Celebrating 20 Years of the Maruki Community Orchestra
Book Launch & Special Screening
This special event celebrates twenty years of the Maruki Community Orchestra — a community of Canberra musicians who have spent two decades making ambitious, joyful music together.
At the centre of the afternoon is the launch of "John Gould and Twenty Years of the Maruki Community Orchestra", a new book that tells the intertwined story of an orchestra and its founder. Part biography, part community history, the book traces how John Gould, after an international professional career, came to see community music as music’s deepest purpose — a belief that shaped Maruki from its very first rehearsal.
The celebration opens with a rare 45-minute screening of "String Quartet" (1972), an Australian documentary directed by Robert Parker for the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit. The film follows the Carl Pini Quartet — Carl Pini, Barbara Woolley, Gordon Bennett and John Gould — observing rehearsal and performance of Claude Debussy’s "String Quartet in G minor", and the exacting, inward life of professional chamber music.
Following the screening, the author of the book — and current conductor of the Maruki Community Orchestra — Paul Hubbard will be in conversation, reflecting on Gould’s legacy and on what Maruki has grown into over two decades: an orchestra defined by inclusion, commitment, friendship, and the sustained pleasure of making music together.
The afternoon will also include a few musical surprises, offered in the spirit of Maruki’s long-standing tradition of shared music-making. Past and present members of Maruki, along with family and friends of John Gould, are warmly invited to attend.
"String Quartet" is presented with permission of the National Film and Sound Archive.
We invite you to stay and have a chat over afternoon tea afterwards, tickets are free, this helps us to plan for catering.
You can also pre order your copy of "John Gould and Twenty Years of the Maruki Community Orchestra", pick it up on the day and have it signed by the author. Book cost is $20, choose your ticket type when booking. Note you can only pre order up until COB Wednesday 18 February. Some extra copies will be available for sale at the launch, but if you want to make sure you get your copy, please pre order in time.
This special event celebrates twenty years of the Maruki Community Orchestra — a community of Canberra musicians who have spent two decades making ambitious, joyful music together.
At the centre of the afternoon is the launch of "John Gould and Twenty Years of the Maruki Community Orchestra", a new book that tells the intertwined story of an orchestra and its founder. Part biography, part community history, the book traces how John Gould, after an international professional career, came to see community music as music’s deepest purpose — a belief that shaped Maruki from its very first rehearsal.
The celebration opens with a rare 45-minute screening of "String Quartet" (1972), an Australian documentary directed by Robert Parker for the Australian Commonwealth Film Unit. The film follows the Carl Pini Quartet — Carl Pini, Barbara Woolley, Gordon Bennett and John Gould — observing rehearsal and performance of Claude Debussy’s "String Quartet in G minor", and the exacting, inward life of professional chamber music.
Following the screening, the author of the book — and current conductor of the Maruki Community Orchestra — Paul Hubbard will be in conversation, reflecting on Gould’s legacy and on what Maruki has grown into over two decades: an orchestra defined by inclusion, commitment, friendship, and the sustained pleasure of making music together.
The afternoon will also include a few musical surprises, offered in the spirit of Maruki’s long-standing tradition of shared music-making. Past and present members of Maruki, along with family and friends of John Gould, are warmly invited to attend.
"String Quartet" is presented with permission of the National Film and Sound Archive.
We invite you to stay and have a chat over afternoon tea afterwards, tickets are free, this helps us to plan for catering.
You can also pre order your copy of "John Gould and Twenty Years of the Maruki Community Orchestra", pick it up on the day and have it signed by the author. Book cost is $20, choose your ticket type when booking. Note you can only pre order up until COB Wednesday 18 February. Some extra copies will be available for sale at the launch, but if you want to make sure you get your copy, please pre order in time.
Sunday 1 March 2026 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM (UTC+11)
Location
Lyneham High School Performing Arts Centre
61 Goodwin Street, Lyneham ACT 2602
Get directions and see parking options using our labelled Google map
Lyneham High School Performing Arts Centre (LPAC) – Google My Maps
The Dickson light rail stop is less than 10 minutes walk away.
Contact Details
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Celebrating 20 Years of the Maruki Community Orchestra
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