October
Understory
Created by Claire Christian and QCGU Bachelor of Acting Class of 2026.
Some roots hold you. Some won’t let you go.
Spanning six timelines and one crumbling Queenslander beneath the shade of a great Moreton Bay fig, Understory digs deep into the quiet griefs, buried secrets, and lingering echoes of those who once called it home. From 1875 to 2025, thirteen characters chase love, wrestle with loss, and whisper into the walls hoping someone might finally listen.
Told like a social feed – fast, fractured, and deeply human – this time-skipping theatrical experience is funny, aching, and a little haunted.
A bold, poetic meditation on memory, place, loneliness, and love.
We need the understory because what grows beneath is what holds everything together.
Content warning:
Adut themes and coarse language.
Understory
Created by Claire Christian and QCGU Bachelor of Acting Class of 2026.
Some roots hold you. Some won’t let you go.
Spanning six timelines and one crumbling Queenslander beneath the shade of a great Moreton Bay fig, Understory digs deep into the quiet griefs, buried secrets, and lingering echoes of those who once called it home. From 1875 to 2025, thirteen characters chase love, wrestle with loss, and whisper into the walls hoping someone might finally listen.
Told like a social feed – fast, fractured, and deeply human – this time-skipping theatrical experience is funny, aching, and a little haunted.
A bold, poetic meditation on memory, place, loneliness, and love.
We need the understory because what grows beneath is what holds everything together.
Content warning:
Adut themes and coarse language.
Understory
Created by Claire Christian and QCGU Bachelor of Acting Class of 2026.
Some roots hold you. Some won’t let you go.
Spanning six timelines and one crumbling Queenslander beneath the shade of a great Moreton Bay fig, Understory digs deep into the quiet griefs, buried secrets, and lingering echoes of those who once called it home. From 1875 to 2025, thirteen characters chase love, wrestle with loss, and whisper into the walls hoping someone might finally listen.
Told like a social feed – fast, fractured, and deeply human – this time-skipping theatrical experience is funny, aching, and a little haunted.
A bold, poetic meditation on memory, place, loneliness, and love.
We need the understory because what grows beneath is what holds everything together.
Content warning:
Adut themes and coarse language.
All About the Bass
Experience the Double Bass like never before! From Bass Quartets to Octets and much more, the Queensland Conservatorium Double Bass students, alongside their teacher and QSO Principal Phoebe Russell, will shine a spotlight on this fabulous instrument through an inspiring program of collaborative Bass music.
Brisbane Lyric Opera presents “Enchanted Night- An Opera Gala”
Alumni
Opera & Voice
Experience the magic of Brisbane Lyric Opera’s inaugural Gala Concert, Enchanted Night, where captivating melodies and world-class performances will sweep you away. Join us for an unforgettable evening of opera and song, marking the dazzling debut of Queensland’s newest opera company. Secure your tickets now for a magical night of musical brilliance!
November
Songs for a New World
Musical Theatre
It’s about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice… or take a stand… or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today, the Songs for a New World. The first musical written by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices that we make.
With a rousing score that blends elements of pop, gospel and jazz, tight harmonies, daring vocals and creative choreography, Songs for a New World appeals to old and new generations alike.
Content warnings: mature content, adult themes, coarse language, references to suicide.
Songs for a New World
Musical Theatre
It’s about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice… or take a stand… or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today, the Songs for a New World. The first musical written by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices that we make.
With a rousing score that blends elements of pop, gospel and jazz, tight harmonies, daring vocals and creative choreography, Songs for a New World appeals to old and new generations alike.
Content warnings: mature content, adult themes, coarse language, references to suicide.
Stéphane Lemelin in Recital
Special Event
Piano, Special Event
One of Canada’s leading pianists, Stéphane Lemelin has led an active career as soloist and chamber music across North America, Europe and Asia for over five decades, and his playing has been praised for its sensitivity, refinement and musical integrity. This performance will feature Gabriel Fauré’s Nocturnes and Franz Schubert’s Sonata in A Major, D.959.
View the programme here
Songs for a New World
Musical Theatre
It’s about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice… or take a stand… or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today, the Songs for a New World. The first musical written by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices that we make.
With a rousing score that blends elements of pop, gospel and jazz, tight harmonies, daring vocals and creative choreography, Songs for a New World appeals to old and new generations alike.
Content warnings: mature content, adult themes, coarse language, references to suicide.
Sounding Beyond The Score
Composition
New Music
Join us for new music from Honours composers Imogen Ferinando, Benjamin Marshall and Christopher James.
Songs for a New World
Musical Theatre
It’s about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice… or take a stand… or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today, the Songs for a New World. The first musical written by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices that we make.
