So long, we鈥檒l miss you!
The聽Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) has been kicking goals recently and much of the credit must go to visionary CEO Sophie Galaise who has been with the orchestra for the past two and a half years.
Galaise, who is French-Canadian, has just announced she is leaving us to become CEO of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. That sucks.
She has presided over a resurgent QSO which has been doing innovative things and drawing big audiences. Blockbuster events such as Journey Through The Cosmos, a concert that featured rock star physicist Brian Cox, was hugely popular. The BBC Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular which was seen by 9000 people is another example of her success. Under Galaise revenue has grown by $2 million and sponsorship has increased by 50 per cent.
Sophie Galaise. Picture: Jeff Camden
QSO chair, corporate accountant, Greg Wanchap, a man who knows how to crunch numbers, says Ms Galaise leaves after a record-breaking 2015.
鈥淪ophie played a major role in reinvigorating the company and we thank her for that,鈥� Wanchap says. 鈥淨SO has now embarked on an international search for a new CEO. So one of the most exciting roles in the arts in Australia is up for grabs.鈥�
Once upon a time getting anyone with a serious international career to move to Brisbane might have been a big ask but things have changed.
Ms Galaise came to us from Montreal in Canada after all and she has secured internationally acclaimed Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra as music director of the QSO, an appointment which made headlines internationally. De La Parra will arrive next month to conduct a Mahler concert and begin her new role.
The first concert of the year on February 6 is Raiders of The Lost Ark, featuring the QSO playing John Williams鈥� classic film score live while the movie plays on the big screen at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. We are waiting to hear if there will be popcorn available on the night.
Sophie Galaise will still be here for that and doesn鈥檛 start in Melbourne until April. Meanwhile the search for a new Sophie Galaise is on. Stay tuned.
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