Welcome to 2026!
Dear Guild Members
I hope everyone enjoyed a well-earned summer break and that 2026 has begun with a positive, musical step!
Firstly, my apologies on not sending a Christmas newsletter. We were waiting on some information to include, and with a combination of gigs, an overseas trip, and the usual end-of-year silliness, the newsletter simply didn’t happen. However, this one will more than make up for it! So grab a cuppa and read on for our plans for the year ahead, along with some remaining news from 2025.
Membership
Please join us in welcoming our newest members to the guild:
Brett Sturdy
Hannah Blain
Jennifer Enchelmaier
Danielle Hawkins
We look forward to your involvement and hope you enjoy being part of our collaborative community.
Planned Professional Development
Playing Day Sunday 19th April:
This year, our first professional development activity will be a playing day on Sunday April 19 (flyer to come). This wonderful brainchild of past-president Laura Tiong is always an enjoyable day of music-making, and I encourage as many of you as possible to participate.
We are delighted to be using the AMEB venue at Ashgrove which offers easy parking, multiple rehearsal rooms and a lovely performance space. Please mark the date in your diaries, start thinking about chamber and/or duet repertoire you’d like to explore, and plan to attend. Do also let your musical friends know about this event as it is open to others who may like to come and play.
Last year’s Playing Day was held in October at UQ, where we sightread and performed on the same day. Thanks to QMTA’s support with advertising, we were joined by QMTA members, including chamber musicians, which expanded our repertoire exploration and added to the fun. A few photos from this wonderful event are attached.
Accompaniment Masterclass with Mitchell Leigh:
In collaboration with QMTA, we are planning a masterclass in accompanying, to be led by Mitchell Leigh. This will be held at the QMTA Taringa venue. Once a suitable date is confirmed, a flyer will be sent to AGQ members.
Social Get-togethers
Term 1 Dinner Friday 27th March:
We will be holding our first dinner for the year at Mado at South Bank. This wonderful restaurant won Australia’s Best Turkish Restaurant. The set menu is $65, please see flyer attached. If you would love to come, please rsvp to Andrea secretaryagq@gmail.com.
AGQ Christmas dinner 2025:
In November 2025, we held our Christmas/end-of-year dinner at Viet Delites. It was a small gathering but we were still able to mark the occasion in our usual AGQ way!
AGQ Prizes
Universities:
As announced on our socials, we would like to extend our congratulations to the AGQ prize winners:
Carina Weder (Qld Conservatorium)
Lachlan Leow (UQ).
We also warmly welcome both prize winners as student members of our organisation.
Eisteddfods:
We are currently contacting our usual eisteddfods to confirm AGQ prize support for 2026. This year, we have suggested linking the prize to a specific accompaniment section, adjudicated by a piano adjudicator. This approach encourages more pianists to participate, rather than awarding a prize only when a student accompanist happens to be engaged.
Some eisteddfods, such as the Enoggera Eisteddfod, already run exemplary accompaniment sections, and we are keen to support and encourage this model as a pathway into collaborative piano.
The current eisteddfods we support are: Beenleigh, Enoggera, Gold Coast, Wynnum Manly, Burdekin, Dalby, Toowoomba, Cairns, Townsville, Gladstone, Ipswich, Redlands, Rockhampton and Kingaroy. If you know of other eisteddfods or competitions that may benefit from a collaborative piano prize, please let us know.
Professional Networks
Meetings with Unions:
Recently, AGQ council member Robert Manley and I met with representatives from the Musicians’ Union of Australia and the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance. The aim was to identify shared values and areas for future exploration. Information from both organisations is attached should you be interested in joining a union that suits your individual circumstances. Union membership supplements rather than replaces membership of the accompanists’ guilds in Australia (of special value where industrial or legal issues arise). Professional musicians may elect to join either union; each operates separately without any reciprocal affiliation and offers similar services and support for musicians.
Australian Guild of Collaborative Pianists:
A reminder that all AGQ members are welcome to attend AGCP meetings online. Please contact David Miller info@agcp.au if you would like to be involved.
QMTA morning tea:
In December 2025, I represented the AGQ at the QMTA annual ‘thank you’ morning tea. Over the year, we have sponsored prizes and assisted with advertising to promote the AGQ to the wider music education community. We look forward to continuing this valued relationship in 2026.
Reminder
Advertising:
If you are a member of the AGQ and have a performance or activity relevant to the Guild that you would like advertised, please let us know and we will share with AGQ members as well as on our socials.
Follow us:
Instagram: accompanists_guild_of_qld
Facebook: Accompanists’ Guild of Queensland – Collaborative Pianists
If you have any suggestions or ideas you would like to see implemented, please feel free to contact me during this planning phase. Thank you for your continued support of the AGQ. We look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events. See you in 2026!
On behalf of the AGQ Committee, whose dedication and professionalism continue to strengthen our organisation,
Rachel
Dr Rachel Hocking, President AGQ
