Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra
The Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra is a 22 piece community ensemble of professional standard based 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.
GCCO presents GERMAN GIANTS
Saturday 30 May 2026
For lovers of grand orchestral works, this concert will celebrate the giants of German classical music with a piano quintet performance featuring exceptional artists: Ayesha Gough on piano, Hugh Won and Alison Fletcher on violin, Nigel Bardsley on viola, Nicholas Donnelly on oboe and Katherine Hopkins on cello. This concert will feature works by some of the greatest composers of the Romantic era, including Felix Mendelssohn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Johannes Brahms.
Each piece is a masterpiece of emotional depth and technical brilliance. Mendelssohn’s sparkling piano quintet, Mozart’s lyrical elegance, and Brahms’ passionate intensity will bring this rich German tradition to life, leaving the audience enveloped in the beauty of classical music's finest works.
Program:
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Oboe Quartet KV370
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Piano Quintet in F minor Op. 34
***
University Club - Bond University
GCCO presents FRENCH CONNECTION
Sunday 5 July 2026
An evocative journey of musical connections unfolds in this intimate chamber concert, bringing together harp, violin, and cello in a program rich with lyricism, colour, and cross-cultural influence.
From the beloved Intermezzo of Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana to the soulful elegance of Mikhail Glinka’s Drei russische Lieder, the program traces a fascinating thread between Russian and French musical worlds. Charles Gounod’s timeless Ave Maria (after Johann Sebastian Bach) offers a moment of serene reflection before the shimmering colours of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Fantaisie for violin and harp.
A highlight of the program is the virtuosic and expressive Duo by Maurice Ravel, a work shaped by the very Russian influences that inspired him. The concert closes with the exquisite Cantique by Nadia Boulanger, bringing a luminous, intimate conclusion.
Performed by three outstanding artists—Emily Granger (harp), Margaret Blades (violin), and Karol Kowalik (cello)—this program celebrates not only beautiful repertoire but the artistic connections that transcend borders and generations.
Abedian School of Architecture - Bond University
GCCO presents AFRICAN DREAMING
Friday 9 October 2026
Coming soon...
Abedian School of Architecture - Bond University
GCCO presents AFRICAN DREAMING (Second performance)
Saturday 10 October 2026
Coming soon...
Abedian School of Architecture - Bond University
Japanese Workshop - Exploring the koto and shakuhachi
Saturday 18 April 2026
Discover the sounds of Japan in this engaging, hands-on workshop exploring the koto and shakuhachi, led by visiting artists Curtis Patterson and Bruce Huebner of the Také to Ito duo.
Participants and observers alike will learn basic techniques, read traditional notation, play authentic melodies and enjoy short live performances.
This is perfect for students, adults, and complete beginners!
Ohmae Piazza
GCCO presents JAPANESE STORY
Friday 17 April 2026
A rare musical collaboration brings Tokyo-based artists Curtis Patterson and Bruce Huebner to the Gold Coast to join the GCCO. This special concert blends Western orchestral sound with the traditional Japanese tones of shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) and koto (a traditional Japanese string instrument), creating a unique fusion of classical elegance and meditative Eastern melodies. Expect an immersive, one‑of‑a‑kind musical experience.
Basil Sellers Theatre - Bond University
GCCO presents CELTIC CELEBRATION
Sunday 15 March 2026
We promised to perform Celtic Celebration after Cyclone Alfred sadly had us cancel this performance in March 2025.
Join GCCO at TSS (The Southport School) on a spectacular journey through the mystical lands of the Celts. Will be conducted by highly acclaimed artist Richard Davis, with our very own superstar Margaret Blades, soloist on violin, performing the Andante from Scottish Fantasy, this concert will showcase the power of traditional Celtic music, blending the majestic sounds of the bagpipes and drums with the soaring harmonies of the VOX Bond choir.
The program will feature beloved Celtic anthems like Highland Cathedral, the hauntingly beautiful Danny Boy, and a dynamic selection of high-energy reels and jigs, all designed to transport the audience to the rugged hills and windswept shores of the Celtic lands. This will be a celebration of music, history, and culture that is bound to leave you with a sense of wonder and joy.
TSS - The Southport School: The Annand Theatre
GCCO Fundraising Event 2025
Friday 21 November 2025
Join us for a night of music, memories, and merriment as we raise funds to secure the future of the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra (GCCO).
Ticket: Includes champagne and canapés
Theme: When I’m 64 – Come dressed in your best Beatles-inspired costume!
Live Performances: Featuring members of the GCCO
Prize: Award for Best Dressed
This special evening supports GCCO’s mission to continue bringing world-class music to our community. Your presence helps us keep the music alive.
Paradiso Place
GCCO presents VIVALDI MADNESS - Second performance: 18 Oct
Saturday 18 October 2025
Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra presents the extraordinary musical legacy of Antonio Vivaldi. Delight in the sparkling Mandolin Concerto in C Major and be swept away by the drama and elegance of The Four Seasons, reimagined through Piazzolla’s tango-infused lens.
Abedian School of Architecture - Bond University
GCCO presents VIVALDI MADNESS - First performance: 17 Oct
Friday 17 October 2025
Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra presents the extraordinary musical legacy of Antonio Vivaldi. Delight in the sparkling Mandolin Concerto in C Major and be swept away by the drama and elegance of The Four Seasons, reimagined through Piazzolla’s tango-infused lens.
Abedian School of Architecture - Bond University
GCCO presents IMAGINE - Bond University
Friday 6 June 2025
Join the GCCO as they present a magnificent recital in the Abedian School of Architecture, Bond University. A multi-sensory offering, featuring music, dance and choral masterpieces; from the beautiful haunting cello solo “Kol Nidrei” by Max Bruch , performed by the brilliant Karol Kowalik of the Orava Quartet, to music by JS Bach choreographed by Danielle’s Studio of Dance. This performance will also feature the Bond Choir, VOX BOND.
Abedian School of Architecture - Bond University
GCCO presents A CELTIC CELEBRATION - Bond University (CANCELLED)
Saturday 8 March 2025
Join us for A Celtic Celebration and be surrounded by trees in the outdoors of Bond University.
Curated by Sean O’Boyle AM, and featuring the magnificent voice of international opera diva Suzanne Kompass, we will take you on a journey through the lands of the Celts. Featuring pipers, Vox Bond (choir) and GCCO, this will be a wonderful celebration of all things Celtic.
Please note the 2 hours includes the performance time of approximately 70 minutes, along with conversations from musicians and refreshments after the performance. There won't be an interval.
Ohmae Piazza - Bond University
