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
