fellowship Ensemble. Their works are performed on the AFCM mainstage, toured across regional Queensland, professionally recorded, and released digitally providing a powerful platform for long-term artistic and career development

2026 Emerging Composer Sam Wu

2025 Emerging Composer Elizabeth Younan

AFCM International Masterclass The AFCM Pathways Program International Masterclasses (previous called Winterschool) provides young emerging musicians and school students with coaching and development opportunities. Masterclasses by visiting musicians are offered as part of the International Masterclass program. Each year approximately 25 tertiary level music students attend the International Masterclass program. Entry to the program is by application. Entries usually open in January and close by May.

At the end of the program one ensemble is offered the chance to return the next year as the AFCM Fellowship Ensemble.

AFCM Fellowship Ensemble 2026 - Orpheus Quintet The Orpheus Quintet consisted of:

Dylan Roberts – bassoon Jude Austen Kaupe – French horn Justin Wang – clarinet Gahyun Lee – oboe Kara Thorpe – flute

AFCM Fellowship Ensemble 2025 - Andromeda Sax Quartet The Andromeda Sax Quartet consisted of:

Paige Gullifer - soprano sax Ryan Piccione - alto sax Henry Docker - tenor sax Rachel Down, baritone sax

AFCM Fellowship Ensemble 2024 - Zaza Road Quartet The Zaza Road Quartet consisted of:

Nathanael Duffy - clarinet Kevin Hsu - violin Mai-Lien Olsson - piano Mya Whatson - cello

International Masterclass Director The International Masterclass director is Lloyd Van't Hoff. Lauded by Limelight Magazine for his "life-affirming music-making", Lloyd Van't Hoff enjoys a career as a clarinetist, chamber musician, collaborator and educator. Having been crowned the 2015 ABC Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year, Lloyd regularly performs as a concerto soloist and tutti player with many of Australia's symphony orchestras and as a soloist and chamber musician at festivals and venues around Australia and the globe.

Day off activities Each year the Festival has a "day-off" during which festival patrons have an opportunity to hear chamber music but in more unusual settings.

Cairns Harbour Cruise The 2026 Festival in Cairns had a lunch cruise and dinner cruise on the Cairns harbour with The Spirit of Cairns.

Orpheus Island Cruise The Orpheus Island Cruise has been one of the highlights for festival patrons. En route to Orpheus Island, whales have been often cited in the waters around the Palm Island group. Upon arrival at the remote end of Orpheus Island, patrons can enjoy the secluded beach and adjacent national park before settling down for a short performance from festival artists. The first tour to Orpheus Island took place in 2013 and was repeated in 2016 until 2025.

Outback Tour From 2002 to 2010, the Outback Tour brought music by Peter Sculthorpe, Philip Glass, Hardin, aka Moondog and William Barton. to isolated areas in Australia. In 2006 audiences attended a five-day tour of Outback Australia, visiting Cloncurry, Ernest Henry Mine, Mount Isa, Normanton and Karumba, with food, music and masterclasses with hands on experience of the Queensland mining industry and communities.

See also

List of Australian music festivals

References