Held on the lawns of Jupiters Townsville, under a spectacular marquee, the Chefs in the North Dinner features a tantalising six course degustation menu prepared by some of Australia's and New Zealand's finest chefs.

In its 5th year the 2010 Chefs in the North Dinner will present an evening which highlights the best of Australian produce, accompanied by award winning wines from Brown Brothers and Wine Fusion. Special chamber music performances also feature between courses showcasing artists performing at the Festival.

The Chefs in the North Dinner is designed to tempt food and wine aficionados, Festival participants and corporate clients with an unforgettable night of fine food, wine and music.

For bookings, please phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $21

Adults: $25

Concession: $23

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $55

Adults: $60

Concession: $57
Under 26 yrs: $26

For bookings, please phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $12

Adults: $15

Concession: $10

His and Hers celebrates the relationship of life and art through the collaboration of live music, visual arts, models and the audience. It is a multi-layered event that breaks down the barriers between artists and the public, and has been evolving since 2005, by Full Trottle Co-artistic Director Karen Gibb.

The Australian Festival of Chamber Music will collaborate with Full Throttle Theatre Company to present this special event as part of the 2010 Festival Programme.

His and Hers is not a show where audiences simply sit passively waiting to be entertained. There are creative artists at work, models and Festival Artists performing in an informal structure. Patrons are encouraged to move around, talk to each other and then engage with the creative artists. Please be aware that the models will be in various states of undress. This is inline with the creative concept that has been presented since 2005.

Beverages will be available for purchase at this event. For bookings, please phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977. For more information on Full Throttle Theatre Company visit http://www.fullthrottletheatre.com/index.html or call 07 4721 5433.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $36

Adults: $40

Concession: $38

A Concert devoted to Synergy Percussion.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $36

Adults: $40

Concession: $38
Under 26 yrs: $26

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $55

Adults: $60

Concession: $57
Under 26 yrs: $26

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $36

Adult: $40

Concession: $38

A tribute to Arthur Benjamin (born Brisbane 1893 - 1960).

Wendy Hiscocks, Australian composer, pianist and author of Benjamin's biography soon to be published, narrates the tale of Arthur Benjamin with visual illustrations and live performances.

For bookings contact the TicketShop 07 4727 9797 or 1800 449 977

Members: $36

Adults: $40

Concession: $38
Under 26 yrs: $26

The Australian Festival of Chamber Music's (AFCM) Youth Winterschool String Programme provides local High School string students the opportunity to attend a free weekend of professional workshops held at Townsville Grammar School Music Centre.  Students will be provided with four sessions of world-class musical coaching by the AFCM Youth Winterschool String Director, British violinist Victoria Sayles. 

String Winterschool participants will perform in a free community concert at Jupiters Townsville, on Sunday 1^st August 2010, at 5pm to showcase their talents.

An evening of drinks while listening to songs sung by Anna Steiger and accompanied by Julian Jacobson.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $51

Adults: $55

Concession: $53
Under 26 yrs: $26

It takes 12 months to handcraft a Steinway piano, but it will take you less than one hour to learn the Secrets of Steinway with technician Ara Vartoukian (Director of Theme & Variations).

Since 1853, Steinway pianos have set an uncompromising standard for sound, touch and value. Not surprisingly, Steinway remains the choice of 95 per cent of pianists, composers and performers around the world.

While Steinway adheres to the traditional values of craftsmanship, they have also consistently led through innovation. The earliest pianos crafted by the firm were distinguished by their inventive features and technical improvements have continued ever since.

Today, each Steinway piano is a summation of their commitment to innovation. Each incorporates over 100 patented features as well as several recent improvements with patents pending. The informative ‘hands on' talk will give attendees a greater insight into why a Steinway sounds so good.

Ara obtained a Certificate with Merit from the School of Piano Tuning & Technology, SCM in 1978 where he obtained the highest marks of any graduate and set the record for the most accurate tuning within the school.

In 1979 he studied and worked in all the sections of the Yamaha Piano Factories in Hamamatsu and in 1980 took over as Lecturer in Charge of the School of Piano Tuning & Technology at the SCM.

In 1982 he was awarded a QEII Silver Jubilee Trust Scholarship for further study overseas and spent time studying in the factories of Steinway & Sons (Hamburg & NY), Grotrian, Renner, Bösendorfer and Baldwin. He later spent time studying in the Ibach and Bechstein factories and an extensive visit to Young Chang.

