Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra’s exciting strategy for next 4 years

At the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra (GCCO) Board Meeting held on Wednesday 23 July, the newly elected Board adopted a strategy to make the only professional classical music ensemble on the Gold Coast more sustainable with appropriate governance for the benefit of residents of the fastest growing and fifth largest city in Australia.

The GCCO was founded over 14 years ago by Mrs Anna Stoddart, an accomplished flautist and a well-known Queensland musical educator.  Thanks to Anna and the support of Patrons Dr John Kearney OAM and Mrs Elena Kearney the orchestra has grown in size, stature and reach during those years.  Anna and the previous committee recognised that to be sustainable it needed financial support on a larger scale together with appropriate professional governance. It also required greater engagement across its stakeholders and to develop pathways for emerging classical musicians.

The new Board hopes to attract Government and other funds to support classical music through public and private schools and universities. In this respect, Bond University has added a cultural offering to its student experience by providing support and a venue for the GCCO to practise and perform. Larger premises will also be needed in the future for significantly larger audiences to make the finances of the orchestra sustainable and to cater for the demand for live classical music across the region.

The newly elected President of the Orchestra’s Board, Mr Derek Murphy, a former Chairman of the School Council at The Southport School (TSS), strongly believes that by providing classical music to school students it will encourage some of them to become musicians themselves and offer pathways to their successful careers. One such example is Dr Roger Cui, a former TSS student and a distinguished pianist who is now the Principal Pianist at the Queensland Ballet Company.

Members of the Board include Mrs Anna Stoddart, Founder and Creative Director, Mr Paul Steer, former Managing Partner of KPMG on the Gold Coast, who is Treasurer, Ms Catherine Marks, Secretary and Mr Brett Walker from Bond University, Mr Rob Whiddon from the Queensland-Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Jens Tampe, Consultant and Dr Hugh Won, a local Orthopaedic Surgeon and a musician with the orchestra. Dr Won and Mrs Stoddart have been elected Vice-Presidents of the new GCCO Board.

The Leader of the orchestra is Ms Margaret Blades, an extremely talented violinist who has entertained audiences in many different ensembles throughout Australia and the world. Ms Blades said it’s an exciting time to be leading the Orchestra and looks forward to actioning the pathway programme for emerging classical musicians across the Gold Coast.

The next performances of the Orchestra will be ‘Vivaldi Madness’ on the 17th and the 18th October at Bond University.

Derek Murphy - President