QUEENSLAND'S GERMAN CONNECTIONS - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Bamberg roars for more

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LAST DECADE 2002 QYO hosted the first visit to Australia by Ulmer Knabenmusik , now called the Junge Bläserphilharmonie Ulm . 2004 QYS toured to Germany, Austria and Italy, including German concerts in Ulm, Fürstenfeldbruck, Bamberg, Forchheim and Würzburg, including collaborations with Ulmer Knabenmusik , Münchner Jugendorchester, Hochschule für Musik Würzburg, Würzburger Domchöre and Kreisjugendsinfonieorchester Bamberg . 2006 QYS hosted a visit by the Jugendsinfonieorchester der Stuttgarter Musikschule in August, including a joint concert and homestays. 2007 In March/April, QYS hosted a tour by the Jugendsinfonieorchester Mannheim including homestays and combined concerts. 2008 In March, QYS hosted the Akademisches Orchester der Universität Stuttgart including homestays and a combined concert. 2008 QYS toured to Germany, Austria, France and Italy with German concerts in Mannheim, Freiburg, Stuttgart and Bamberg. The orchestra collaborated with the Jugendsinfonieorchester Mannheim, Musikschule Freiburg, Akademisches Orchester der Universität Stuttgart and Kreisjugendorchester Bamberg , 2009 QYS hosted a tour by the Junge Bläsphilharmonie Ulm in August, including homestays and concerts. 2010 QYO assisted Crosslane Brass from the Regensburg Musikschule during their tour to Brisbane (their first international tour) including a joint concert with the QYO Wind Symphony at the Old Museum Building. 2012 QYS performed concerts in the German cities of Worms, Frankenthal, Würzburg, Bamberg, Stuttgart and Ehingen during its 12th international tour. These included collaborations with the Jugend Sinfonie Orchester Mannheim, Junge Bläsphilharmonie Ulm and Akademisches Orchester der Universität Stuttgart .

In 1988, the Bavarian Youth Orchestra – conducted by the Qld Symphony Orchestra’s Bavarian chief conductor, Werner Andreas Albert – toured to Australia as one of eight orchestras articipating in the very successful International Festival of Youth Orchestras. The festival was organised by QYO as a landmark event of the Australian Bicentenary and coincided with Brisbane hosting Expo ’88. The German orchestra’s extensive tour included Queensland concerts in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Mt Isa, Bundaberg and Rockhampton, and further concerts in Sydney, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth. The years from 2000 to 2012 saw a significant strengthening of Australian-German ties, commencing with the QYS performances at World Expo 2000 in Hannover during an international tour to South Korea, Italy, Austria and Germany. At World Expo 2000 in Hannover, QYS played on Australia’s National Day to over 2,000 people and in the presence of both Australian and German foreign ministers. The next day, the orchestra received a standing ovation for its final tour concert at the Expo Concert Hall, in the presence of VIPs from Hochtief, Thiess, Siemens and Liebherr and DFAT. Tour blogger Ellena Papas wrote of the Bamberg performance: “If pressed, I’d say tonight was our finest …when it’s a crowd of 1000 roaring for more, there’s nothing for it but to add a little Strauss and Radetzky into the mix as well. As John commented during his speech at the reception after the concert … the German audiences have been overwhelming in their support. ‘We think the people in Worms are still clapping!’ But truly, in the words of a Bamberg town councillor, tonight’s performance was ‘an absolute dream’.”

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