A young Townsville virtuoso’s talent has earned an accolade with the Southern Hemisphere’s largest festival dedicated to chamber music.
She’s only 16 years old but already Cathedral School student Gabrielle Penaluna has drawn the attention of some of the biggest names in the world chamber music scene, winning the 2024 Theodore Kuchar Scholarship.
Theodore “Ted” Kuchar was founding Artistic Director of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) and well-loved for his musical talent and jovial disposition. For almost 35 years, the AFCM has called Townsville home attracting musicians from around the world to perform in formal concert venues, as well as along The Strand and in Queens Gardens.
Miss Penaluna – whose skillset covers clarinet, piano and saxophone – said the Scholarship would allow her to take part in the Pacific Honours Ensemble Program (PHEP) and the Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) Program, as well as enable her to continue to enter Eisteddfods, competitions and attend Master Classes and Workshops throughout 2025 and 2026.
“The Scholarship means I can further enhance opportunities to study music at a tertiary level – I really want to study music at Griffith Conservatorium when I finish high school,” she said.
“I’d love to bring knowledge and experience back to North Queensland with the aim of further developing music education in Townsville.”
The Award:
- The AFCM’s 2024 Theodore Kuchar Scholarship for Excellence in Music awards a Year Ten student with $4,000
- The money is paid in two annual instalments of $2000, covering instrumental tuition and/or professional development in Years 11 and 12.
- Initiated in 1990 in honour of Ted Kuchar, the Scholarship is funded in partnership with the Townsville City Council and aims to support young emerging artists in the local community by increasing opportunities for creative growth and skill development at an advanced level.
By the numbers – AFCM in 2024
- More than 35 artists performed
- 10 were international artists
- 20 were Australian artists
- 5 ensembles participated
- 14 artists made their AFCM debut
- 2 world premieres were performed with Liebeck welcoming superstar artists like Stephen Johnson, Piers Lane, Roderick Williams, Lotte Betts-Dean, Brett Dean and Umberto Clerici.
TOP 5 FUN FACTS ABOUT CHAMBER MUSIC
- Chamber music gets its name from the French word “chambre” meaning room. Unlike orchestral music, chamber music is designed for smaller groups of instruments, creating an intimate setting that allows each musician’s contribution to be heard clearly.
- Chamber music originated in the courts and salons of European aristocracy during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was often performed in small, private settings for the enjoyment of a select audience.
- While chamber music can involve various instrument combinations, the string quartet—comprising two violins, a viola, and a cello—is one of the most popular and enduring forms. Composers like Mozart and Beethoven made significant contributions to this genre.
- Chamber music is often described as a “musical conversation” among the instruments. The close proximity of performers allows for nuanced communication and dynamic interplay, creating a rich and interactive musical experience.
- The emotive and expressive qualities of chamber music make it a popular choice for film scores. Composers frequently draw on the intimacy and versatility of chamber ensembles to create memorable and evocative soundtracks for a variety of cinematic genres.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music 2025
25 July – 2 August 2025
Tickets on sale 3 March 2025
3 February for AFCM Friends
