You’ve heard of Duelling Banjos? How about Duelling Artistic Directors? There’s no such song – as far as we know – but there might be after this year’s Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Cairns.
Yes, Cairns, because Townsville wouldn’t commit to a new concert hall, sending the well-established festival further north where there was more of a welcome and better venues. You snooze, you lose and Townsville lost. Oh, well.
But back to those artistic directors. A Tale of Two brings past and present together as artistic directors violinist Jack Liebeck (present) and Australian piano legend Piers Lane (past) perform works by Elgar and Brahms.
How lovely and what a nice idea teaming these two up. Lane lives in London but we claim him as a Queenslander because he was reared and educated here. He was also an exceptionally long-serving artistic director of the ADCM and it seems fitting he will appear at the first festival in Cairns.
Over nine glorious sun-filled winter days from July 24 to August 1, the AFCM begins an exhilarating new chapter in Cairns, where world-class musicians, once-in-a-lifetime performances and unforgettable experiences will unfold against the backdrop of the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef.
International musicians leading the line-up include Berlin Philharmonic principal horn and global soloist Stefan Dohr, the much-loved aforementioned Piers Lane, French cello star Christian-Pierre La Marca, and Irish tenor Robin Tritschler. They are joined by artists from across Europe, Asia, the UK and Australia, alongside exciting emerging musicians, creating a program that balances global excellence with the festival’s commitment to artistic discovery, education pathways and collaboration.
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Australia’s finest take centre stage, too, including Perth violinist Emmalena Huning, Melbourne’s expressive oboist Emmanuel Cassimatis, Sydney’s Joshua Batty who dazzles on flute and Julian Smiles on cello.
Brisbane’s Karin Schaupp brings guitar mastery and Sydney-born violist Stefanie Farrands adds her exquisite sound. French Horn player Ben Jacks (Sydney), clarinettist Lloyd Van’t Hoff (Adelaide), double bassist Kees Boersma (Sydney), lute and theorbo (it is like a lute) player Simon Martyn Ellis (Hobart), and dynamic narrator-actor Bethany Simons (Sydney) all join.
Melbourne-born cellist Charlotte Miles, now based in Germany, is one of Australia’s most exciting young classical exports, recognised internationally for her expressive power and technical command. She returns to the AFCM after making a standout impression at the 2025 festival.
Liebeck says he is thrilled to welcome back Piers Lane and members of the former Goldner String Quartet, alongside first timers to AFCM such as the world-renowned Sitkovetsky Piano Trio and German virtuoso pianist Alexander Krichel.
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“We’re also proud to present Gramophone award-winning tenor Robin Tritschler and showcase fresh, daring works from our AFCM pathways emerging composer in residence Sam Wu, who is writing two new works for the festival,” Liebeck says.
“Importantly, audiences will hear new works that connect us to powerful histories and contemporary voices. Australian composer Lee Bradshaw completes January 27, 1945, an unfinished work by Czech composer Gideon Klein, who tragically died in Auschwitz. Meanwhile, British composer Alex Turley presents a new, as-yet-untitled work for flute and string quartet, bringing fresh perspectives to the chamber music repertoire.
“As part of the Evening Concerts series, we celebrate our new northern home with Cairns at 150, tracing the city’s history through music spanning centuries. Wonderful World, curated by French cellist Christian-Pierre La Marca, pairs breathtaking nature cinematography with music from Fauré to Glass for a moving reflection on humanity and the planet.”
State Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek says the AFCM is an outstanding event on Queensland’s cultural calendar, attracting music lovers from across the state, interstate and overseas, while State Tourism and Environment Minister Andrew Powell points out that the AFCM is set to deliver about $3 million to the state economy.
“Hosting the largest chamber music festival in the southern hemisphere in the idyllic new location of Cairns opens an exciting chapter for the festival,” Powell says.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden says “hosting the festival strengthens Cairns’ position as a vibrant cultural destination, delivering lasting benefits for our arts sector and local economy, while increasing visitor appeal”.
The opening and closing night Concerts bookend the festival with style and celebration. Cairns Crescendo marks AFCM’s debut in Cairns with a sweeping program from Mozart to the world premiere of composer Sam Wu’s work, a perfect way to introduce audiences to the artists shaping the festival’s bold new chapter.
The Governor’s Gala: Mozart – The Marriage of Figaro offers a vibrant, narrated reimagining of the opera with AFCM’s stellar ensemble. Finally, So Long, Farewell, for now closes the festival joyfully with music by Dvořák, Ravel, and Rodgers & Hammerstein, celebrating shared experiences until the next gathering.
The famous AFCM Concert Conversations will return, with six across the festival, a much-loved blend of music, insights and more often than not, a wonderful dose of humour.
The program has a lot more and there are two incredibly special events – a stunning concert aboard a luxury yacht in the tropical waters off the Cairns coast and an intimate concert by the world-leading Sitkovetsky Trio.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music, July 24 to August 1, Cairns. The AFCM is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Arts Queensland; Cairns Regional Council; the Ian Potter Foundation; and the Federal Government through Music Australia and Creative Australia. Tickets on sale now to AFCM Friends and to the public on March 2.
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