Lord Mayor Lauds Concerts for All's Classical Pop-Up Initiative at the QVB
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On Saturday, 22 August 2026, non-profit music education organisation Concerts for All celebrated a major milestone, featuring a special address by the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO, to open its 10th Classical Pop-Up Concert at Sydney’s historic Queen Victoria Building (QVB).
Organised by Concerts for All in partnership with the QVB and supported by a dedicated volunteer team, the free monthly series brings live classical music directly into a public space. The initiative addresses a broader shortage of accessible, affordable performance venues in Sydney while providing emerging local musicians with essential stage experience outside traditional concert halls.
Special Address by the Lord Mayor
In her remarks, the Right Honourable Clover Moore AO, Lord Mayor of Sydney, spoke on the vital role of the free public concerts in enriching the cultural landscape of Sydney.
During her address, the Lord Mayor said:
"Now we have this collaboration between the Queen Victoria Building and Concerts for All that are introducing free curated monthly showcase performances on this grand piano. These concerts bridge the gap between classical music and the public. And now they’re a very special part of our city. They are accessible and inclusive, bringing people of all ages and all backgrounds together."
Reflecting on the city's recognition, Yichao Ma, Director of Concerts for All, highlighted the significance of the occasion:
"This official recognition is tremendous encouragement for both our organisation and the young artists we support. Ultimately, we hope it means many more people will have the chance to experience Sydney's next generation of musical talent."
Following her remarks, the Lord Mayor remained for the full musical program, meeting with each young musician individually to present them with certificates and offer personal words of encouragement.
Venue Partnership and Shared Mission
The QVB Classical Pop-Up series was established in October 2025 following Concerts for All’s donation of a grand piano to the Queen Victoria Building. Since then, Concerts for All has hosted over 30 public concerts across Sydney, with more than 70 young featured musicians performing specifically as part of the QVB series.
Highlighting the ongoing collaboration, Melanie Vale, Centre Manager, Queen Victoria Building, said:
"At the QVB, we're committed to creating experiences that enrich our visitors' connection to the city and its culture. Our partnership with Concerts for All has enabled us to open our doors to talented young musicians while making live classical music more accessible to the community. As we celebrate the 10th QVB Classical Pop-Up Concert, we're proud to support a program that nurtures emerging talent and brings memorable cultural experiences to the thousands of people who visit the QVB each day."
The Pop-Up Concert Program
The milestone concert showcased eight curated performances across piano, violin, and marimba, featuring scholars and award winners:
Kathy Piao (Piano): A familiar performer at Concerts for All events, ABC’s The Piano pop-up series at Darling Harbour, and the Sydney Opera House Gala, Kathy opened the program with Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 66.
Allen Lu (Violin): A music scholar at Sydney Grammar School who regularly shares music at nursing homes and Sydney Children’s Hospital, Allen presented Paganini’s showstopping Caprice No. 24.
Edward Leung (Piano): A Molly McAulay Scholar completing his Master’s degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music whose performances have been broadcast on RTHK Radio 4, Edward performed Earl Wild’s arrangement of Gershwin’s Embraceable You (No. 4 from Seven Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin).
Sarah Lin & Suri Lin (Piano Duet): Pianist Sarah (LMusA with Distinction) joined versatile flautist/vocalist Suri for a vibrant four-hand performance of Percy Grainger’s Country Gardens.
Alexander Liu (Piano): Eleven-year-old Sydney Conservatorium Rising Stars scholar and cellist Alexander performed Bortkiewicz’s Etude Op. 15, No. 9.
Tong Wu (Violin): Twelve-year-old Meriden School scholar, Sydney Conservatorium Rising Stars scholar, and Sydney Eisteddfod winner Tong presented the Allemande from Bach’s Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004.
Tina He (Piano): Two-time Sydney Opera House featured soloist Tina performed Schubert’s Impromptu Op. 90, No. 2.
Justin Gao (Marimba) with Bradley Gilchrist (Piano): Fourteen-year-old Sydney Conservatorium Premier Program scholar and Marimbafest award winner Justin closed the concert with the opening movement of Golovko’s Colombian Marimba Concerto, accompanied by pianist Bradley Gilchrist.
Community Impact and Future Concerts
The monthly series was built on a simple premise: giving aspiring local musicians regular opportunities to perform, while removing the formality and expense usually associated with classical concerts. The vision was to give families from all backgrounds access to it by making it a part of everyday life.
Concerts for All continues to host public pop-up performances on the 4th Saturday of every month at the Queen Victoria Building. Musicians who are interested in performing can find further details and register at Concerts for All's website.
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