Who We Are
The Amadeus Orchestra Brisbane is a privately run community orchestra based in Brisbane, dedicated to providing musicians with a welcoming and high-quality orchestral experience. The orchestra was founded with the aim of making orchestral music accessible, enjoyable, and musically rewarding without the barrier of membership fees.
We are made up of passionate musicians from a range of backgrounds, including students, amateur musicians, and experienced players who enjoy rehearsing and performing in a supportive and collaborative environment. Rehearsals focus on musical development, ensemble skills, and producing performances of which we can be proud.
Our Conductors
The orchestra is led by highly experienced conductors of an exceptionally high standard, ensuring rehearsals are both engaging and musically focused.
Introducing Neil Flottmann
Neil Flottmann is a flautist, music educator and conductor. In 1984 he was awarded the prestigious Willem van Otterloo Memorial Conducting Scholarship. Since then he has appeared as guest conductor with the Sydney, Queensland, Melbourne and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestras, the ABC Sinfonia, the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra and the Australian Ballet.
Since 2012 Neil has been a regular guest conductor with the Brisbane City Pops Orchestra (formerly the St Lucia Orchestra), and since 2022 with the Amadeus Orchestra. He is currently Head of Performance Music at West Moreton Anglican College.
Introducing Phil Davis
In 1963, Philip Davis commenced playing trombone with Charlie Partridge and joined the 2RNSWR CMF Army Band in 1964. He studied at the Newcastle Conservatorium with Harry Larsen and joined the ABC National Training Orchestra in Sydney in 1967-1969. In 1969, Phil was appointed as principal trombonist with the Elizabethan Melbourne Orchestra (Orchestra Victoria). In 1976, he undertook music studies with Denis Wick, Jay Friedman, Arthur Wilson, Arnold Jacobs, John Iveson and Edward Kleinhammer in Switzerland, England and the U.S.A. with assistance of scholarships from the British Council and the Sir Ian Potter Foundation.
Other casual professional experience includes playing in the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, ABC symphony orchestras, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, other professional orchestras, musicals, television, film and commercial work. Mr Davis has held directing, conducting and lecturing positions at the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QCGU) from 1986-2002; other Queensland universities, and schools. He served as Head of Performance Music at Redlands College for 27 years to 2015 and as brass teacher to 2021.
Over the last thirty years, Mr Davis has visited Singapore as music advisor, brass tutor and conductor of the Dunman High School Symphonic Band and the Sembawang Wind Orchestra.
In 1986, Phil and family moved to Brisbane. In Queensland, Mr Davis has directed many activities and ensembles, such as the Amadeus Orchestra, the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra (Redland Sinfonia), the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra, Queensland Symphonic Winds, Director of Music and tutor at McGregor Summer Schools, the QCGU Wind Symphony, Queensland Wind Orchestra and the Queensland Brass Ensemble.
Mr Davis has adjudicated at many national and other various competitions, eisteddfodau and festivals in Australia throughout his career. Mr Davis is a Queensland AMEB Brass Examiner and has been involved with the AMEB for 40 years as examiner, syllabus writer and advisor.