With a rousing score that blends elements of pop, gospel and jazz, tight harmonies, daring vocals and creative choreography, Songs for a New World appeals to old and new generations alike.
Content warnings: mature content, adult themes, coarse language, references to suicide.
Sounding Beyond The Score
Composition
New Music
Join us for new music from Honours composers Imogen Ferinando, Benjamin Marshall and Christopher James.
Jazz Showcase
Jazz
The very best of the Jazz Department will be on show in the Conservatorium Theatre, presenting a collage of acts featuring vocal and instrumental students.
Songs for a New World
Musical Theatre
It’s about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice… or take a stand… or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today, the Songs for a New World. The first musical written by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices that we make.
With a rousing score that blends elements of pop, gospel and jazz, tight harmonies, daring vocals and creative choreography, Songs for a New World appeals to old and new generations alike.
Content warnings: mature content, adult themes, coarse language, references to suicide.
Songs for a New World
Musical Theatre
It’s about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice… or take a stand… or turn around and go back. These are the stories and characters of today, the Songs for a New World. The first musical written by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade, Bridges of Madison County), this moving collection of powerful songs examines life, love and the choices that we make.
With a rousing score that blends elements of pop, gospel and jazz, tight harmonies, daring vocals and creative choreography, Songs for a New World appeals to old and new generations alike.
Content warnings: mature content, adult themes, coarse language, references to suicide.
QHorns present Live, Laugh, Luff!
Students
Brass
Join the international competition winning horn ensemble in an exciting evening of classical masterpieces, jazz and more. Featuring Ysolt Clark and Peter Luff in his final QHorns concert with the Queensland Conservatorium horns.
Shugorei
Faculty
Formed in 2019, Shugorei is a highly adventurous music duo featuring live percussion and electronics, with performers Nozomi Omote and Thomas Green.
CSO: Concertos Festival 2025
Orchestra
The annual Concertos Festival celebrates the individual talents of our gifted instrumentalists performing concerto movements with the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Peter Luff.
Program includes:
Rio Kawaguchi: Koussevitzky concerto for Double Bass Op3 F-sharp minor
Milo Duval: Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme Op.33, TH.57 (Fitzenhagen Version)
Lydia Hwang: Wieniawski Concerto for Violin No.2 Op.22 in D minor
Olivia Spyrou: York Bowen Concerto in C minor for Viola and Orchestra Op.25
Phuong Do: Moszkowski Piano Concert in E Major Op.59
Amy Tashjian: Verhey Flute Concerto No.1 Op.45
Musica Viva Australia presents Piotr Anderszewski
Iconoclastic pianist Piotr Anderszewski brings his intelligence, restless curiosity and joy to piano repertoire from Brahms and Bach. Get ready for a whole new spectrum of nuance and expression from an unconventional hero of the keyboard.
Everyone agrees: Piotr Anderszewski is no ordinary pianist. While he is famously exacting – he walked out of the Leeds Piano Competition in 1990 because he was unhappy with his playing – he’s also refreshingly open about his struggles with the anxiety and loneliness of performing as a soloist. But once he gets on stage, Anderszewski brings an intense curiosity and spectacular virtuosity to everything he plays.
Fresh from triumphant performances at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival, Anderszewski will be giving a series of solo recitals across Australia. This is a rare opportunity to catch a genius at work as he draws unimagined delights and unexpected insights from the keyboard.
Guitar Extravaganza
Guitar
Celebrate the rich world of guitar music with this compelling concert featuring the celebrated Riverside Guitar Ensemble. Under the direction of the Conservatorium’s Head of Guitar and joined by distinguished soloist Karin Schaupp, this program showcases bold new works and captivating performances from some of Australia’s finest musicians.
QCGU String Orchestra
Strings
The Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University String Orchestra presents two complete concertos- Richard Charlton’s Mosaic for guitar, strings and percussion, with guitar soloist, Clancy Anderson & Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 1 in G Major, K.313, with soloist, Nathan Smith.
Chamber Side by Side with ASQ
Chamber, Strings
Members of the Australian String Quartet perform a program of chamber music favorites alongside the Conservatorium’s talented students.
CSO: Symphonic Rock
Get ready for rock like you’ve never heard it before! The Con Studio Orchestra teams up with a modern rock band and featured vocalists for a concert that takes classic rock to new heights. Featuring original student songs, an electric guitar concerto by Joel Sanchez-Carn, and legendary tracks from The Beatles, Queen, AC/DC, and INXS, each performance delivers its usual rock energy, then gets turned up to “11” with the power of the Con Symphony Orchestra and iconic orchestral arrangements.
December
CSO: Dvořák 7
Orchestra
Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor, Umberto Clerici, conducts the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra in a program that includes Antonín Dvořák’s magnificent Symphony No.7.
