Renewal

Join us for an evening of music as the UQ Wind Symphony presents Renewal, our first concert for 2024. As part of the Artivism project led by The College of New Jersey, our program explores the theme of 'Life After Loss'. Through musical storytelling, we contemplate the strength of the human spirit and the profound impact of music.

Under the baton of Dr Rachel Howley, we invite you on a journey of reflection and hope, as we navigate the complexities of loss, be it death, a major life transition, lingering fallout from the pandemic, grief about war or climate change, or anything in between. From contemplative melodies to bold fanfares, this program celebrates the transformative power that the arts and community connection hold in the process of healing. 

Biography

In 2024, the UQ Wind Symphony has returned, and has quickly established a culture of inclusion, connection, and creative musical excellence. Comprised of 50 talented musicians, the auditioned ensemble predominantly draws membership from the UQ student body, but also welcomes players from the broader community. The UQ Wind Symphony is a genuinely collaborative ensemble, poised to solidify its position as one of Australia's premier youth wind ensembles in the coming years.   

Rachel Howley

Rachel Howley is a conductor, music educator and researcher. She completed a Doctor of Musical Arts (Conducting) at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and has conducted some of Australia’s finest youth ensembles, including the Queensland Youth Symphony and the Queensland Conservatorium Wind Orchestra. She is a regular conductor in the Young Conservatorium programs, conducts several times a year in the Queensland State Honours Ensembles Program, and is a member of the Queensland Wind Orchestra conducting team, one of Australia’s most distinguished wind ensembles. Rachel is regularly engaged as a clinician throughout Australia. In 2023, Rachel became a Reynolds Conducting Institute Fellow at The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference and in 2022 was named as one of Australia’s Most Influential Educators by the Educator Magazine.  

In 2015, Rachel was the founding Director of Grace Academy at Grace Lutheran College, a leading Queensland program in Performing Arts, and is sought after as a music education consultant and mentor. A passionate advocate for inclusivity, Rachel's research focuses on the pivotal role conductors play in championing the wind band works of Australian female composers. Her commitment to diversity is evident in her advocacy for fair representation through thoughtful repertoire selection. In 2018, she founded the Australian Women’s Wind Band Composition Award and this has contributed more than 50 new works to the industry by Australian female-identifying composers and continues to facilitate partnerships between emerging composers and Australian publishing companies.