Geelong Chamber Music Society

Buying a subscription saves you money and guarantees your seats for all 5 wonderful chamber music concerts! Season 2026 features performances by celebrated Australian artists including: Flinders Quartet Konstantin Shamray Aura Go and Friends Judith Dodsworth Melbourne Chamber Orchestra TryBooking will issue you 1 ticket for the first concert - remaining tickets will be waiting for you to collect at the door.

Over 25 years, Flinders Quartet (FQ) has commissioned 75 new works for string quartet, reached #1 on the ARIA Core Classical chart, been nominated for numerous awards including ARIA Best Classical Album, toured four continents, mentored over 100 ensembles, and won the hearts of audiences as a vanguard ensemble of artistic integrity. Renowned for bringing a 21st-century lens to the masterworks of the string quartet canon. “Flinders Quartet demonstrated remarkable talent, and the unique narrative threaded throughout elevated an already special show to a unique, unforgettable experience.” Kieran Welch, Limelight, 2024 Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet Op 18. No. 4 Olli Mustonen String Quartet No. 2 *Australian premiere* Holly Harrison Swoop Jean Sibelius String Quartet No 2 in D minor Voces Intimae Op. 56

Harpsichordist Donald Nicolson brings an infectious enthusiasm and a sparkling musicality to everything he does. This program sees him take centre stage, both as guest director from the keyboard and as the soloist for Bach’s stunning concerto. We are often asked, what’s special about MCO? Why should I come to a concert? That's simple. They are simply amazing in their playing and presentation, their repertoire and dedication. And, they have been with the GCMS every year since day one. That's our faith in this brilliant ensemble.

Winner of the ABC Young Performers Award, Eliza Shephard is a vibrant performer based in Melbourne and is quickly paving her way as an educator, improviser, and collaborator. Her project ‘March of the Women’ celebrates female composers and 2023 is the fourth rendition of this honouring. A fervent contemporary musician, Eliza has established a course on experimental flute techniques, ‘The Extended Flute’, and is a specialist on the Glissando Headjoint. Her talents as a flute player and creative artist earned her the position of a finalist in the Classical Freedman Fellowship in 2021, and she has received many accolades for the boldness and imagination she brings to her projects. ​Eliza is known as ‘fiery’ on stage, and captures the audience’s attention throughout her performances. With over twenty years experience on stage, Eliza is a confident and established performer in a wide range of styles. Her recitals are award-winning, and draw from Eliza’s many years in dance and theatre.

Robert Macfarlane studied at the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide and subsequently at the Hochschule für Musik, Leipzig ‘Felix Mendelssohn-Bartoldy’ with Prof. Dr. Jeanette Favaro-Reuter, as recipient of the prestigious Thomas Elder Overseas Scholarship. He undertook extensive study of the Baroque repertoire with tenor Howard Crook and has also studied and performed with world-renowned accompanist Malcolm Martineau. Robert Macfarlane was the winner of the Adelaide Critic’s Circle award for best individual performance in 2012 (Bach - St. John Passion), a finalist in the Lortzing Competition in Germany in 2013, and winner of the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Most recently Robert made his debut with Opera de Lyon performing Tybalt in Boris Blacher’s Roméo et Juliette, and with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in the role of Pong in Turandot. He also perormed Israel in Egypt for the Halberstädter Domfestspiele, Bach St John Passion in Belgium and Rossini’s P

Ukrainian-Australian violinist Markiyan Melnychenko CF has been described as “an artist of patrician sensibility, spectacular technique”, and “possessing an extraordinary combination of bravura, brains and elegance”. He has served as Lecturer in Violin at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and Principal 1st Violin with the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. Awarded the Dr Iain C. Medgett Churchill Fellowship in 2019, he has performed in 17 countries including solo performances in New York (Alice Tully Hall), Washington DC (Kennedy Centre), and has made a number of solo appearances with orchestras including performances with the Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra, Kobe City Chamber Orchestra, Collegium Musicum, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Corpus Medicorum and Orchestra Victoria. He has been broadcast on ABC Classic FM, 3MBS FM and Radio NZ, and has commercially released recordings on the Tall Poppies (2019) and Naxos (2020) labels.

Buying a subscription saves you money and guarantees your seats for all 5 concerts! TryBooking will issue you 1 ticket for the first concert - remaining tickets will be waiting for you to collect at the door.

Firebird Trio - like its mythical counterpart which shone magically through the darkness - sheds light on music from all epochs. Founded in 2010, Firebird Trio has performed nationwide to critical acclaim, with a vibrancy of imagination that echoes its name. Described by The Australian as "an ensemble of immense energy and focus" and praised in The Age for their “togetherness, charisma and playfulness”, Firebird Trio has performed around Australia including for Musica Viva, Noosa LongWeekend Festival, Coffs Harbour Music Society,  Camberwell Music Society, Macedon Music, Melbourne Recital Centre, 3MBS Marathon and ABC Sunday Live. Their performances are regularly heard on ABC Classic FM and 3MBS FM.

At the 2023 Melbourne International String Quartet Competition Affinity Quartet was awarded the Audience Prize, the Robert Salzer String Quartet First Prize, and the Monash University Grand Prize; the first Australian group to win the competition in its 32 year history. Enough said!

Jayson’s career from Dalby (QLD) to London is a fairytale. He now claims international status and is regarded as one of the world's finest young pianists. For the very first time in Geelong we present this amazing musician. Jayson is renowned for Chopin and Romantic repertoire, he also delivers Bach to dazzle! This will be... a night to be there!

MCO have been with us from the start. Immaculate is a good word for this amazing orchestra who present concerts of exceptionally quality. Simply no other words to describe them, than a national treasure and leaders in the ensemble music world. We are privileged to present them every year, right here in Geelong, for you!

One of Australia’s most accomplished and best-loved sopranos, Antoinette performs regularly with major opera companies and orchestras. Antoinette appears with accompanist Patrick Lawrence.

5 Concert subscription to: ENSEMBLE LIASON - Friday 15 March 7.30pm ANTOINETTE HALLORAN & PATRICK LAWRENCE - Friday 31 May 7.30pm MELBOURNE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA - Friday 19 July 7.30pm JAYSON GILLHAM - Friday 9 August 7.30pm AFFINITY QUARTET - Friday 22 November 7.30pm

Described by Limelight magazine as a ‘national treasure’, Ensemble Liaison is one of Australia’s leading internationally acclaimed ensembles. They are renowned for their captivating and engaging performances, appealing to all audiences.