An orchestra of twelve musicians in a concrete-walled room, holding string instruments such as violins, cellos, and a double bass, with some musicians standing and others seated, engaged in conversation and smiling.

About Us

The Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra is committed to sharing world class classical music on the Gold Coast.

Established in 2011 to fill a gap in the classical music scene on the Gold Coast, professional musicians from the community were brought together to share their love for the genre with like-minded enthusiasts. Featuring many extraordinary and talented musicians, the passionate ensemble displays explosive power and driving energy, performing a diverse repertoire ranging from classical to modern day masterpieces and new commissions. Check out our musicians.

Each year, the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra performs in various venues locally and regionally within the QLD and NSW regions including Maleny, Tweed Heads and Maroochydore always inspiring audiences with talented guest artists, composers and conductors.

Group of musicians holding and preparing to play their cellos in a concert setting, dressed in black formal attire.
A group of musicians playing violins outdoors at night, smiling and enjoying their performance.

In such a fast-paced technology-driven world revolving around the individual rather than the community, we believe what we do is more important than ever before. We pride ourselves in our passion for what we do and hope to reach audiences of all ages particularly appealing to the younger audiences of this generation.

The Orchestra does not support itself on ticket sales alone. As a not-for-profit organisation, the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra is registered with the Australian Government as a cultural organisation – donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. The players and the committee are very appreciative of past donations that have enabled the Orchestra to continue to develop and would be very thankful for any financial support that you might give.

To keep updated with news of our performances please join our Mailing List.

If you would like to offer your services to the Orchestra please contact us here.

A Message from
Our Founder,
Anna Stoddart.

A woman with short red hair, pearl earrings, and a black sequined top smiling in an indoor setting with blurred background lights.

As the founder of the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra, I have been privileged to be part of the Orchestra since its humble beginnings in 2011.

Over the past 14 years, we have selected unique programs and performed over 120 concerts. We have established a solid audience base which is growing rapidly in the Gold Coast region and beyond. 

As part of our journey in 2024, we invited a variety of special guest artists to perform with the orchestra. Firstly, we had “Luminous Strings” in March. We invited two extraordinary Russian violinists who flew from London on their way to a tour in NZ stopping off in Gold Coast for this concert. It was very successful. 

Our next concert, in May 2024 was called “Heart and Song’ and we had guest vocalist Gaynor Morgan. 

In June 2024, we had our next concert which was titled “Coastal Dreaming” and for this performance we invited renowned didgeridoo player William Barton who was named Queensland Australian of the year in 2023. The acclaimed Orava quartet was also part of “Coastal Dreaming” and this dream team plays regularly with GCCO and their commitment to our orchestra has been steadfast. 

Our 2024 end of year concert “BACHitecture” was an exciting project. We invited young dancers from Burleigh Heads Dance School giving a great opportunity for the young dancers to perform with a professional orchestra. We also had Guest oboist Tania Fraser perform a Bach concerto. 

In July this year, GCCO presented a recital and a concert. “Imagine” was with soloist Karol Kowalik, an extraordinary cellist who gave a sublime performance of Haydn’s concerto and Bruch’s Kol Nidrei. 

At the end of July 2025, there was a collaboration with Southern Cross soloists. This was themed on music of the Bee Gees, titled “Bee Gees Re-Imagined”. This was a huge success and left our audience wanting more. 

For our 2025 end of year concert, GCCO will be presenting “Vivaldi Madness” featuring some wonderful works by Vivaldi. We have programmed a mandolin concerto plus the powerful and passionate work “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires” re-imagined by Piazzolla. 

For GCCO’s 15th birthday in 2026 we will be celebrating with concerts featuring music from many different Countries which will be marketed as “Classical Mystery Tour.” We will begin on 15 March 2026 with an amazing show, “Celtic Celebration. 

All of these wonderful performances are keeping our players and administrators of GCCO very busy, but I can’t think of a better way to bring JOY and PEACE to a forever quarrelling world. 

A woman with short blonde hair smiling and holding a violin with a bow.

Welcome from new Leader and Co-Artistic Director, Margaret Blades.

It is an absolute pleasure for me to be joining the GCCO as their new Leader in 2024. Since 2017, I have been playing with the GCCO as a guest leader and soloist, and every year I have watched the orchestra make remarkable leaps forward artistically. In 2023 I made the decision to relocate to the Gold Coast, enabling me to work with the brilliant and visionary Anna Stoddart, and to commit myself to this community. Anna, herself a professional flautist and teacher, founded GCCO in 2012, with a vision of bringing classical and art music to the Gold Coast. Brilliant innovative programming, combined with securing world class guest artists, has made the GCCO into one of the most exciting arts companies on the GC and beyond.

I look forward very much to working towards a sustainable future for the GCCO. Securing a partnership with Bond University in 2022 has been a thrilling development, and bringing audiences onto the wonderful campus is an important step in developing the artistic culture of the Gold Coast and creating an energising, life giving space for the community.

  • A woman and a man standing together, both smiling, indoors against a wood-paneled wall. The woman has blonde hair, wears a blue polka-dot blouse with a bow tie, and the man is bald, wearing a dark pinstripe suit with a blue shirt and a colorful paisley tie.

    Dr John Kearney & Elena Kearney

    OUR PATRONS

  • Smiling woman with brown hair and bangs, wearing a black top and a patterned scarf, standing in front of a colorful abstract art background.

    Catherine Marks

    VICE PRESIDENT ENGAGEMENT, BOND UNIVERSITY

    Bond University takes pride in partnering with the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra and their much-loved performances on campus. Together, we have forged a strong relationship to enjoy and share a memorable musical experience with our community.

  • An elderly man wearing a dark suit, striped shirt, and an orange tie with a pattern of white and black sailboats. He has a pocket square in his suit's breast pocket and a lapel pin.

    Derek Murphy

    Former Chairman of the School Council at The Southport School (TSS)

  • BOARD MEMBERS

    Mr Derek Murphy (President)

    Mrs Anna Stoddart (Vice-president)

    Dr Hugh Won (Vice-president)

    Ms Catherine Marks (Secretary)

    Mr Paul Steer (Treasurer)
    Former Managing Partner of KPMG on the Gold Coast

    Mr Brett Walker
    Bond University

    Mr Rob Whiddon
    Queensland-Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry

    Dr Jens Tampe
    Consultant