What’s Happening?
Rockhampton audiences will have a rare chance to hear Ensemble Q Australia with Ed le Brocq – from Mozart to Leunig live when the nationally acclaimed chamber music group visits the city in July.
The one-night-only performance forms part of Ensemble Q’s 2026 National Tour and will bring together classical music, Australian writing and live narration. Limelight magazine has described the group as “Australia’s top echelon of musicians”.
The program will feature ABC Classic presenter and writer Ed le Brocq, whose story Sonam & the Silence has inspired a newly commissioned work by Australian composer Anne Cawrse.
Audiences will also hear Curly Pyjama Letters, a narrated work by Calvin Bowman based on the writings of Australian cartoonist Michael Leunig.
These Australian works will sit alongside two chamber music classics, Puccini’s Crisantemi and Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet. The Mozart piece will feature internationally acclaimed clarinettist Paul Dean, who is also Ensemble Q’s Co-Artistic Director.
Why It Matters?
The Rockhampton performance brings one of Australia’s leading chamber music ensembles to a regional audience, giving locals access to a high-level live performance close to home.
It also gives the visit a strong education focus. Ensemble Q will run free workshops for students at Rockhampton State High School and Yeppoon State High School.
The workshops will allow young local musicians to learn directly from experienced performers and gain insight into chamber music, ensemble playing and professional music-making.
Ensemble Q CEO and Co-Artistic Director Trish Dean said regional engagement is an important part of the group’s mission.
“Queensland has incredible young musical talent, and we are passionate about ensuring students in regional communities have access to the same high-level artistic experiences as those in major cities,” she said
By the Numbers
- 14 July 2026 is the concert date, with the performance starting at 7pm at St Paul’s Cathedral in Rockhampton.
- 2 local schools will take part in free workshops, Rockhampton State High School and Yeppoon State High School.
- $15 to $60 is the ticket range, making the one-night performance open to a range of audience budgets.
Local Impact
The visit gives Rockhampton audiences more than a concert. It also brings direct support for young musicians in the region.
Students in Rockhampton and Yeppoon will have the chance to work with some of Australia’s finest performers. For many, that kind of direct contact with professional musicians can help build confidence and skill.
Trish Dean said the ensemble was pleased to bring both performance and education to Central Queensland.
“We’re delighted to be visiting Rockhampton and Yeppoon, sharing music with audiences and students alike, and contributing to the vibrant cultural life of the region,” she said.
Zoom In
The concert’s strength is its mix of old and new.
Puccini’s Crisantemi and Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet will give audiences a connection to much-loved chamber music. At the same time, the program will place Australian stories at the centre of the evening.
Ed le Brocq’s Sonam & the Silence has inspired a new composition by Anne Cawrse, while Calvin Bowman’s Curly Pyjama Letters brings Michael Leunig’s writing into a narrated musical setting.
Together, the works create a program shaped by music, memory, humour and spoken word.
Zoom Out
The Rockhampton performance is part of Ensemble Q’s expanding national touring program, which takes chamber music and Australian stories to communities across the country.
The concert is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
For regional centres like Rockhampton, tours like this help bring national artists into local spaces. They also help connect regional students with professional arts experiences.
What To Look For Next?
The July concert will bring Ensemble Q, Ed le Brocq and a program of Australian storytelling to St Paul’s Cathedral for one night only.
The workshops at Rockhampton State High School and Yeppoon State High School will also give the visit a lasting local link. For students and audiences, the week offers a chance to experience chamber music in a more personal and story-led way.
Tickets are available HERE
