Women step into key Queensland arts roles

A rising star and a leading arts administrator have been elevated to key roles in Queensland’s arts sector.

Queensland Symphony Orchestra has decided that two concertmasters are better than one.

So now rising star violinist Natsuko Yoshimoto will lead the orchestra alongside veteran Warwick Adeney.

Yoshimoto is married to QSO viola player Imants Larsen and is from Japan originally where she started playing the violin aged three.

New concertmaster Natsuko Yoshimoto with husband Imants Larsen. Picture: Tara Croser

She has served as guest co-concertmaster but is now stepping up to officially share the role.

In other news we are sad to hear that Craig Whitehead is stepping down as QSO chief executive to pursue other interests.

He has steered the orchestra through some tough times during the pandemic.

So who can fill his shoes?

Well, here’s one we prepared earlier - none other than former Brisbane Festival CEO Valmay Hill one of our leading arts and corporate administrators and more recently chair of Brisbane Powerhouse.

Valmay Hill. Picture: Jack Tran

She’s stepping in for six months and it’s looking like a busy six months with the company touring the state and with a busy concert schedule in Brisbane.

Their concerts Queensland’s Finest on September 3 and 4 promise to be fantastic with homegrown musical heroes including conductor Dane Lam and pianist Jayson Gillham and a world premiere of a new work by young Queensland composer Sebastian Lingane.

qso.com.au