Jack Liebeck is talking about the 2023 Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) program, the festival’s 33rd and his second as Artistic Director, after an impressive start in 2022. His artistic leadership came after a difficult period for AFCM with his predecessor, Kathryn Stott, having her festivals cancelled first in 2020 and then at the last minute in 2021 due to COVID. Stott was never able to stage her final festival, while Liebeck took over in 2022 a year later than originally planned.
There was also clearly a sense of relief from a predominantly loyal audience that the much-loved AFCM was back in Townsville/Gurambilbarra. Attendance numbers in 2022 were up on those of the previous festival in 2019, hitting box-office targets. Liebeck says: ‘I am more comfortable in the role now and pleased with the audience numbers. It means the Board has a feeling that I am going in the right direction.’
