About Us

The Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra is a 22-piece community ensemble of professional standard based on the Gold Coast.

Established in 2011 to fill a gap in the classical music scene on the Gold Coast, professional musicians from the community were brought together to share their love for the genre with like-minded enthusiasts. Featuring many extraordinary and talented musicians, the passionate ensemble displays explosive power and driving energy, performing a diverse repertoire ranging from classical to modern day masterpieces and new commissions. Check out our musicians.

Each year, the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra performs in various venues locally and regionally within the QLD and NSW regions including Maleny, Tweed Heads and Maroochydore always inspiring audiences with talented guest artists, composers and conductors. See our past performances.

In such a fast-paced technology-driven world revolving around the individual rather than the community, we believe what we do is more important than ever before. We pride ourselves in our passion for what we do and hope to reach audiences of all ages particularly appealing to the younger audiences of this generation.

The Orchestra does not support itself on ticket sales alone. As a not-for-profit organisation, the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra is registered with the Australian Government as a cultural organisation – donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. The players and the committee are very appreciative of past donations that have enabled the Orchestra to continue to develop and would be very thankful for any financial support that you might give.

To keep updated with news of our performances please join our Mailing List.

If you would like to offer your services to the Orchestra please contact us here.

WHO WE ARE

  • FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

    Anna’s musical journey started very young, at the age of 3, when she commenced piano lessons. She continued lessons until entering Queensland Conservatorium Music in 1970, where she added flute as a second study. Within 2 years, flute became her main instrument, and she graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Music with Distinction in flute performance. In 1976 she travelled the world on tour with QYO and Conductor John Curro.​

    Anna was a founding teacher with the  Education QLD instrumental program and subsequently taught in Toowoomba and Southern region of Brisbane for 20 years. She also played with QSO whilst on leave from teaching during 1983-84.​

    In 2000, Anna formed “Carisma”, a flute, harp and cello trio, and with this trio recorded 3 CDs for the ABC under the “Atmospheres” label. In 2011 Anna founded GCCO with the purpose of providing the Gold Coast with a professional chamber orchestra and to develop music education in the region.

  • OUR PATRONS

  • VICE PRESIDENT ENGAGEMENT, BOND UNIVERSITY

    Bond University takes pride in partnering with the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra and their much-loved performances on campus. Together, we have forged a strong relationship to enjoy and share a memorable musical experience with our community.

Welcome from new Leader and Co-Artistic Director, Margaret Blades.

It is an absolute pleasure for me to be joining the GCCO as their new Leader in 2024. Since 2017, I have been playing with the GCCO as a guest leader and soloist, and every year I have watched the orchestra make remarkable leaps forward artistically. In 2023 I made the decision to relocate to the Gold Coast, enabling me to work with the brilliant and visionary Anna Stoddart, and to commit myself to this community. Anna, herself a professional flautist and teacher, founded GCCO in 2012, with a vision of bringing classical and art music to the Gold Coast. Brilliant innovative programming, combined with securing world class guest artists, has made the GCCO into one of the most exciting arts companies on the GC and beyond.

I look forward very much to working towards a sustainable future for the GCCO. Securing a partnership with Bond University in 2022 has been a thrilling development, and bringing audiences onto the wonderful campus is an important step in developing the artistic culture of the Gold Coast and creating an energising, life giving space for the community.