Gold Coast 

Queensland Music Teachers' Association Inc. Gold Coast Teacher Group Committee

Coordinator: Geraldene Kleinig -  qmtagoldcoast@gmail.com

 Background

Originally The Gold Coast Branch of QMTA Inc. was established by a committed group of music teachers. This has grown to a friendly and flourishing committee with a growing professional and associate membership who meet regularly for meetings, professional development workshops, student based activities and social events. In 2010 the Branch changed to QMTA Inc. Gold Coast Teacher Group Committee when it combined with Central Branch Brisbane where the business and memberships are handled. The Teacher Group continues to promote and present various activities and the dedicated committee remains enthusiastic in providing opportunities for teachers and students of the Gold Coast and elsewhere.

Regular activities include:-

Teacher Meetings

QMTA Inc. Gold Coast Teacher Group Committee holds 4 meetings per year. These friendly meetings are efficiently conducted with the promotion of music education and encouragement of teachers and students. The meetings also serve as a chance for teachers to network and share information and advice, we'd love to see you.

RSVP at qmtagoldcoast@gmail.com

Next meeting - Monday February 26th 2024 10:00am.

Student Performance Recitals

An opportunity for students to perform at a professional venue - (Gold Coast Youth Orchestra Centre, 7 Community Drive Ashmore)in a warm and supportive atmosphere. Members’ students of any instrument/voice are welcome to perform, which helps develop confidence, and promotes the sharing of repertoire and musical styles.

Student Recitals for 2024

Term 1 March 17th

Term 2 May 19th + Afternoon masterclass

Term 3 July 21st + Afternoon masterclass

Term 4 November 10th

Please email goldcoastqmta@gmail.com for details

Major Event - Composers' Competition 2024

COMPETITION EVENT DATE: Sunday June 2nd 2024

TIME: All Day

ENTRIES CLOSE:TBA Enter via Comps online

VENUE: Gold Coast Youth Orchestra Building - 7 Community Drive Ashmore QLD 4214

Enquiries: Amy Baker - goldcoastqmta@gmail.com jennifernewcomb@bigpond.com

LINKS: 2024 Composers’ Competition Flyer

2024 Composers’ Competition Brochure

ADJUDICATOR 2024: Lisa Cheney

Dr. Lisa Cheney (she/her) is a classically trained composer of acoustic and acousmatic music, working on Turrbal lands in Brisbane, Australia. Her music communicates through varied styles, which often reflect a fascination with seeking the “dirty-beautiful” through exploration of shadows, impermanence, ambiguity, expression, poeticism, fragility, delicacy, resonant space, pacing, light and dark and atmospheric soundscapes. Cheney's work has been described as 'atmospheres of unfathomable spaciousness' (​Partial Durations​), 'melodic slivers with plaintive intensity' (​The Australian)​ and 'fantastic and frightening in its detail and colour' (​Resonate​). Her body of work incorporates orchestra, chamber, voice, acousmatic collaborations, arrangements and works for theatre and ballet.

Cheney has received several accolades, including grants from the Australia-Korea Foundation, the 2017 Art Music Fund, the Silver Harris and Jeff Peck Composition Prize, 2019 Dorian Le Gallienne Composition Award, and was a finalist for Instrumental Work of the Year at the 2018 Art Music Awards for her cello work When We Speak. Her music has been performed in Australia, Europe, and the US. She has worked with leading performers and ensembles including The Southern Cross Soloists, The Australian Voices, Plexus, Syzygy, flautist Jonathan Henderson, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, and the Australian Ballet amongst others. Cheney completed her Master of Music at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and her PhD in Music Composition at the University of Melbourne under the guidance of Elliott Gyger and Linda Kouvaras.

Cheney is an Associate Represented Artist with the Australian Music Centre.

For more information please visit: ​www.lisacheney.com.au

About the competition

We cater for emerging composers as young as 4 years of age through to the open sections, from Local Gold Coast sections to the Open junior and Open Senior to all areas / states / international.

Entrants perform their original works (or for those who are unable to attend, via CD recordings). A score must be provided for the adjudicator.

  • If you are attending on the day and performing your work live, or have someone performing for you live-  you may bring along your score and present at reception before your section is due to begin.

  • If you are attending but not performing your work – you must present a recording in MP3, MP4 format to be uploaded via the form sent to your email upon competition entry by Friday May 27th.

  • If you are NOT ATTENDING  on the day, the score and the MP3 or MP4 file of the work must be uploaded via the form sent to your email upon competition entry by Wednesday May 31st.

Many of the works presented in the Composers’ Competition are actual “world premieres” and it is a special event to hear these new and dynamic compositions which are shared with a very open and appreciative audience.

Works presented represent various instruments, keyboard, voice, ensemble, or combination with a wide range of styles.

Successful composers/ emerging composers

Many entrants have gone on to continue their composing careers having had encouragement from our competition. In fact, some past entrants have indicated that it was our competition that introduced them to composition where they had not considered this as a means to express their musical language.

Proudly supporting and performing Australian Music

The Composers’ Competition is a means to encourage the creation of and pursuit of original Australian music. As a tribute to the composer/adjudicator, students and teachers perform works by the adjudicator thereby encouraging others to perform these works in future.

How to compose / composition tips

During the event, the composer/adjudicator gives a lecture/talk on composing, which is greatly received by those present.

Composers’ Competition Background

The annual Composers’ Competition began in 1989 with its inaugural adjudicator Dulcie Holland. Since its early beginnings, the competition has become a major event hosted by QMTA Inc. Gold Coast Teacher Group Committee.

Many prominent composers have adjudicated our competition such as: 

1989,’91,’93, ’95, ’97 – Dulcie Holland
1990 – Philip Bracanin
1992 – Mary Mageau
1994 – Ann Carr-Boyd
1996 – Colin Brumby
1998 – Betty Beath  
1999 – Michael Kieran Harvey
2000 – Stephen Leek
2001 – Stephen Cronin
2002 – Peter Rankine
2003 – Luke Yaaniste
2004 – Gerard Brophy  
2005 – Sonny Chua
2006 – Ralph Hultgren
2007 – Mark Gibson
2008 – Bradley Eustace
2009 – Glennis Carter-Varney
2010 – Gordon Hamilton
2011 – Dr. Graeme Denniss
2012 – Dr Gerardo Dirie
2013 – Dr Robert Davidson
2014 – Dr Colin Brumby
2015 – Dr Stephen Cronin
2016 – Michal Rosiak
2017 – Dr Jospehine Jin
2019 - Erik Griswold
2021 - Timothy Tate
2022 - Melody Eotvos
2023 - Frankie Dyson Reilly

All of our composer/adjudicators have made comment that our competition is a unique and worthwhile event through the enthusiastic support we give to students and emerging composers and the promotion of original Australian music.

Composers' Competition 2023

Our 33rd Annual Composers Competition was held on Sunday June 4th with great success. Our adjudicator Frankie Dyson Riley was delightful and offered encouragement and individual advice to all our participants. Winners enjoyed trophy presentations and many special cash prizes were awarded.

2023 RESULTS - Please click here to view a complete list of competition results and award winners

If you would like to participate in next years competition please Email goldcoastqmta@gmail.com to be added to the email list.