Warwick Adeney to bid Queensland Symphony Orchestra farewell

In a fitting tribute to Warwick, he will lead the first Maestro concert of 2023, under the baton of the QSO’s new Chief Conductor Umberto Clerici in February. This will be his farewell appearance with the Orchestra.

QSO Chief Executive Yarmila Alfonzetti said the integrity, musicianship, passion for playing, musical leadership and authenticity Warwick Adeney had contributed to QSO over his tenure as Concertmaster should not be understated.

“Warwick’s commitment to the Orchestra, and to our audiences far and wide has been outstanding,” Alfonzetti said.

“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.”

Reviewing his extraordinary 38-year career, Warwick said he remembers fondly the Baroque and Classical concerts of the Queensland Philharmonic during the 90s. Then in 2001 with the merger of the two orchestras came a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 which powerfully conveyed a feeling of unity and good things to come.

“So many big concerts with our chief conductors stand out for me, including Bruckner and Brahms with Johannes Fritzsch, and Mahler with Alondra de la Parra especially” Adeney said.

“And each time I have been invited to play The Lark Ascending is a treasured memory.”

“Another highlight was Handel’s Messiah in 2019 with Stephen Layton, and I am looking forward to being involved with this work again later this year after a lapse of a few years.”

“Amongst all these memories, I value immensely playing with all of my colleagues of the Orchestra.”

“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.”

In his usual humble style, Warwick said looking forward he wanted to build his teaching practice and would continue to play when he could.

Warwick Adeney was always going to spend his life making music. He was born into a large family of violinists and trained at Queensland Conservatorium alongside three of his siblings. There he learnt with Dr Anthony Doheny and was the Gold Medal graduate of 1984.

He immediately joined Queensland Theatre Orchestra under Georg Tintner and rose to the concertmastership in 1989. In 2001 the amalgamation of orchestras in Queensland occurred, and Warwick served (initially as co-concertmaster with Alan Smith) under conductors Michael Christie, Johannes Fritzsch, and Alondra de la Parra.

Warwick is married to Michele, a fellow musician, and is blessed with nine children, all of whom learn a variety of instruments.

In August last year, QSO announced that Natsuko Yoshimoto would lead the Orchestra alongside Adeney in the prestigious Concertmaster position. She will remain Concertmaster and the process for securing a new concertmaster to work with her will commence.

In the meantime, QSO fans and family are to watch this space for details of Warwick’s farewell.

Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s 2023 Season will be launched on Wednesday 5 October.