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John Curro
John Curro
John Curro
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John Ronald Curro AM MBE (6 December 1932 – 6 November 2019[1]) was an Australian violinist, violist, conductor and music director.

Curro was the founder (1966) and Director of Music of the Queensland Youth Orchestras, with which he established the National Youth Concerto Competition (NYCC).[2]

Honours and awards

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Curro was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1981[3] and a Member of the Order of Australia in 1995.[4]

He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001.[5]

Bernard Heinze Memorial Award

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The Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award is given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to music in Australia.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2000 John Curro Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award awarded [6][7]

Don Banks Music Award

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The Don Banks Music Award was established in 1984 to publicly honour a senior artist of high distinction who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to music in Australia.[8] It was founded by the Australia Council in honour of Don Banks, Australian composer, performer and the first chair of its music board.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2002 John Curro Don Banks Music Award Awarded

Queensland Greats Awards

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The Queensland Greats Awards commenced in 2001 and recognise outstanding Queenslanders for their years of dedication and contribution to the development of the state and their role in strengthening and shaping the community in Queensland, Australia.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2016 John Curro Queensland Greats Awards Awarded [9]

References

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John Curro

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John Curro AM MBE (25 November 1932 – 8 August 2019) was an Australian conductor, violinist, violist, and music educator known for founding the Queensland Youth Orchestra and dedicating over five decades to the training and development of young musicians in Australia. He established the Queensland Youth Orchestra in 1966 and served as its Director of Music, growing the organization from a single festival ensemble into a comprehensive training institution with multiple orchestras serving hundreds of young musicians aged 9 to 25. Under his leadership, the flagship Queensland Youth Symphony undertook international tours, and he founded the Queensland Youth Concerto Competition in 1976 to foster excellence among young Australian string players, with alumni including prominent violinists such as Richard Tognetti and Ray Chen. His rigorous teaching methods emphasized precise intonation, ensemble unity, and comprehensive musicianship, influencing generations of performers who advanced to professional orchestras worldwide. Originally earning a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Queensland, Curro shifted focus to music, studying violin in Europe and conducting under notable mentors before building a career as a performer in string quartets and chamber groups, tutor at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and guest conductor with major Australian orchestras. His contributions to music education and orchestral development were recognized with honors including Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1981, Member of the Order of Australia in 1995, and an honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Queensland in 1989. Curro remained active until his death on 8 August 2019, leaving a lasting legacy in Australian youth music through his organizations and the continued work of his family in the field.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

John Curro was born on December 6, 1932, in Cairns, Queensland, Australia, to Italian parents. Music played a minimal role in his early life, and he intensely disliked the forced violin lessons he received as a child. His primary childhood ambition was to play cricket for Australia, where he considered himself skilled. He had no early formal music education or notable musical events prior to adolescence.

Architectural studies and musical awakening

John Curro graduated with a degree in architecture from the University of Queensland in 1955. While pursuing these studies, a friend introduced him to violinist Alfredo Campoli, who offered him tickets to an upcoming concert in Brisbane after learning that Curro had once played the instrument. Campoli's performance of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto at that concert rekindled Curro's interest in music and ignited a passion that endured throughout his life. In the same year as his architecture graduation, 1955, Curro advanced to the finals of the ABC Concerto and Vocal Competition, where he performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Following this achievement, he traveled to Europe for further musical studies, including violin with Oscar Rosen in London, Professor Schweyda in Prague, and Professor Principe in Rome, and conducting with Ezra Rachlin. After completing his studies in Europe, Curro returned to Brisbane and met violinist Jan Sedivka, who was teaching at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. Curro later described Sedivka as “the teaching genius who changed my life,” crediting him with a decisive influence on his musical path. This encounter marked a pivotal moment, eventually leading Curro to transition from violin to viola.

Musical career beginnings

Shift to viola and professional engagements

In the late 1950s, after returning to Brisbane from studies in Rome, John Curro met violinist Jan Sedivka, who was teaching at the newly established Queensland Conservatorium of Music. Curro later described Sedivka as "the teaching genius who changed my life." Under Sedivka's influence, he transitioned from violin to viola within a few short years. Curro soon joined the Queensland Symphony Orchestra as a violist. Concurrently, he was appointed as a teacher at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, initially in the String Department. In the early 1960s, while on staff at the Conservatorium, he met his future wife Carmel, then a student of piano and voice. In the subsequent decades, Curro pursued an active career as a conductor. He founded and conducted the Concert Society Orchestra and served as Foundation Director of Music for the North Queensland Opera Festival. He was frequently engaged as a guest conductor with symphony orchestras across Australia and overseas. His teaching role at the Conservatorium later expanded to include conducting.

Teaching and orchestral roles

John Curro joined the Queensland Symphony Orchestra as a violist shortly after returning to Brisbane in the late 1950s and switching from violin to viola. Around the same time, he began teaching at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, where he initially worked in the String Department. He later transitioned to teaching in the Conducting Department at the Conservatorium. From 1968 to 1975, Curro tutored violin, viola, and chamber music at the University of Queensland. He also performed as a chamber musician in several Brisbane-based ensembles, including the Musica da Camera String Trio, Mayne String Quartet, Lazaroff String Quartet, and University of Queensland Sinfonietta, often serving as leader or principal viola. Curro founded and conducted the Concert Society Orchestra in Brisbane and served as Foundation Director of Music for the North Queensland Opera Festival. He was in demand as a conductor for symphony orchestras across Australia and overseas, and he held governance roles including service on the Board of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. His contributions to music education and orchestral life were recognized with his appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1981.

