Australian Festival of Chamber Music Luncheon

Australian Festival of Chamber Music Deputy Chair Ms Jane Seawright; Executive Director, Dr Ricardo Peach and Artistic Director, Mr Jack Liebeck; Festival supporters; distinguished guests.

As both Governor and Patron, I am delighted to welcome you all to this special luncheon, and begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people. I also pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and to the First Nations people with us today.

It’s not quite four months since the launch of this year’s exciting Festival program, and Graeme and I were delighted to host a reception here in March so we could encourage Brisbane music-lovers to travel north for those 10 magical days in July for Jack’s third festival as Artistic Director.

I must apologise at the outset that we will be unable to be in Townsville for the Governor’s Gala Concert this year because of an international commitment. I genuinely regret this, as both Graeme and I were very much looking forward to spending time at the Festival and experiencing the assortment of artistic concoctions that Jack has planned.

However, the Festival doesn’t need our presence to be a success and we both have every confidence that this year’s program will set new benchmarks.

It’s hard not to think of this extraordinary Festival as Australia’s version of Kevin Costner’s ‘Field of Dreams’ – you built it and, against all odds (and contrary to accepted marketing wisdom!), they came.

The faithful and the curious will come again this time, as they have done now for 33 years, and will continue to come for as long as people remain passionate about hearing some of the world’s finest musicians performing some of the most inspiring music ever written.

Here's to a wonderful Festival!