The Times Australia
Entertainment

.

Queensland Symphony Orchestra heads WEST


Regional Queensland is about to sound even better than it already does! From tomorrow, Monday 31 July to Thursday 3 August, Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Connect Ensemble will be in Chinchilla, Miles, Roma, and Tara as part of the Enrichment through Music (CMRT) Initiative.

It’s an important initiative that sees regional and rural students and communities experience the QSO Connect Ensemble, up close, firsthand and in real life, and one student who can’t wait is Chinchilla State High School Grade 11 student Grant Dolbel.

Grant has been involved in CRMT since its inception and now plays in eight ensembles including being selected for two in Brisbane - Queensland Youth Orchestras Wind Symphony (principal percussionist) and the Young Conservatorium Wind Orchestra - plus he runs Chinchilla’s community Big Band rehearsals each week. He is just back from Scotland, after being selected for the Young Conservatorium Scotland tour to the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland, at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow!

His mother, Amy Dolbel is a passionate supporter of QSO’s CMRT tour.

“We’ve seen Grant’s passion for music grow every year since the QSO first visited Chinchilla. It’s been a very special musical journey for him, the visits and the involvement he’s had with QSO have shaped his commitment to music. We are so thankful to the QSO for reaching out to regional areas and exposing our communities to such beautiful music because we know first-hand the inspiring effect it can have, as it has for Grant,” she said.

Grant said he was excited about the return of the QSO to his hometown!

“I really enjoy the workshops with QSO and the community concert. 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. There’s no doubt in my mind that when I finish school, I’m pursuing music, to see where it takes me,” said Grant.

This unique annual regional 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.

This is the seventh year that QSO has toured under this program. Over this time 21 schools have been involved, with QSO hosting 63 student workshops and rehearsals, and performing 37 school concerts and 15 community concerts to a total of 3,155 avenue attendees. Importantly, 1,126 students have participated in the program, and 7,936 students have attended. The initiative is an innovative partnership with Australia Pacific LNG operated by Origin Energy.


WESTERN QUEENSLAND TOUR COMMUNITY CONCERTS

All information at qso.com.au/CMRT2023

Roma / Mandandanji - Tuesday August 1 @ 6:30PM

ROMA BUNGIL CULTURAL CENTRE - 57 BUNGIL ST, ROMA Q 4455

https://qso.com.au/events/2023/Regional-Concerts/roma-community-in-concert-2023

Musicians from QSO Connect Ensemble will perfrom 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 @ 1:30PM

TARA MEMORIAL HALL - 19 FRY STREET, TARA Q 4421

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

Chinchilla / Jinchilla – Thursday August 3 @ 6:30PM

COUNTRY HOPE CHURCH - 3 BURBANK STREET, CHINCHILLA Q 4413

https://qso.com.au/events/2023/Regional-Concerts/chinchilla-community-in-concert-2023

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.

For further information, please visit qso.com.au/CMRT2023

Times Magazine

When Touchscreens Turn Temperamental: What to Do Before You Panic

When your touchscreen starts acting up, ignoring taps, registering phantom touches, or freezing entirely, it can feel like your entire setup is falling apart. Before you rush to replace the device, it’s worth taking a deep breath and exploring what c...

Why Social Media Marketing Matters for Businesses in Australia

Today social media is a big part of daily life. All over Australia people use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok , LinkedIn and Twitter to stay connected, share updates and find new ideas. For businesses this means a great chance to reach new customers and...

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

The Times Features

How Businesses Turn Data into Actionable Insights

In today's digital landscape, businesses are drowning in data yet thirsting for meaningful direction. The challenge isn't collecting information—it's knowing how to turn data i...

Why Mobile Allied Therapy Services Are Essential in Post-Hospital Recovery

Mobile allied health services matter more than ever under recent NDIA travel funding cuts. A quiet but critical shift is unfolding in Australia’s healthcare landscape. Mobile all...

Sydney Fertility Specialist – Expert IVF Treatment for Your Parenthood Journey

Improving the world with the help of a new child is the most valuable dream of many couples. To the infertile, though, this process can be daunting. It is here that a Sydney Fertil...

Could we one day get vaccinated against the gastro bug norovirus? Here’s where scientists are at

Norovirus is the leading cause[1] of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. It’s responsible for roughly one in every five cases[2] of gastro annually. Sometimes dubbed ...

Does running ruin your knees? And how old is too old to start?

You’ve probably heard that running is tough on your knees – and even that it can cause long-term damage. But is this true? Running is a relatively high-impact activity. Eve...

Jetstar announces first ever Brisbane to Rarotonga flights with launch fares from just $249^ one-way

Jetstar will start operating direct flights between Brisbane and Rarotonga, the stunning capital island of the Cook Islands, in May 2026, with launch sale fares available today...