Review: Let’s Dance on 26th October 2019

Review by Trevor Keeling IT WAS with some joy – and relief - that we returned to the post-flood refurbished Townsville Civic Theatre for the last Barrier Reef Orchestra concert of the year. While the past two concerts this year have been characterised with some “big” presentations such as Dvorak’s New ... More

Review: AFCM Queens Gardens Concert on 28th July 2019

Townsvillians and visitors have once again voted with their feet, legs, torso, arms and head and headed for the now annual Queens Gardens free concert organised by the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and Townsville City Council and featuring the Barrier Reef Orchestra, soloists from the Festival and 1RAR Band. E... More

Review: Tchaikovsky on 14th July 2019

It is a testament to the quality and ever-increasing reputation of Townsville’s Barrier Reef Orchestra that it continues to attract such a range or international conductors to lead it, and word has it that that there is a queue of conductors registering their interest to perform here. This time the ensemble was under ... More

Review: New Worlds on 16th March 2019

Townsville gave its adopted prodigal son, Ukrainian conductor Theodore “Ted” Kuchar a warm and appropriate standing ovation at the conclusion of Saturday night’s performance with the city’s 60-piece Barrier Reef Orchestra. Now principal conductor of the Ukrainian Festival Orchestra, he conducts orchestras all ... More
Photo of the orchestra after playing Stage and Screen

Review: Stage and Screen on 27th October 2018

by Trevor Keeling With all the indications of a Royal Albert Hall Prom Night, the Barrier Reef Orchestra under the baton of Richard Davis was a triumphant evening of delight on Saturday evening for the concert entitled Stage and Screen. An orchestra is something that regional cities in Australia struggle to create ... More

Review: Music from Stage & Screen on 27th October 2018

by Billie Saint Rang The last 2018 concert from the Barrier Reef Orchestra (with friends) was a sensation. Our musicians shone in their collaboration with some notable supremoes from the Queensland Orchestra. The night attracted the young(er) turnout and they, along with the BRO’s loyal concert-goers, packed the ... More

Review: Sacred & Secular on 18th August 2018

The uncertainty of availability of a venue led the Orchestra to consider something different in 2018. The availability of a Pipe Organ in the St. James Cathedral brought to mind many beautiful pieces written for the Organ and Orchestra, consequently presenting a concert in the Cathedral almost wrote the program for the ... More

Review: AFCM Queens Gardens Concert on 29th July 2018

Once again Townsvillians and their visitors from all over the world gathered under the figs, milky pines and tamarinds for a concert in Queens Gardens to participate in and listen to some enjoyable music written over the centuries. This concert, in its fourth year, is arranged by the Australian Festival of Chamber Music ... More

Review: English Landscapes on 24th March 2018

So, what entices you to attend a BRO concert?  Those who do not receive emails about forthcoming concerts depend on the banners that regularly appear on fences in various throughout our city. Well, it falls to the hard-working Simon who strides out in all weathers to attach those banners and remove them. Our sincere ... More

Review: Evening Serenade on 28th October 2017

by Billie Saint Rang BRO’s last performance for 2017, Evening Serenade, was another outstanding concert achievement, rounding off the already successful orchestral season. Our largest audience to date was presented with an evening of items familiar to listeners of the classical hit parade, some operatic arias, and ... More