AFCM Queens Gardens Concert Promotion

Members of the Barrier Reef Orchestra played in Queens Gardens on Wednesday to help promote the upcoming Australian Festival of Chamber Music's Queens Gardens concert. The concert will be held on July 30th from 4pm and feature the Barrier Reef Orchestra and soloists from the AFCM. Coverage was included in Channel 7's ... More

2023 Annual General Meeting

The 2023 Annual General Meeeting of NQ Ensembles Inc. was held on 24th April 2023. The following management committee was elected: PresidentProf. Stephen BoyleVice-PresidentJudy HunterImmediate Past PresidentHelen LandSecretaryLinda BridgeTreasurerNeil RenisonCommittee:Nita Vasilescu Ioana Bowden Logistics ... More

2022 Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of NQ Ensembles Inc. (Barrier Reef Orchestra) took place on Sunday 8th May 2022 commencing at 3:30pm. Notice Papers were distributed to all members by email or post on 12th April 2022. Additional copies can be downloaded from here. The following nominations for election to the BRO ... More

Barrier Reef Orchestra receives Council grant for concert series

The Barrier Reef Orchestra has been successful in its application for a grant from the Townsville City Council for funds to support the 2022 concert series. I am super excited that our grant application was approved at the ordinary meeting of The Townsville City Council today. This ensures that a significant portion of ... More

Message from former Patron, The Hon. Penny Wensley AC

BRO Patron Mr Bill Twedell read a message from The Hon. Penny Wensley AC, former BRO Patron, to the audience at the 21st celebration concert. Penny's message is reproduced below. "It is with great pleasure that I send this message of congratulations to the Barrier Reef Orchestra, tonight celebrating 21 years of making ... More

Music and Community – Barrier Reef Orchestra at 20

Jean Dartnall has written this book to commemorate the first 20 years of the Barrier Reef Orchestra. The book gives an insight into the range of pieces played and behind the scenes operations that make concerts possible. To see an extract from the book, click the image of the cover below. The book is available for ... More

2021 Annual General Meeting

The AGM for NQ Ensembles Inc. was held on Sunday 6th June 2021. The Notice of Meeting and Agenda can be found here. The list of committee members can be found here. The President’s Report presented at the AGM can be found here. More

BRO owns a French Horn!

One of the great features of the school music programs in Queensland is the way in which schools can often provide instruments for students to learn on and play in performances. Some are too awkward for families to manage and often they are too expensive for a family to buy, especially when their child is learning and ... More

BRO Players Take Part in Fauré’s Requiem in D minor, Op 48

Members of the Barrier Reef Orchestra took part in a performance of Fauré's Requiem in D minor, Op 48 on 8th November 2020. The concert brought together a number of Townsville's musical individuals and groups: “Fauré Project” Community Choir TownsvilleCleveland SingersAmadeus Singers Children’s ChoirMembers of ... More

Percussion Workshops in February 2021 – Booked Out!

BRO are delighted to offer the Townsville musical community a unique opportunity to work with professional percussionist, Wyana O'Keeffe in a series of workshops designed to equip instrumentalists with the techniques and skills to confidently participate in an orchestral percussion section. With over 20 years of orchest... More