By Sarah Quinn
Thousands of Brisbane residents turned up to honour our ANZACs at the inaugural RSL ANZAC Eve Concert with QSO on Saturday, April 24.
Audience members attending the free community event at Suncorp Piazza spilled out the doors to watch the Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) perform an ANZAC-inspired musical programme alongside several guest artists.
Governor of Queensland Penelope Wensley AO said the concert was a gift to both servicemen and women, and Queensland citizens.
“This partnership has lead to a fitting tribute of the true and honest reflection of services provided by our forces for the protection of this country,” Ms Wensley said.
“Music has the power to express far more than we can ever put into words.”
Entertainment on the night included traditional pieces like the Last Post and Amazing Grace as well as a composition based on the wartime poem Beach Burial.
Performances by the QSO were also supported by The Queensland Choir, the combined choirs of University of Queensland Chorale and So La Voce, Queensland Police Pipes & Drums, and the Fanfare Team from Australian Army Band Brisbane.
RSL (Queensland Branch) President Doug Formby said the concert marked the beginning of a new Brisbane-based ANZAC tradition in partnership with the QSO.
"Through this event, the community acknowledged not just a past sacrifice but the history of music in war and how it has become woven in time to reflect certain events and places," Mr Formby said.
QSO Director of Artistic Planning Richard Wenn said the collaboration celebrated the freedoms made possible by valiant sacrifice.
“It continues a tradition set by composers such as Haydn, Beethoven and Britten to commemorate those who have fallen, those who have been victorious and the many millions displaced or suffering loss as a consequence of the ravages of war,” Mr Wenn said.
The success of the event will now see it become an annual tribute to Australia and New Zealand’s servicemen and women in addition to Brisbane’s traditional dawn services and marches.
The Corporate Affairs team would like to thank all parties who were instrumental in making this partnership and event a success.