TOWNSVILLE
31/07 — 09/08/2020
AFCM.COM.AU
November E-newsletter
November News
Dear , 
It is just 17 days until our AFCM 2020 Friends are able to see our 30th Anniversary program! 
AFCM Friends can purchase Festival tickets from Monday 2 December, that's 12 weeks ahead of general public release. Not only can you buy Gold and Gold Plus subscriptions but for the first time ever you will also be able to purchase single concert tickets too. Further benefits include early preview of the 2020 Festival Program, up to 10% off tickets and packages and an invitation to the special Friends Breakfast with our Artistic Director during AFCM 2020. What's more, it is a wonderful way to support the Festival and help ensure our long-term sustainability. So for your chance to secure the best seats at concerts, become an AFCM Friend now for just $120.
P.S. It also makes a wonderful present for someone who loves music! Find our more here. 
We still have space available to advertise in AFCM’s booking brochure and program. For just $400 +GST you can place an ad in our Festival Booking Brochure which is distributed nationally to our database in February; or place an ad in the Festival Program. Plus we have packages for ads in both starting from $650 + GST. A small investment for fantastic exposure. For more information please email or phone 07 4771 4144. 
Finally we are excited to announce our second winner of our Magical Sunset Cruise with Artists is Rose Thorpe from Victoria. This is Rose's first visit to the Festival and the decided to join the Friends program in order to secure good seats for the quality performances they were attracted to - for example the Goldner String Quartet.  Rose and her husband are also looking forward to experiencing the star young cellist from Britain, Sheku Kanneh Mason. Coming from Melbourne, they are also looking forward to Townsville's warm, winter weather.  Congratulations Rose, we look forward to welcoming you to your first Festival!
Warm regards,
The AFCM Team.
Image by Lars Borges 
 
A message from Artistic Director Kathryn Stott
 
As many of you now know, this will be my final festival as Artistic Director and so I have to say, I’m pulling out as many stops as I can before I move on and hope this will be a fitting culmination to my three years with AFCM.
Having just written introductions about the Festival program this has meant looking very closely at what’s in store. Can I just say that I’m pretty excited? You know that I can’t bring any tantalising news to you just yet but hope many of you have been checking out our wonderful musicians already announced and that this information has whetted your musical appetites for more.
I went to meet up with your Festival host Petroc Trelawny recently and he can’t wait to get to Townsville. When I told him many of you have been tuning into BBC Radio 3 to see what he sounds like, that made us both smile.
I can announce that the treasured Australian baritone, Peter Coleman-Wright AO will be making a welcome return to AFCM and we can all look forward to hearing him in a new commission to be performed with the Goldner String Quartet alongside some ravishing songs and an appearance in my Beethoven tribute.
We will be celebrating three anniversaries next Festival so I’ll expect to hear lots of champagne corks flying over Townsville throughout the Festival. More news soon!
Image by Jacqui Ferry
  
 
Supporting Festival Artists
This year I’ve had the privilege and pleasure of seeing the Board’s investment in developing our philanthropic income grow in the best possible way, donation by donation and conversation by conversation. Every single contribution, from volunteer to major donor, has helped us realise a successful year artistically and financially. Thank you to every single person who helped us get there and I know I’ve spoken to many of you and enjoyed hearing your AFCM stories. They are so many and varied! from stumbling across the Festival recently and catching the bug to those who have been part of its DNA for years. And this is how it goes.. one stone on two stones, two stones on one stone, like building a wall - one donation at a time.
Onwards! Now I am launching our Artist Support campaign for 2020. We have an extraordinary list of artists and lots to celebrate. Tax deductible donations contribute towards the cost of bringing our artists to Townsville and generous individuals donate $7,500 for an overseas based artist and $4,000 for an Australian based artist. I am delighted to see more and more groups of 4 to 6 people banding together and sharing the donation, it opens up the campaign and it’s a great way to share the Festival with friends or family. I spoke with some of you at the Friends Breakfast this year and will be in touch with suggestions for banding together and an artist for you to support. Do get in touch if you are interested in ‘sharing’ an artist with others and I’ll organise you into suitable groups.
In the meantime meet newly minted Suite Six (L to R - Robert Dagworthy AM, Drs Frank and Ailbhe Cunningham, their 2019 artist Timothy Young, Christine Dagworthy, Valmay Hill and Russell Mitchell). They will be supporting French Horn player Radovan Vlatković in 2020. Thank you!
Sue Hackett Philanthropy Manager Tel. 07 4771 4144 Email: sue.hackett@afcm.com.au
Image by Jacqui Ferry
  

What's your preference
5, 10, 20 or more?  
Whether you can devote the whole 10 days or just a few days to attending AFCM 2020 we probably have a package to suit. For the totally committed, a Gold Plus subscription will get you a ticket to every concert in the main program and almost all of the special events on offer. A Gold subscription gets you the 21 concerts in the main program without the special events, or you can build your own package with a five or ten concert pass - saving 10% along the way. Find out more here.
 
New Artistic Director
Search commences for 2021 Festival
In case you missed our press release earlier in the week, the AFCM board has commenced its international search for a successor to lead the Festival for 2021 and beyond.
'Sadly it's time for me to move on, but I'm thrilled that the 30th anniversary fell on my watch and I remain committed to the exciting program I've planned for this very special celebration' says current Artistic Director Kathryn Stott. Read the Limelight Magazine article here.
MORE INFO
Carols By Candlelight 
Celebrate Christmas Together tropic style at Townsville City Council's Carols by Candlelight on Sunday 8 December at Riverway oval.

This year's event brings back the big top tent to showcase:
Headline Act: Justine Clarke 1 RAR Band, Local singers and dancers and a special visit from Santa!
The evening will include food stalls, arts and craft workshops, amusements rides and much more.
Support the Mayor's Christmas Tree Appeal by purchasing a safe flame candle for $3.
Gates open at 4pm with pre show entertainment at 5pm.
MORE INFO
 
Now is the time to book your stay 
Our good friends at Quest Apartments in Palmer Street have alerted us that hotel bookings are starting to fill up for the opening weekend of AFCM 2020. Saturday 1 August is a home game for the North Queensland Cowboys at the new stadium, which is of course located between Palmer St and the Townsville Civic Theatre. We recommend you make your AFCM booking at your favourite hotel soon.
Remember The Ville Resort - Casino are yet again offering special rates starting from $195 per night including breakfast across all room types for a minimum of nine nights.  Be quick, once the rooms sell out, you miss out!
MORE INFO
Bendigo Chamber Music Festival
BCMF is Victoria’s newest chamber music festival will run between February 5 – 9 2020 and will include 15 artists, 14 chamber music concerts over 6 venues in the heart of Bendigo. Esteemed musicians of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe will be the artists in residence alongside Australian favourites including Sophie Rowell, Daniel de Borah and Howard Penny to name but a few. To go in the running to win two full festival passes (worth over $950) email info@bendigocmf.com.au before midnight 22nd of November and include which chamber work you would love to see the most. Full program can be viewed at www.bendigocmf.com.au
BOOK NOW
 


© AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF CHAMBER MUSIC
CONTACT US
The Australian Festival of Chamber Music – North Queensland Limited (a company limited by guarantee) ABN 34 050 418 730, trading as: Australian Festival of Chamber Music.

Would you like to forward this email to a friend? Click here.

Share This Email: Facebook   Twitter   Digg   Linked In