SOUTHERN CROSS SOLOISTS
30 YEARS & BEYOND
The Stars of Australian Chamber Music
Photo: Darren Thomas
Southern Cross Soloists (SXS) are the shining stars of Australian chamber music. Firmly established as one of Australia’s pre-eminent classical music ensembles, SXS delivers programs filled with dazzling virtuosity. Composed of leading virtuosic soloists from Queensland and Australia, SXS provides dynamic, unique, and world-class musical experiences for audiences of all ages. Championing chamber music globally and nationally, SXS, each year, continues to reach new heights. The collaborative nature of the ensemble and its creative direction, ensures a commitment and desire to form long-lasting, diverse cultural partnerships with Queensland’s and, the world’s, most notable musicians, and composers.
Pursuit of excellence in the magical art of music making, connecting, and inspiring, a healthy, vibrant community, innovating, and creating new Australian works, is at the heart of SXS; synonymous with delivering quality music in Australia. In 2026, SXS enter their 31st year of delivering outstanding excellence in music making. Creative plans for 2026 honour and celebrate Queensland artists, stories and places with the next chapter of planning and creative executive directorship in place.
SXS will continue to reach new audiences with a broadening scope in its regional programs and is excited to deliver its multi award nominated and 5-Star reviewed festival, the 22nd SXS Chamber Music Festival 14-16 August 2026, Shambala Estate,Tamborine Mountain, Scenic Rim. SXS will again work with the Tamborine Mountain Orchestra in the leadup to the Festival with important skills sharing. Celebrating Queensland stories and honouring our rich and powerful landscapes curatorially, SXS will continue its focus on the employment of Queensland artists and arts workers along with accessibility and affordability to quality art music performances.
SXS are committed cultural ambassadors through metropolitan and regional areas and 2026, will bring the new iteration of Gather Round, an intimate recital series.
Passionate exponents for commissioning new Australian music and renowned for fostering creative partnerships with leading international soloists and composers, SXS has commissioned, to date, over 183 World Premiere new works. 2026 sees the continuation of the highly innovative and successful SXS Didgeridoo Commissioning Project - 2022 – 2032, creating a canon of 30 new Australian works for Didgeridoo and ensemble. 2026 will feature three outstanding composers who will co-compose with SXS’s First Nations Didgeridoo Artist in Residence. This unique and important cultural 10-year legacy project will continue each year until 2032 in time for the Brisbane Olympics. 2026 will also see the release of the first recordings by ABC Classic of selected Didgeridoo Commissioning Project commissioned works.
SXS are dedicated educators and mentors of the rising stars of chamber music. Through its flagship Educational Programs: the 13th SXS Next Gen Artists Program 2026 and 11th Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholarship 2026, SXS nurtures some of Queensland’s most in-demand young musicians today, providing much needed professional development and performance opportunities with virtuosic musicians.

