Ara has selected Steinway & Sons Concert instruments for many halls and institutions including the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Newcastle Conservatory of Music and the Angel Place Recital Hall.

Come join the Australian String Quartet, Camerata of St John's and Kristian Chong along with a number of our Festival artists as we travel to the Burdekin for A Breath of Fresh Ayr. The Burdekin district is the sugar capital of Australia and is the home town of a Festival favourite, Brendan Joyce. The region's two main towns of Ayr and Home Hill lie just 12kms apart and are located approximately one hour south of Townsville.

The concert package will cost $150 per person and includes return bus transfers from Townsville to the Burdekin Theatre*, a freshly prepared Italian dinner and concert ticket. The Burdekin Tourism Association will also provide a running commentary highlighting significant landmarks and the region's history on the journey to Ayr. Concert packages are available to purchase at the Townsville Civic Theatre TicketShop on 1800 449 977.

Individual concert tickets are also available to purchase.

AFCM Members: $46    Adults: $50    Consession: $48 

For individual ticket bookings, please contact the Burdekin Theatre on 07 4783 9880 or in person at the Theatre at 161 Queen Street, Ayr or online at http://www.burdekintheatre.com.au/.

*Festival bus pickup locations will be available in July at http://www.afcm.com.au/.

Conversations with the Michael Collins, Timothy Constable, Wendy Hiscocks, Louise Hopkins and Anna Steiger.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $46

Adults: $50

Concession: $48
Under 26 yrs: $26

The Advanced Winterschool provides pre-professional individuals and ensembles access to five days of intense coaching by national and international artists.

Damien Beaumont chats with Festival artists to discuss the topic ‘A Career in Music - How does the Reality compare with the Dreams?'

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $36

Adults: $40

Concession: $38

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $41

Adults: $45

Concession: $43

Conversations with Bernadene Blaha, Kristian Chong, James Cuddeford, Julian Jacobson and Karin Schaupp.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $46

Adults: $50

Concession: $48
Under 26 yrs: $26

The Advanced Winterschool provides pre-professional individuals and ensembles access to five days of intense coaching by national and international artists.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $36

Adults: $40

Concession: $38
Under 26 yrs: $26

Sharks, Sirenians, Salties, Seabirds and Satellites

These two talks will focus on the use of the latest technology to understand more about the behaviour of a range of animals in the Great Barrier Reef.

Tagging Sharks, Rays and Turtles: Dr Michelle Heupell, James Cook University (JCU) Townsville, will discuss recent research on the movements of sharks, rays and large fish in Cleveland Bay, Townsville, especially how individuals use space in the Marine Park. Michelle graduated from Colorado State University and the University of Queensland, and now splits her time between research and the joint venture between JCU and the Australian Institute of Marine Science, AIMS@JCU.

Tagging and tracking crocodiles, dugong and seabirds - Technology informing management: Dr Mark Read, Manager Species Conservation, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) will outline how emerging technology is helping to better understand the movement patterns and behaviour of crocodiles, dugongs and seabirds, and how this information is then used to make informed decisions about the management of the Marine Park.

For bookings please contact the Ticketshop on 4727 9797 or 1800 449 977.

In memory of the late Professor Ray Golding, co-founder with Theodore Kuchar, of AFCM.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $41

Adults: $45

Concession: $43
Under 26 yrs: $26

Conversations with Alice Giles, Suzanne Shakespeare, Emma Sholl, Roger Smalley and Matthew Wilkie.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $46

Adults: $50

Concession: $48
Under 26 yrs: $26

The Advanced Winterschool provides pre-professional individuals and ensembles access to five days of intense coaching by national and international artists.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $36

Adults: $40

Concession: $38
Under 26 yrs: $26

Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef: Evidence and Consequences

These two talks will present the latest data on our changing climate and what that may mean for the Great Barrier Reef.  Highlighting some dramatic impacts which can already be seen:

The evidence for climate change on the Great Barrier Reef: Dr Janice Lough, a Senior Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, will present recent data on how climate is already changing on the Great Barrier Reef based on instrumental observations and historical archives in long-lived massive corals. She will include some startling data on changes manifesting in the growth of some corals.  Janice completed her doctorate in 1982 and has been at AIMS since 1986.

