History
The festival was founded in 1990 for a 1991 premiere by Theodore Kuchar who continued as the artistic director for the next 16 years until 2006. The festival began conservatively focusing on the more contemporary music of the classical and romantic periods, over the first five years Kuchar started inserting works of Bartok, Bloch, Martinu, Shostakovich, expanding the musical depth for enthusiasts while maintaining the popular appeal.
The festival has tried to avoid a perception that it is only there for cultivated southerners, for example in 2005 for the first time the AFCM had a presence at a Cowboys football match and in 2006 increased publicity focusing locally.
In 2007 the AFCM gained a new management and artistic team, with Piers Lane as the new artistic director, Yvette Braithwaite-Bragg as general manager and Chris Smeed as artistic administrator. Lane is a leading international pianist who is based in London; Braithwaite-Bragg brings qualities and expertise from various roles including State Manager, Sales & Marketing Professional, Special Events Manager and Protocol Officer to her role.
The 2007 programme involved vocalists and more variety than previous years to appeal to a broader audience, taking a "lifestyle approach" and focussing on music, wine and food.
Read more about this topic: Australian Festival Of Chamber Music
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