1999 Camerata

Tour of North Queensland, New Zealand and the South Pacific
Conductor: Andrzej Grabiec
Soloist: Joanna Cole

The Australian Youth Orchestra Camerata toured Queensland and the South Pacific, the latter as part of the ‘Reaching the World’ Olympic Cultural Festival. The orchestra assembled in Charters Towers to rehearse its two programs with conductor and soloist, the Houston-based Polish violinist Professor Andrzej Grabiec, and with Australian soprano Joanna Cole. After performing to appreciative audiences in Charters Towers, Townsville and Cairns, the Australian Youth Orchestra Camerata flew to New Zealand for its appearance in the remarkable acoustic of the Auckland Town Hall. Two sold-out performances in Noumea were met with standing ovations and two encores each night – and the visit generated several applications from New Caledonia for the 2000 National Music Camp. The Australian Youth Orchestra Camerata was literally the first orchestra to perform in Vanuatu, appearing in a giant marquee by the shores of a lagoon in Port Vila. On returning to Sydney, the Australian Youth Orchestra Camerata gave its final concert in the Art Gallery of NSW – a great opportunity to perform for Youth Music Australia’s sponsors, supporters, family and friends in a different but equally stunning setting.