About

Queensland Song (previously the Queensland Art Song Festival) is a novel music education event with a mission to inspire the next generation of Australia’s Art Song* performers. The leading national event of its kind, Queensland Song attracts major international Art Song experts to Brisbane to deliver masterclasses in the interpretation, preparation and performance of vocal-piano chamber music to local students.

Alongside a robust professional development and training programme, the pioneering festival invests in local industry by generating performance opportunities for local and emerging artists, as well as featuring genre-leading international guest artists. Career guidance and preparation together with the masterclass and recital series, collectively support our goal to foster longterm growth in vocal-chamber music in Queensland and Australia, and support the development of our future global Art Song ambassadors.

This initiative is presented in partnership with the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and The University of Queensland School of Music.

Our Artists

Since its launch, the Queensland Song has welcomed an inspiring roster of international artists, leading Australian performers, distinguished collaborative pianists, and emerging local talents. Our headline guest artists have included esteemed German baritone and leading art song expert, Benjamin Appl, preeminent English pianist and Oxford International Song Festival AD, Sholto Kynoch, internationally-renowned Australian soprano, Siobhan Stagg, and leading art song expert and collaborative pianist, Nico de Villiers.

In addition to our headliners, the festival has been thrilled to host Andrew Goodwin, Daniel de Borah, Lotte-Betts Dean, Roy Howat and Morgan Pearse. The festival also shines a light on local and emerging talent, having celebrated performances by Berlin-based Australian baritone, Tom Nicholson, local mezzo and Melba Artist, Aylish Ryan and rising star pianist Reuben Tsang, among several others. Queensland Song has enjoyed collaborations with local ensembles and organisations, such as the emerging young artist company, Voxalis Opera, and leading national chamber music group, Ensemble Q.

A man in a tuxedo standing in front of a grand piano on a stage.
A man standing on a stage in front of a grand piano, looking towards an audience, against a backdrop of blue curtains.
A man in a formal suit playing a grand piano on a wooden stage.
A woman in an orange dress performing a song with her arm raised, accompanied by two male musicians at a piano and in the background, on a wooden stage with dark curtains.
A man with a beard in a suit playing a grand piano on a stage with black curtains.
Musicians on stage at a concert, with a grand piano. A woman in a black top and beige pants is receiving applause, holding hands with a man in a pink shirt. Another person in a blue suit and face mask is seated, clapping.

Masterclass Series

Since its inception, the Queensland Song has placed education at the heart of its artistic mission. The Festival’s Masterclass Series is a cornerstone of the program, designed to nurture student artists at the very outset of their artistic journeys, while championing the uniquely collaborative nature of art song.

Led by internationally acclaimed singers and pianists, the series offers intensive open coaching sessions that explore interpretation, text, language, style, programming and recital craft.

At the core of the program is a defining philosophy: art song is collaborative. Participants are encouraged to apply and perform as singer–pianist duos, reinforcing the equal partnership between voice and piano. Rather than viewing the piano as accompaniment, the Festival affirms both artists as co-creators of narrative and expression. This duo-focused approach mirrors professional recital practice and equips emerging musicians with the ensemble skills, artistic dialogue and mutual responsiveness essential to the art form.

Masterclasses are presented in an open format, allowing fellow students to witness the artistic process in action. In selected years, the series has culminated in a dedicated Masterclass Presentation Concert, providing participating duos with the opportunity to share their refined work within the Festival program.

Through mentorship, performance opportunity and a steadfast commitment to collaboration, the Queensland Song Masterclass Series continues to cultivate confident, communicative and artistically unified partnerships — sustaining the future of art song in Australia and beyond.

is a type of chamber composition, typically for solo voice and piano, that uniquely features the merging of poetry with music. Designed for recital settings, these songs treat the voice and piano as equal partners, and are an ideal format for training young vocal and piano talents.

ART SONG