Twilight Concert Event

ON 23 April 2017, Canon Garland Memorial Society Incorporated proudly presented a free, twilight concert performance by some of Brisbane’s brightest and most talented music artists to honour the sacrifice and devotion to duty of the men and women who served in the Australian Defence Force during the Great War of 1914-1918, and since then.

The venue was Canon Garland Place, at the entrance to Brisbane’s historic Toowong Cemetery (at the corner of Frederick Street and Mount Coot-tha Road, Toowong) from 5pm on a mild autumn evening.

Not only did an audience of some 250 visitors get to savour a unique and moving musical journey as the sun sets behind the hills of Brisbane Forest Park, but as part of the inaugural Toowong Cemetery Anzac Commemorations – hosted by Brisbane City Council over the evenings of 21 to 29 April – but (sold-out) family-friendly lighting installation and guided tours wound their way through the cemetery and then, with the help of theatrical performers of the innovative Backbone Youth Arts, got to learn about the amazing deeds and sacrifice of a selection of the 393 returned servicemen and servicewomen who now rest eternally in Toowong Cemetery’s “Soldiers’ Corner”.

Featuring musicians drawn from the Brisbane Regional Youth Orchestra, tenor Gregori Scanlan, concert pianist Ben Drozdovskii, vocalist Ashleigh Denning, Carina’s Sing Australia community-based choir, the Holy Annunciation Russian Orthodox Church Choir and other performers, our unique, hour-long and family-friendly event took place against the serene backdrop of Brisbane’s largest and most picturesque cemetery.

Ross Hielscher of the Canon Garland Memorial Society Incorporated (the “CGMS”) was the Master of Ceremonies.

A touching Great War-era poem was delivered by CGMS’s Gordon Appleby and a recital of some thoughts of the Reverend Canon David John Garland, OBE – the “Architect of ANZAC Day” – was delivered by CGMS’s Reverend Canon Emeritus Bruce Maughan, OAM RFD GCSJ MMSJ MACE.

Our cavalcade of fabulous artists donated their time and talents to the Twilight Concert FOR FREE!

Stay tuned and return to this website to learn about CGMS’s future public entertainments.