SYMPHONIC ROCK
The Con Symphony Orchestra teams up with modern rock bands, student songwriters and composers, and featured vocalists for a concert that takes classic rock to new heights.
Thursday, 27 November 2025 | Conservatorium Theatre
Set List - Part 1
CONCERTO FOR ELECTRIC GUITAR, ROCK BAND AND ORCHESTRA - mvt 3
Michael Kamen
Transcribed by Joel Sanchez Carn
Joel Sanchez-Carn, electric guitar
LONG WAY TO THE TOP
AC/DC
Orchestrated by Jamie Messenger
Featuring Lillian Austen-Towers, vocals & Isaac Wilkinson, guitar
MY LIMITS
Grace Spinks
Orchestrated by Dylan Bryant & Emma Olsen
Featuring Charlotte Jaensch, vocals
STAINED GLASS
Cody Leenders
Orchestrated by Alex Tomon & Sam Caruana
Featuring Cody Leenders, vocals and guitar & Chris Anderson, Guitar
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
Led Zeppelin
Orchestrated by Jamie Messenger
Featuring Isaac Wilkinson, guitar and Lillian Austen-Towers, Charlotte Jaensch & Mia MacDonald, vocals
-Interval-
Set List - Part 2
TIME TO THINK
Kate Ceberano
Orchestrated by Ross Irwin
Featuring Mariana Verna, vocals
YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE
Kaleb Blackwell
Orchestrated by Christan Panjaitan & Sam Badrudeen
Featuring Kaleb Blackwell, vocals
VAN DIEMEN’S LAND
Russell Morris
Orchestrated by David Hirschfelder
Featuring Thomas Sinclair, vocals & Harry Weule, guitar
SISTERS ARE DOIN’ IT FOR THEMSELVES
Aretha Franklin & Annie Lennox
Orchestrated by Travis Jenkins
Featuring Alexis Hoenstok, vocals & Chris Anderson, guitar
DIDN’T NEED YOUR LOVE
Harry Powell
Orchestrated by Sienna Lee, Charlie Ross-Lavender & Jarrod Sachse
Featuring Harry Powell, vocals
Performers
Concerto Rock Band
Joel Sanchez-Carn, solo guitar
Jeremy Stafford, Rhythm guitar
Liam Jones, Bass
Dan Coleman, Keys
Matthew McDonald, tambourine
Joh Kotoda, drums
Joel Sanchez-Carn is a versatile composer, arranger, and performer. His genre-spanning compositions and arrangements, from jazz and pop to orchestral and chamber music, have been performed at major events, major performers and ensembles (Dami Im; Karise Eden; Australian Vocal Ensemble), and broadcast on ABC Radio National and 4MBS Classic. In 2024, he toured Japan with the Mitsui Educational Foundation, representing Griffith University and advocating for the arts, and will be returning in December, touring and premiering works with QYO Big Band. In 2025 he placed first in the guitar division of the American International Music Competition for his performance of Michael Kamen’s Concerto for Electric Guitar, Rock Band, and Orchestra. A Sir Samuel Griffith scholar, Joel is completing his honours year at Queensland Conservatorium, where he is currently developing his first symphony.
Performers
Contemporary Band (Part 1)
Nicolas Fiore (drums)
Luke Duregger (drums)
Ilai Mayshar (perc)
Jed Green (bass)
Isaac Wilkinson (guitar)
Chris Anderson (guitar)
Harry Weule (guitar)
Ronan Flaherty (keys)
Mia MacDonald (vocals)
Lillian Austen-Towers (vocals)
Charlotte Jaensch (vocals)
Cody Leenders (vocals)
Lucinda Turunen (vocals)
Performers
Contemporary Band (Part 2)
Oscar Tranter (drums)
Hayden White (drums)
Ilai Mayshar (perc)
Brandon Campbell (bass)
Isaac Wilkinson (guitar)
Chris Anderson (guitar)
Harry Weule (guitar)
Sophia Lee (keys)
Thomas Sinclair (vocals)
Kaleb Blackwell (vocals)
Cait Danaher (vocals)
Abi Morgan (vocals)
Alexis Hoenstok (vocals)
Chloe Seabrook (vocals)
Mariana Verna (vocals)
Laura Skorzewski
Oboe
Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra
Logan Nutley *
Professor Peter Morris, Conductor
Lucinda Turunen
Clarinet
Gabrielle Thompson*
Jethro Caitens
*principal
Creatives
Professor Peter Morris, Conductor
Peter Morris is Head of Ensembles and Conducting at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. To complement his academic work, Peter works professionally as an orchestral conductor for collaborations with film, electronic music and new technologies. He’s been enjoying conducting large touring events and touring shows such as the national tour of Russell Morris: The Real Thing, Kate Ceberano’s My Life is a Symphony, Classic Rock Live, the Beatles’ tribute All You Need is Love, and films such as The Man From Snowy River in Concert, Love Actually in Concert and Back to the Future in Concert.
