"A warm winter sun, sea, classical music performed by some of the world's best musicians, good restaurants and the Great Barrier Reef across the water have been attracting southerners to the 10 day Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Townsville for 15 years." Sydney Morning Herald

The Australian Festival of Chamber Music is an international chamber music festival held over nine days each July in Townsville, North Queensland. Each year the Festival attracts around 25 chamber musicians from across the world to give concerts and teach Australia's emerging artists through the Winterschool program.

Since inception in July 1991, the Festival has developed an international reputation for its distinguished artists and innovative programming across a range of chamber music styles.

Emerging artist development is at the centre of the Festival and every year up to 20 music students attend the Winterschool during the Festival to participate in masterclasses with festival artists and perform concerts within the program.

Prior to the Festival, an ensemble tours to regional and remote mining communities in northern Queensland for the Xstrata MacAir Outback Tour.

For the past four years, the Festival has worked in partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australian Institute of Marine Science and the Reef & Rainforest Research Centre based in Townsville, presenting ReefTalks, a series of lectures by international scientists, addressing current issues affecting the Reef, climate change and other enviornmental issues.

The Chefs in the North Dinner is one of the Festival's most exclusive events, showcasing five chefs from Australia and New Zealand, combined with five of Townsville's best chefs. Held on the grassy lawns of Jupiters Townsville, under a spectacular marquee, the evening features a six course degustation menu, a selection of award winning wines and entertainment by some of the Festival's world class artists.

Concerts from the Festival are broadcast nationally on the ABC Classic FM network.