Australia’s Queensland Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Steps Down

Australian violinist Warwick Adeney will perform his final concert with the symphony in 2023 before pursuing educational projects

After 22 years as concertmaster of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Australian violinist Warwick Adeney has decided to leave the role to build his teaching practice and perform in the broader community. 

With a 38-year career, Adeney was born into a large family of violinists and trained with Anthony Doheny at the Queensland Conservatorium, where he became a Gold Medal graduate in 1984.

Following graduation, Adeney joined the Queensland Theater Orchestra under Georg Tintner and became concertmaster in 1989. When the Queensland Philharmonic and Queensland Symphony Orchestras merged in 2001, Warwick led the orchestra with chief conductors including Michael Christie, Johannes Fritzsch, and Alondra de la Parra.

Adeney’s final and farewell concert will be in February 2023, performing with QSO’s new chief conductor Umberto Clerici. 

“Warwick’s commitment to the Orchestra, and to our audiences far and wide has been outstanding,” said QSO’s CEO, Yarmila Alfonzetti. “What a wonderful way to sign off, at the end of what will have been a joyful year celebrating the company’s 75th birthday, and the dawn of a new era. We thank him, and we applaud his QSO career.”

“So many big concerts with our chief conductors stand out for me…I value immensely playing with all of my colleagues of the Orchestra,” Adeney said. “I am one of those players who enjoys being deeply involved in what I am in at the time, [from] huge symphonies in the Concert Hall to chamber music in schools or retirement homes, I’m extremely happy and feel good about making music.”

“I feel such gratitude for the experience of being in an excellent orchestra, one that communicates such a deep and positive culture for our community, and I encourage all Queenslanders to hold on to its heritage and cherish this top-class keeper of classical tradition,” he continued.

In August 2021, QSO announced Natsuko Yoshimoto as co-concertmaster alongside Adeney. Following the latter’s departure, Yoshimoto will remain in the role while the search for a new concertmaster to work with her will commence.