Description
Please note that this event does not have allocated seating.
Join us for a very special evening of Spanish orchestral music! Conducted by Zachary Miezio and featuring award-winning Chilean guitarist Gonzalo Arias Contreras, Ignite is your opportunity to hear the sounds of Spain - its fire, its heart, its passion.
Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, performed by Gonzalo Arias Contreras, is the main feature of this program. A cornerstone of classical guitar repertoire, Rodrigo wrote it to capture the majesty of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, though its character was tempered by the tragic loss of his first child. At once inspiring and devastating, this concerto will send your mind soaring and your heart weeping.
Three movements of Enrique Granados' Twelve Spanish Dances are orchestrated for full symphony - allow them to lead you through some of Spain's most prominent regional styles and characteristics.
Manuel de Falla's dances from The Three-Cornered Hat (Suite no. 2) transport you straight to Andalusia. Written for a ballet commissioned by Diaghilev, with Picasso designing sets and costumes, these dances are a celebration of the richest of Spain's arts.
The third movement of Joaquín Turina's Sinfonia Sevillana exemplifies both the mysterious intrigue and the bombastic showmanship of Spain; how it sparkles in quiet moments and shines at its peaks.
The Brisbane Symphony Orchestra is proudly supported by the Brisbane City Council.
Lineup
Zachary Miezio - Conductor
Zachary Miezio is an award-winning conductor and composer whose artistry is driven by a passion for creating narrative-led experiences through both classical and contemporary repertoire. Known for his engaging and expressive presence on the podium, he is particularly committed to championing contemporary Australian music and exploring the rich repertoire of tthe twentieth century. His conducting credits include engagements with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and a tenure as Interim Music Director of the Brisbane Concert Orchestra in 2024, an orchestra he remains a frequent guest. In 2026, Zachary was invited to auditions and professional development opportunities with the Royal Academy of Music, Royal Northern College of Music, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and was an audition finalist in the prestigious National Master's in Orchestral Conducting programme at Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Zachary currently serves as Assistant Conductor with the Queensland Youth Orchestra and has taken part in modules of the Australian Conducting Academy in 2025. With an emerging career as a conductor, Zachary is looking forward to further international conducting competitions and engagements in 2027. Alongside his conducting career, Zachary maintains an active compositional practice across film, opera, and symphonic music. His work has been recognised through awards including the Allan Lane Composition Award (2022) and Award for Best Film Score, from the Queensland College of Art (2020, 2021). His compositions have been commissioned and performed by organisations including Screen Queensland, Australian Digital Concert Hall, Brisbane Festival, Matrix Theatre, and Voxalis Opera. A graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Zachary holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition and later pursued conducting studies at the Elder Conservatorium with Luke Dollman.
Gonzalo Arias Contreras - Soloist
Gonzalo Arias Contreras is a Chilean classical guitarist and educator recognized for his international concert career, competition successes, and commitment to music education. His performances have taken him to prestigious venues and festivals across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Arias earned a Bachelor of Musical Arts from the University of Chile, followed by advanced studies in the United States, where he completed a Performer Diploma at Indiana University Bloomington, a Master of Music at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) at the University of Georgia. Throughout his artistic development, he studied with distinguished guitarists including Christopher Parkening, Manuel Barrueco, Romilio Orellana, René Izquierdo, and Daniel Bolshoy. As a performer, Arias has received more than twenty international awards, including First Prize at the Johann Sebastian Bach Guitar Competition in Tokyo (2018) and First Prize at the Louisville Guitar Competition (USA). These achievements have established him as one of Chile's internationally recognized classical guitarists. His concert career has included appearances in countries such as the United States, England, India, China, Qatar, and Japan, performing both as a soloist and in collaborative settings. He has also contributed to theatrical productions in New York and has been invited to perform at international festivals and concert series. Arias has released recordings featuring major works of the classical guitar repertoire, including Joaquín Rodrigo: Music for Solo Guitar and Master Sonata for Guitar, demonstrating his dedication to both traditional and contemporary literature. Alongside his performing career, Gonzalo Arias Contreras is an experienced educator. He has taught students of diverse ages and levels in Chile and abroad, combining rigorous technical training with expressive musicianship. His teaching philosophy emphasizes artistic excellence, creativity, and the transformative role of music education. Today, Gonzalo Arias Contreras continues to balance an active performance career with teaching and artistic projects, seeking to inspire new generations of musicians while promoting the classical guitar on the international stage.
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