The University of Queensland student Symphony Orchestra will perform Carnival of the Animals in Brisbane on 26 May.

The University of Queensland student Symphony Orchestra will perform Carnival of the Animals in Brisbane on 26 May.
The University of Queensland student Symphony Orchestra is joining forces with writer, broadcaster and researcher Roland Sussex to present a musical classic in Brisbane on 26 May.

Emeritus Professor Roly Sussex will narrate during the student orchestra's performance of the Carnival of the Animals.

School of Music Manager Mr David Mayocchi said the musical suite and narration were rarely performed together.

"The combination will ensure an energetic and highly entertaining concert," he said.

"We're delighted Emeritus Professor Sussex from the School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies has agreed to give the narration which accompanies this humorous and well-loved classic.

"One of the advantages of being part of The University of Queensland community is that we can co-operate with the extensive talent available in other schools to create unique and vibrant performances such as this.

"As a skilled narrator, Professor Sussex's contribution will not only complement the talents of our acclaimed pianists Liam Viney and Anna Grinberg, but will also greatly enhance the performance of our student musicians in the UQ Symphony Orchestra," Mr Mayocchi said.

Carnival of the Animals, written by French composer Saint-Saëns in 1886, is a 14-movement musical 'zoo' featuring lions, elephants, kangaroos and tortoises, and is suitable for all ages and musical tastes.

A set of humorous verses to accompany the suites was written by American poet Ogden Nash in 1949.

Rachmaninoff's dramatic Symphony No. 2 in E minor will also be performed during the concert.

Event details:
What: Live concert: 'Carnival of Animals', performed by the UQ student Symphony Orchestra and narrated by Emeritus Professor Roland Sussex

When: Sunday 26 May, 2pm - 4pm

Where: Concert Hall, QPAC

Tickets: $25 / $18 concession (booking fees apply), available from the QPAC website

QASMT is a long time member of Cyberschools and we are delighted that one of their students has been named Australia's 'neuroscientist of the future'. The country's brightest young minds competed in the finals of the Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABCC) held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre earlier this month.

ABBC is an initiative of the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at The University of Queensland (UQ).

Jackson beat seven other Australian finalists and two New Zealanders in a test of brainpower in front of a live audience during a brain-teasing anatomy exam, doctor-patient diagnosis, written test and a neuroscience quiz.
The runner up was Zelda Perri of Presentation College Windsor, in Melbourne.

Presenting the award, Education Minister Martin Dixon said the finalists were of an extremely high calibre.

"All the finalists have demonstrated an extraordinary talent, and I hope the Australian and New Zealand Brain Bee Challenge will inspire them to pursue further study in this vitally important field," he said.

"The community as a whole will be the winners from advances in neuroscience."

The country's only neuroscience competition for high school students, ABBC is a test of knowledge about important facts and concepts concerning intelligence, memory, emotions, sensations, movement, stress, aging, sleep, Alzheimer's disease and stroke, and is designed to inspire students to pursue careers in neuroscience research.

Jackson has earned the right to compete in the International Brain Bee Competition held in Vienna, Austria (TBC) in 2013. He will receive return international airfares, accommodation and spending money for himself and an accompanying adult to attend the prestigious international competition.