Too hot to handle: how the Great Barrier Reef will cope with climate change: Dr Paul Marshall, Director, Climate Change Program, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA), will outline what climate change means for the Great Barrier Reef and what measures can be taken to minimise the impacts. Paul has been working on climate change issues and coral reefs for 10 years and co-edited Climate Change and the Great Barrier Reef: A Vulnerability Assessment.

For bookings please contact the Ticketshop on 07 4727 9797 or 1800 449 977.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $41

Adults: $45

Concession: $43
Under 26 yrs: $26

Conversations with Goldner String Quartet, Young-Chang Cho and Ji Eun Lim.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $46

Adults: $50

Concession: $48
Under 26 yrs: $26

Watch Australia's finest emerging talent perform in concert.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $36

Adults: $40

Concession: $38
Under 26 yrs: $26

The Beauty of Coral Reefs in Music, Images and Words

This program will illustrate very graphically the beauty of coral reefs through music, words and stunning visual imagery.

Mezzo-soprano Anna Steiger will sing 'Where Corals Lie' from the Edward Elgar ‘Sea  Pictures' series accompanied by Piers Lane .

Stunning images of the beauty of corals and other organisms from the Great Barrier Reef will be illustrated by photographers:

Dr David Wachenfeld - David has loved the ocean since his parents inspired him with a diet of Jacques Cousteau documentaries and snorkelling holidays. Since his first SCUBA dive at age 10 and his first underwater camera at 16, he has developed a passion for marine life and photographing the ocean's beauty. He has dived on coral reefs from French Polynesia to Africa, conducting research, taking photographs, teaching people and working to protect the environment. His PhD in 1993 was on the behaviour and ecology of coral reef triggerfish, and he is the Chief Scientist at GBRMPA.

Brett Shorthouse and Richard Fitzpatrick of Digital Dimensions Townsville.  Digital Dimensions has shot or produced nearly 50 films (including 12 of their own productions) for the BBC, Granada, Impossible Pictures, National Geographic and Discovery Channels, France 5, Galitee, Tele-Images and others. With over 8000 hours underwater, they have filmed in the crystal clear coral gardens of the Great Barrier Reef to the murky waters of the Amazon, and won a number of international awards including an Emmy nomination for Richard for the HD documentary Reef of Riches, one episode of the National Geographic Channel's Equator series. 

For bookings please contact the Ticketshop on 07 4727 9797 or 1800 449 977.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $41

Adults: $45

Concession: $43
Under 26 yrs: $26

Conversations with Philip Dukes, Ben Jacks, Jack Liebeck, Victoria Sayles, Simon Oswell and Andrew Rootes.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $46

Adults: $50

Concession: $48
Under 26 yrs: $26

Watch Australia's finest emerging talent in concert.

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $36

Adults: $40

Concession: $38
Under 26 yrs: $26

Virginia Chadwick has left an amazing legacy for the Great Barrier Reef. During her leadership at GBRMPA, Virginia led many significant achievements including a comprehensive program that culminated in the rezoning of the Marine Park in 2004.  This program provided vastly improved protection of this iconic World Heritage Area increasing the area of highly protected zones within the Marine Park from less than 5% to over 33% and has since received worldwide acclaim. These two talks will examine what has happened to the reefs since then.

Do the fish appreciate the legacy of Virginia Chadwick?: Professor Garry Russ, James Cook University will present the latest research on changes in fish populations in areas closed to fishing compared to open areas. Garry graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1981 and has conducted extensive research on fish populations in marine parks, especially in the Philippines and on the Great Barrier Reef.

A visionary legacy creating a resilient Reef:  Professor Terry Hughes, James Cook University (JCU) will outline how changes in fishes as a result of the increased protection and improved management influence other species, benefiting the resilience of the Reef.   Terry will briefly discuss the high regard that the GBR zoning process is regarded as a model for others overseas.  Terry is the Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies based at JCU. A two time Federation Fellowship recipient, Terry was recently awarded the prestigious Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Environmental Research and has been named as one of the 'most pre-eminent researchers working in Australia'.

For bookings please contact the Ticketshop on 07 4727 9797 or 1800 449 977.

In memory of the late Virginia Chadwick AO.  

For bookings phone the TicketShop on 1800 449 977

Members: $55

Adults: $60

Concession: $57
Under 26 yrs: $26