Bellingen Youth Orchestra Celebrates a Blockbuster End to the 2025 Season — and 50 Years of Bohemian Rhapsody
The Bellingen Youth Orchestra (BYO) will close its 2025 playing year with one of its most joy-filled concerts yet — a celebration of music, community, and the 50th anniversary of Queen’s legendary Bohemian Rhapsody. In true Bellingen style, the final concert brings together young musicians, seasoned performers, beloved alumni, and guest artists for a program that promises colour, artistry, and a few goosebumps along the way.
This year’s finale, on December 14th at the Stockton Hall, Bellingen Highschool, features an unforgettable orchestral arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody, complete with a viola solo performed by Xanthe Bartholomaeus — a rare and exciting twist on one of the world’s most iconic works.
Adding to the celebration is a lineup of exceptional guest artists. Local vocal favourite Teale Kelly-Wright returns to perform with the orchestra, bringing his trademark depth and sensitivity. Classical guitarist Karin Braidwood will join the stage alongside her talented student Gypsy, offering a touching intergenerational performance. Rising young pianist Joe Barker — a name capturing attention across the region — also appears as a featured soloist and is certainly one to keep on your radar.
The concert showcases the breadth of the BYO program, opening with a combined performance from the Cygnet Orchestra, featuring our Wind and String Schools, who will perform Swan Lake. The first half also includes music from Forrest Gump and also features our senior string ensemble, Sinfonia playing Vivaldi’s, Winter from The Four Seasons, a violin concerto, featuring player Heather Webb on violin.
After interval, audiences can look forward to the sparkle and power of Holst’s Jupiter, a high-energy performance of Classical Gas, a heart-warming appearance from our alumni, and of course the grand finale: Bohemian Rhapsody.
More than just a concert, the event is a tribute to the creativity, resilience, and passion of the young musicians who make up the BYO community — and to the teachers, families, and guest artists who support them.
This is one end-of-year celebration not to be missed. Bellingen’s classical musical future has never sounded brighter.
Tickets will be available very soon via our events page https://bellingenyouthorchestra.com.au/
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Rainee Herron
BYO Operations Manager