Southern Hemisphere's largest chamber music festival moves to Cairns

A classical savant and first Australian ever admitted into one of Europe’s most esteemed music schools will be a leading artist at the inaugural Cairns chamber music event next year.

Rising star Charlotte Miles, 22, is the first artist to be confirmed for the upcoming Cairns based Australian Festival of Chamber Music. Picture: Brian Cassey

A classical savant and first Australian ever admitted into one of Europe's most esteemed music schools will be a leading artist at the inaugural Cairns chamber music event next year.

After nearly 35 years, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music kicked off in Townsville for one last time on Friday after stalled support for new venues and ambitions for international growth led organisers to eye Cairns as a new host city.

Charlotte Miles at the Opening Night Concert of the 2025 Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia. Picture: Rob Parsons

Cellist Charlotte Miles graduated high school at 15 and went on to study at Germany’s renowned Kronberg Academy.

The 22-year-old has now been announced as the first of about 40 artists set to perform at the 10 day event next year.

She said the festivals extreme calibre and high intensity rivalled the very best across the world.

“I had the best time of my life a couple of years when I played here, honestly some of them were like 10 of the best days of my life,” she said.

“I don’t even know how many pieces I am in this festival but I think it is in the mid-teens. “But six of the pieces, I wasn’t supposed to play before the festival started.

“I love the quicksilver, light-footedness of this, it makes you feel alive.”

Created in 1991 to attract culture and music to North Queensland the event has steadily grown in popularity with musicians and patrons, becoming one of the largest festivals of its kind in the world.

Jack Liebeck with the Andromeda Sax Quartet and the Wulgurukabas at the 2025 Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville, North Queensland, Australia. Picture: Rob Parsons

The event’s artistic director and violinist Jack Liebeck said the AFCM attracted international acts that would otherwise never be seen nationwide.

“Australia has absolutely world-class musicians, but the unique selling point of this is the ability to hear those amazing Australians in combination with their international colleagues,” he said.

“It can’t happen anywhere else, because that international collaboration is quite unique for Australia.

“It’s such a long way away from the other major hubs of Europe and America, there it is something that is very special about this event.”

After extensive talks about the events future Cairns was finally announced as the new home in June this year.

Mr Liebeck said the move was bittersweet but an immense opportunity for the Far North.

“We’re excited about the new start and the possibility that it could actually be a bigger event in Cairns because of the tourism pool and international airport,” he said.

“This is one of the top chamber music festivals in the world, and the exciting thing is that we’re bringing it to the city that will really benefit from having us.

“It’s a sad loss for Townsville, but it’s a big gain for Cairns.”

Tuesday’s edition will feature a deep dive into the event and what it means for Cairns.

Originally published as Southern Hemisphere's largest chamber music festival moves to Cairns