Peter is an advocate for commissioning new works and reimagining musical structures and has an enthusiasm for exploring exciting collaborations to create performances that matter.
Caleb James, Head of Popular Music
Caleb James in the program director of the Bachelor of Music and Head of Popular Music at the Queensland Conservatorium. He has worked in the music industry for over 30 years, partnering in the creation of independent record labels and distribution labels; touring in a range of successful bands, and working as an award-winning producer, mixer, songwriter. Caleb has contributed to projects for hundreds of artists nationally and internationally including Powderfinger, Alex Lloyd, Rhubarb, Skipping Girl Vinegar, Antiskeptic, The Anthem, Red Mercury and many more. He is a regular guest panellist for music industry bodies and is a passionate advocate for creative rights and artistic expression. His current role at QCGU sees him mentoring the next generation of music producers and songwriters.
Creatives
Dr Nicole Murphy, Composition Faculty
Nicole Murphy is a Lecturer in Contemporary Creative Practices at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, where she teaches within the composition faculty. In industry, Nicole is a composer of music for theatre, dance, and the concert hall. She has been commissioned by eminent arts organisations including the Australian Ballet, the Royal Academy of Dance (London), the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Experiments in Opera/Symphony Space (New York), Orchestra Victoria, and Wild Rumpus (San Francisco). Her music has been described as “exquisite and sensitive” (Sydney Morning Herald), “strong and compelling” (Loudmouth) and “full of exhilarating tension” (Arts Knoxville). Nicole mentors emerging composers through her work at the Conservatorium and in the broader industry. She is a passionate advocate for inclusive, diverse arts practices.
Travis Jenkins, Popular Music Faculty
Travis Jenkins is a Lecturer of Contemporary Performance Practices at QCGU and part of the teaching faculty at JMI (Jazz Music Institute). A prominent multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger and session musician, Travis has worked as a performer and creative collaborater in the music industry for over 20 years. Travis currently performs in the Meanjin (Brisbane) based groups Kooii, Tommy Sexton & the Suggestions and Golden Sound, and has contributed compositions and arrangements to other groups and artists such as The Enthusiastic Musician's Orchestra, Osaka Punch, Moreton and Anthony Forrest (Kingfisha). Travis has conducted countless composition, ensemble, jazz and improvisation workshops and clinics around the country and currently mentors students at both QCGU and JMI in a diverse range of creative and practical subjects.
Tech Credits Tech Credits
FOH Audio Operator
Andy Griffith
Monitor Operator
Steve Thornely
Lighting Operator
Keith Clark
Duty Technician
Len McPherson
Orchestra Manager
Daniel Fossi
Recording Supervisor
Dr Matt Hitchcock
Recording Team
Dominic Martin (Lead)
Peta Evans-Taylor
Edward Webster
Jadyn Morgan
Jiseob Lee
Bailey Parsons
Special thanks
Phil Bathols (Spiritworks) - for your generous support of this project, licensing of sheet music and for masterclass with our students about Producing in the live music industry. Russell Morris, Kate Ceberano and Ross Irwin - for your enthusiastic support and encouragement, and for allowing our students to use your amazing music tonight.
Special thanks to Queensland Conservatorium supporters and donors.
Philanthropy plays a vital role at Queensland Conservatorium. Only through your support can our students experience valuable learning opportunities through productions such as this one. To invest in the future of music and performance in Queensland, contact us on +61 (0)7 5552 7218 or email giving@griffith.edu.au
Queensland Conservatorium thanks our generous donors and supporters. We would like to acknowledge our instrument bank donors supporting the students in tonight’s performance.
Make a donation
Conservatorium Staff
Director
Professor Bernard Lanskey
Deputy Director (Learning and Teaching)
Associate Professor
Donna Weston
Deputy Director (Research)
Professor Brydie-Leigh
Bartleet
Head of Ensembles & Orchestral Conducting
Professor Peter Morris
Head of Popular Music
Caleb James
Head of Strings
Associate Professor
Michele Walsh
Head of Woodwind
Associate Professor
Tim Munro
Head of Brass
Dr. Ben Marks
Head of Percussion
Professor Vanessa Tomlinson
Head of Composition
Dr Gerardo Dirie
Conservatorium Manager
Stuart Jones
Technical Team Leader
Cameron Hipwell
Front of House
Operations Manager
Michael Hibbard
Executive Officer (Engagement)
Dr Natalie Lewandowski-Cox
Program Coordinator (Ensembles) & Orchestra
Manager
Daniel Fossi
Operations Administrator
Clare Wharton
Technical Officers
Keith Clark, Amy Hauser, Len McPherson, Dylan
Smith, Tobias Trstenjak
Venue Officers
Grace Royle, Joshua White,
Joseph Gale-Grant
Administration Officer
Liz Tyson-Doneley
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
140 Grey Street, South Bank 4101
Concert enquiries: (07) 3735 6241 griffith.edu.au/music griffith.edu.au/queenslandconservatorium
queenslandconservatorium.com.au
Correct at time of publication
