Chinchilla State High School student Grant Dolbel thanks Queensland Symphony Orchestra ahead of regional tour

A Chinchilla high school student sharing his musical gift on tour in Scotland says he was first inspired by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra when they visited his hometown, with the orchestra set to tour the southwest again next month.

A Chinchilla State High School student with a love and talent for making music has travelled all the way to Scotland to perform at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow.

Year 11 student Grant Dolbel was selected to perform as a percussionist in the elite Young Conservatorium Scotland tour as part of the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland.

The young musician is already making waves across the music scene, playing in a whopping eight ensembles including for two in Brisbane - Queensland Youth Orchestras Wind Symphony and the Young Conservatorium Wind Orchestra.

Closer to home, Mr Dolbel also runs Chinchilla’s Community Big Band rehearsals each week.

The budding talent has already accumulated quite the collection of accolades, including being named one of the most Musically Outstanding Students at the Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Instrumental Music 2023 and for the Australian Honours Ensemble Program at the Open Conservatorium Griffith University.

Grant Dolbel plays in an impressive eight ensembles and is overseas performing in Scotland. Picture: Supplied.

Grant Dolbel plays in an impressive eight ensembles and is overseas performing in Scotland. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Dolbel has no plans to stop, with aspirations to pursue music full time after graduating.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that when I finish school, I’m pursuing music, to see where it takes me,” he said.

Mr Dolbel attributes the Queensland Symphony Orchestra for first sparking his interest in music after they visited Chinchilla to perform and do workshops with students during one of their regional tours.

“I really enjoy the workshops with QSO and the community concert,” he said.

“Having the opportunity to learn from Mr (David) Montgomery (QSO Percussionist) over these years has been great, it’s helped me develop my skills and changed the way I approach my music.”

Regional Queensland will soon sound wonderful again as the QSO is set to head west for another tour in early August.

Queensland Symphony Orchestra's Gail Aitken, Kathryn Close, Rebecca Seymour and Graham Simpson on tour in regional Queensland.

They will be stopping in Chinchilla, Miles, Roma and Tara as part of their Enrichment through Music Initiative, which aims to inspire regional students to follow a musical pathway.

This annual tour sees QSO collaborate with local schools in each town, delivering workshops with students and providing professional development sessions for teachers, as well as playing side-by-side with community bands in Roma and Chinchilla in free community concerts.

Performance schedule 2023:

Roma / Mandandanji - Tuesday August 1 at 6.30pm at Roma Bungil Cultural Centre on 57 Bungil St, Roma

Musicians from QSO Connect Ensemble will perform with musicians from Maranoa Music, Roma District Combined Schools Concert Band and Roma District Combined Schools String Orchestra for this free community concert, conducted by Ingrid Martin.

No bookings required.

Tara – Wednesday August 2 at 1.30pm at Tara Memorial Hall on 19 Fry St, Tara

Musicians from Queensland Symphony Orchestra Connect Ensemble will perform a free concert for the Tara community.

Chinchilla / Jinchilla – Thursday August 3 at 6.30pm at Country Hope Church on 3 Burbank St, Chinchilla

Musicians from QSO Connect Ensemble perform with musicians from Chinchilla Concert Band, Chinchilla State School, Chinchilla State High School and Chinchilla Christian College for this free community concert, conducted by Ingrid Martin.

No bookings required.

Originally published as Chinchilla State High School student Grant Dolbel thanks Queensland Symphony Orchestra ahead of regional tour