Queensland’s Finest, conducted by Dane Lam, who has performed to acclaim both in Australia and overseas and will feature Illuminating Paradise – a piece by Florence Lingane commissioned by the Orchestra.

The recipient of QSO’s 2019 Compose Project Award, Lingane is already established as a lauded composer in her second year of university at the Griffith Conservatorium, having spent five years in the Griffith Young Conservatorium.

Lingane’s piece Illuminating Paradise is a symphonic poem which uses themes of Western esotericism as its influences and will sit between works by Beethoven and Strauss.

“At the time of writing that I was getting my teeth into a lot more of the obscure 20th century, composers and compositions. I was listening to a lot of Alexander Scriabin, going into his mythos and spirituality,” said Lingane.

“I was reading about Western esotericism and those abstract schools of thought. The main idea being the universe exists as its own being and that for humans to ascend into rest, you must be one with the universe.

“I thought it was such a cool concept which is old fashioned and mystical and very romantic, so I wanted to write a piece using that inspiration.”

Lingane finds inspiration through literature and art rather than music, but says success in the classical world by no means restricts other musical interests.

“I’m also working on some side projects at the moment including a harsh noise ambient solo project, a punk rock band, and a death-metal-progressive-doom-shoegaze piece.

“I’m in two bands at the moment, Captain Moonlight’s Panoptic Ensemble and the punk band called Gay Recess.”

Lingane said experiences as a transgender woman informs her approach to music and composition, writing and composing from a critical perspective.

“I like to steer away from more traditional historical lenses like the theory of the great man in history. I don’t like to see history through the primacy of the white man’s work. I probably approach music with a slightly different perspective than a lot of other people,” they said.

Lingane said she was thrilled to have been chosen to commission a piece for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

“I’m very eager to hear Illuminating Paradise live, especially played by the Orchestra. It’s quite an amazing feeling with such professional musicians playing your music.”

Queensland Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Valmay Hill said championing Queensland talent was a core commitment of the Orchestra.

“Queensland is home to some extraordinary musical talent and it’s QSO’s absolute privilege to collaborate with, and celebrate, this talent. To perform a world premiere, composed by a young Queenslander at the Concert Hall, in a year when so many orchestras cannot perform anything anywhere, is a very special experience.”

Lingane will also be joined by famed Queensland pianist Jayson Gillham who won the Montreal International Music Competition in 2014, known for his interpretation of Beethoven’s piano concertos.

Queensland’s Finest plays two dates at QPAC’s Concert Hall on 3 and 4 September, for more information visit their website.