Queensland Symphony Orchestra is an Australian symphony orchestra in the state of Queensland. The orchestra is based in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's building in South Bank.
History
Queensland Symphony Orchestra played its first concert on 26 March 1947, consisting of 45 musicians, conducted by Percy Code. John Farnsworth Hall was recruited from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as the orchestra's first chief conductor. The orchestra played concerts in various Queensland cities and towns, such as Innisfail and Townsville, travelling up to 3500 miles a year in the process. In 2001, Queensland Symphony Orchestra was merged with Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, to form The Queensland Orchestra. On 14 October 2009, the orchestra announced it would again become known as the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, effective in 2010. The orchestra's current chief executive is Craig Whitehead.
The orchestra's discography includes Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, and several works of Benjamin Frankel, including his eight symphonies, violin concerto, viola concerto, and several film score suites.
Chief and guest conductors
The orchestra's longest-serving chief conductor was the Czech-born Rudolf Pekárek. In 1988, Vladimir Kamirski was appointed chief guest conductor. Muhai Tang was chief conductor from 1991 to 2001, and was named conductor laureate from November 2005. Michael Christie was the first chief conductor of the orchestra under its new name, from 2001 to 2004. In July 2007, Johannes Fritzsch was named the next chief conductor of the orchestra, beginning in January 2008, with an initial contract through 2010. In February 2010, the orchestra announced a three-year extension of Fritzsch's contract as chief conductor, through 2013. In September 2013, Queensland Symphony Orchestra announced the scheduled conclusion of Fritzsch's chief conductorship at the end of 2014. Fritzsch now has the title of Conductor Laureate of Queensland Symphony Orchestra. In May 2015, Alondra de la Parra made her first guest-conducting appearance with the orchestra. In October 2015, the orchestra announced the appointment of de la Parra as its first-ever music director and first-ever female conductor in its principal conducting post, effective in 2017. De la Parra completed her tenure as music director at the end of the 2019 season.
