Review: Viva La Festival on 13th October 2024

This review by Trevor Keeling was published in the Townsville Bulletin Barrier Reef orchestra crowd votes with its feet With a program that brought an appreciative audience to its feet at the end, Sunday's concert not only displayed Townsville's own orchestra at a significant advantage but it was only ... More

Review: AFCM Queens Gardens Concert on 28th July 2024

Trevor Keeling's review of the 2024 AFCM Queens Gardens Concert has been published on the Stage Whispers website. The text of Trevor's review is reproduced below. Magnificent setting green amphitheatre IT WAS a tranquil and beautiful setting – a magnificent green amphitheatre that framed the orchestra and ... More

Review: Epic Film Scores on 8th June 2024

The following concert review by Trevor Keeling appeared in the Townsville Bulletin on 11th June. Musical flair on display Barrier Reef Orchestra tackles film scores with finesse A capacity crowd welcomed conductor Theodore Kuchar for Saturday night's Epic Film Scores concert with the 59-piece Barrier Reef ... More

Review: A Bohemian Romance on 17th March 2024

Barrier Reef Orchestra and Watson deliver cheerful program Trevor Keeling Though short, the first concert of the year for the Barrier Reef Orchestra was a joyous program featuring three contrasting works. Entitled Bohemian Romance, Australian conductor Carolyn Watson took the orchestra and audience on a journey ... More

Review: Celtic Celebration on 22nd October 2023

This review of the October Concert was published in the Townsville Bulletin on October 25th, 2023. Thank you to Trevor Keeling for this review. Celtic music stirs your soul Concert celebrates very deep roots There is very little that can stir the soul like Celtic music. Or could it be that so many people in this ... More

Review: 2023 AFCM Queens Gardens Concert

A review by Trevor Keeling of the 2023 AFCM Queens Gardens Concert has been published on the Stage Whispers website. You can see the review, titled "A Perfect Afternoon at the Proms", at this link. More

Review: The Magic of Vienna on 10th June 2023

This review of the June Concert was published in the Townsville Bulletin on June 14th, 2023. Thank you to Trevor Keeling for this review. A Magical Night of Music IT IS often said that Vienna is a city of romantic delights, and nowhere could this have been more true than on Saturday night when the Barrier Reef ... More

Review: Music in March on 11th March 2023

This review of the March Concert was published in the Townsville Bulletin on March 13th, 2023. Thank you to Trevor Keeling for this review.  Sun shines in magic evening  If anything, last Saturday’s Barrier Reef Orchestra performance proved its value with the magnificent, featured presentation of 17-year-... More

Review: Slavonic Splendour on 25th June 2022

by Billie Saint Rang Lifting restrictions at large gatherings seems to bring back some sense of order in our lives, so audiences are again showing their support for the return of theatre and music   The Barrier Reef Orchestra has always had a solid following so there were few vacant seats in the JCU Sir ... More

Review: A Feast of Classics on 12th March 2022

by Billie Saint Rang The Covid regulations saw a dormancy in live orchestral performances. With those regulations now relaxed, a Saturday night outing to the BRO March concert was a welcome jaunt – and a jaunt worth taking; to a concert that lived up to its title. Under the baton of Patrick Pickett, the orchestra and ... More