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Queensland Music Festival (QMF) is a state-wide celebration of musical excellence, a major cultural and artistic success story with a national and international reputation, and an unparalleled geographic reach. Our vision is to transform lives through unforgettable musical experiences. For our most recent Festival in July 2013, the best of local, national and international talent brought every conceivable style of music to Queenslanders from all walks of life, in Brisbane and in 44 regional and remote centres. Many events were free, and more events than ever featured large-scale collaborative community engagement, creating works that truly reflect the life of our diverse and vibrant state. Increasingly QMF projects take place over months or even years, as is highlighted by some of our regional community projects including Boomtown in Gladstone, Heart of an Open Country in Tambo, Swingin' Utes in Mount Isa and Roma, and the inaugural Yarrabah Band Festival. Each of these events was the result of extended periods of consultation, creative development and skills development through work with professional artists. Elsewhere two significant regional tours -- Tedeschi & Cooper: Classics, Gypsy and Jazz and Piano Lessons -- brought internationally renowned artists to audiences in communities such as Birdsville, Normanton, Goondiwindi and Cunnamulla. Opera at Jimbour reached new heights through a partnership with Opera Queensland and Camerata of St John's, performing an all-Verdi program. Elsewhere in Queensland songs of a different kind filled the air, with free community concerts in Moranbah and Emerald by Paris-based Australian songstress Tina Arena in concert with Queensland Youth Orchestra. With the World's Biggest Orchestra, our Brisbane program featured large-scale community participation for the first time. 7,224 musicians young and old broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORD™ at Suncorp Stadium, making history by being part of the largest orchestra ever assembled. The world premiere of a spectacular double concerto by Australian composer Matthew Dewey was presented as part of Queensland Symphony Orchestra's Maestro Series, while international artists and musical styles graced the stages of Queensland Performing Arts Centre and Brisbane Powerhouse, with performances by vocal ensemble Take Six, the inimitable Brodsky Quartet and an absolute feast of music in the Esperanto program. Our signature Brisbane event was at City Hall; How Deep Is Your Love was a tribute to the prolific songwriting career of Queensland's legendary Bee Gees, performed by an amazing line-up of top Australian artists. QMF 2013 brought the best of international and home-grown music to your doorstep. With more than 40 events to choose from and performances spanning the state, there were more ways than ever to find your transformational musical experience.

Tambo: Heart of an Open Country is the result of hours of generous story sharing between Tambo residents, both past and present, Queensland Music Festival and writers Michael and Margery Forde. Stories of their lives, of a town, of a past and a future are beautifully reflected in this world premiere musical theatre production, which brings to life the characters, the adventures, the hardships and most of all the heart of a remarkable western Queensland town. Directed by Michael Forde with a band led by Music Director, Shenzo, the musical heartbeat of Tambo: Heart of an Open Country is provided by country music legend, Graeme Connors. His deep, rich body of work is the perfect vehicle to carry the narrative of the past 150 years of Tambo. But the real star of the show is the community itself. Performing alongside professional musicians and actors over two magnificent nights, the people of Tambo, adults and school children alike, came together with one heartfelt commonality -- to honour their town. The Tambo: Heart of an Open Country celebration is part of T-150 A Week in the West. FEATURING GRAEME CONNORS MICHAEL FORDE DIRECTOR MICHAEL & MARGERY FORDE WRITERS SHENZO MUSIC DIRECTOR/ARRANGER MARIA CLEARY DESIGNER BOSCO SHAW LIGHTING DESIGN/REALISATION ALISON MOBBS CHOIR DIRECTOR ROBYN ADAMS COSTUMIER KEVIN HIDES ACTOR FEATURING ACTORS FROM THE TAMBO AND BLACKALL COMMUNITIES BAND MEMBERS CHRISTOPHER HAIGH BASS & ACCOUSTIC GUITAR SCOTT HILLS DRUMS & PERCUSSION JAMES MORRISON MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST TIM WEDDE KEYBOARD, PIANO ACCORDION Heart of an Open Country received financial assistance from the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland; the Regional Arts Development Fund, a partnership between the Queensland Government and Blackall-Tambo Regional Council to support local arts and culture; and Jupiter's Casino Community Benefit Fund. This project has received financial assistance from the Australian Government through the Australia Council, the Australian Government arts funding and advisory body, through its Community Partnerships Section and the Regional Arts Fund, which gives all Australians, wherever they live, better access to opportunities to practise and experience the arts.

Led by Queensland Music Festival Artistic Director and multi-instrumentalist James Morrison, the World's Biggest Orchestra consisted of 7,224 musicians playing a medley of "Waltzing Matilda", "Ode to Joy" and "We Will Rock You" as part of the 2013 Queensland Music Festival held at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on Saturday 13 July, 2013. Queensland Music Festival now holds the official Guinness World Records title for the 'Largest Orchestra' and The Australian Book of Records title for the 'Largest Brass Ensemble', 'Largest Woodwind Ensemble', 'Largest Clarinet Ensemble' and 'World's Largest Orchestra'. Queensland Music Festival would like to thank our partners, musicians, volunteers, stewards, supervisors and everyone involved in helping us achieve a new Guinness World Records title. The World's Biggest Orchestra Challenge was proudly presented by Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane City Council, Network Ten and The Courier-Mail & The Sunday-Mail, with the generous support of Brisbane Airport Corporation, Griffith University, Tourism and Events Queensland, Brisbane Marketing, Ausenco, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Ellaways Music and 612 ABC Brisbane.

Now in its second year, the annual Yarrabah Band Festival featured an exciting line-up of artists, including Queensland’s own Busby Marou and Indigenous singer-songwriter Shellie Morris. As part of the celebrations, special guest James Morrison took to the stage alongside local artists, including the Yarrabah Brass Band, Djun Djun Jarra, Nite Owls, Elverina Johnson, Nightbirds, St Augustine’s College and Black Crubians, before a jam-packed finale. MC DAVID HUDSON MUSICAL DIRECTOR STEVE RUSSELL BAND STEVE RUSSELL (KEYS) / BEN HAKALITZ (DRUMS) / WILL KEPA (BASS) Yarrabah Band Festival is presented by Queensland Music Festival and Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council, with the generous support of The Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, The Bryan Foundation, FTI Consulting, Gindaja Treatment and Healing Centre and BBM 98.7FM Cairns. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body. Video by CineCat Productions - www.craigmiddleton.com

This year’s festival had a huge line-up featuring beloved Australian country star Troy Cassar-Daley. Audiences also enjoyed music from multi-Golden Guitar Award-winner Sara Storer, jazz sensation and all-round entertainer James Morrison and the host of Triple J’s House Party, KLP. Festival favourite Shellie Morris returned to work with Yarrabah youth, along with local legends the Yarrabah Brass Band. Local bands joined the program, as well as special performances by talented students from Yarrabah State and High Schools.