Queensland Youth Orchestras

Founding and early development

John Curro founded the Queensland Youth Orchestras in 1966, initially establishing a Festival Orchestra to promote music education in Queensland schools through a one-off festival performance. The event proved highly successful and popular with participants, who requested its continuation, leading the ensemble to evolve into the Combined Secondary Schools Orchestra and eventually the first Queensland Youth Orchestra. Curro served as the founding Director of Music, a role he held for decades while shaping the organization's early direction. In the formative years, Curro described the experience as "very much a case of the blind leading the blind at the beginning," acknowledging that he learned alongside the young players as they developed together. To support the organization's first international tour in 1972, which he regarded as a pivotal moment for building confidence and standards, Curro mortgaged his personal house. Under Curro's leadership, the Queensland Youth Orchestras expanded over time to serve nearly 500 young musicians aged 9 to 25 across seven ensembles.

Leadership achievements and programs

John Curro's leadership of the Queensland Youth Orchestras featured innovative educational initiatives and an unwavering emphasis on musical excellence and youth welfare. In 1976, he established the National Youth Concerto Competition to encourage young Australian string players to reach higher standards of performance. The competition, now known as the John Curro National Youth Concerto Competition, has provided a prestigious platform for emerging talent and helped launch the careers of violinists including Richard Tognetti and Ray Chen, among other notable alumni. Curro prioritized Saturday morning rehearsals, declining professional conducting engagements to avoid missing them. He focused on providing young people with structure, a sense of purpose, and a constructive outlet during their formative years. He maintained rigorous standards, often proclaiming "Bad intonation is not an option!" to underscore the need for precision and commitment. Through dedicated mentorship over decades, Curro influenced generations of musicians, with many alumni achieving prominent roles as soloists, teachers, chamber musicians, and members of major symphony orchestras in Australia and abroad. International tours under his direction also served as significant morale boosters and developmental milestones for the young ensembles.

International tours and lasting impact

Under Curro's direction as founder and musical director, the Queensland Youth Symphony undertook 13 international tours, showcasing young Australian musicians abroad and earning critical acclaim in various countries. A memorable highlight occurred during the 2017 tour, which included performances in China and Germany: on 6 December in Bonn, while rehearsing Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra at the Kreuzkirche, the orchestra surprised Curro—then turning 85—by inserting a rendition of "Happy Birthday" at bar 41. The evening concert that day was regarded as one of the tour's strongest performances. These international experiences contributed to the Queensland Youth Orchestras' development into the state's leading institution for orchestral training and youth music education. Alumni have sustained this legacy, pursuing careers as soloists, teachers, chamber musicians, and members of major symphony orchestras in Australia and internationally, with many returning as tutors, concertmasters, and participants in programs such as the Australian Youth Orchestra's National Music Camp. Curro's enduring influence was formally recognized in 2020 when the Australian Youth Orchestra named its chamber ensemble at the National Music Camp the Curro Chamber Orchestra, honoring both his foundational contributions to Australian musical life and the continued inspirational leadership of his daughters Monica and Sarah Curro as tutors in AYO programs. This tribute underscored the generational impact of his work, with many young musicians shaped by Queensland Youth Orchestras now influencing others in turn.

Film and television contributions

Soundtrack performances and credits

John Curro's contributions to film and television soundtracks were limited and stemmed exclusively from his leadership of the Queensland Youth Orchestra (QYO), without any independent composition or acting roles. He served as conductor and performer with the QYO for the soundtrack of the 2011 documentary The Curse of the Gothic Symphony, which prominently featured Havergal Brian's Symphony No. 1: 'The Gothic'. The project showcased the orchestra's performance under Curro's direction in a media context focused on the challenges of large-scale symphonic works. Curro also received a performer credit on the 2015 Australian film All About E, for the inclusion of the QYO's rendition of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A Major in the soundtrack. These credits reflect the occasional use of QYO recordings in film productions during his tenure.

Awards and honors

Major recognitions and inductions

John Curro received several prestigious awards and honors in recognition of his lifelong dedication to music education, orchestral conducting, and the development of young musicians in Australia. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1981 for his services to music. In 1989, he received an honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Queensland. He was subsequently appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1995, acknowledging his significant contributions to youth music education and orchestral programs. In 2001, Curro received the Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award for his outstanding contribution to music in Australia. The following year, he was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 to commemorate the centenary of Australian Federation and his service to the community through music. In 2002, he was honored with the Don Banks Music Award by the Australia Council for the Arts, recognizing his impact on Australian music. In 2016, Curro was inducted into the Queensland Greats Awards, an honor from the Queensland Government celebrating individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the state. This induction specifically commended his founding and leadership of the Queensland Youth Orchestra, along with his broader role as a conductor and mentor.

Personal life

Family and relationships

John Curro met his wife, Carmel Curro, in the early 1960s while she was a student at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music studying piano and voice. They remained married until his death in 2019. Curro and Carmel had five children, four of whom pursued musical careers. Monica Curro is a violinist and Assistant Principal Second Violin with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra , as well as a member of the contemporary ensemble PLEXUS, which has commissioned 106 new pieces since 2014; she also serves as Artistic Director of the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival. Sarah Curro is a violinist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and has commissioned ten years’ worth of solo violin works from Australian composers. Daniel Curro is a freelance cellist, David Curro is a teacher and part-time violinist, and Jonathan Curro is a computer IT specialist. Monica and Sarah have continued their father's emphasis on new Australian music through their commissioning activities and by contributing to educational initiatives, including tutoring at Australian Youth Orchestra programs and pushing for innovation in musical leadership. Monica has noted that growing up with their father's example made commissioning local composers feel normal, a responsibility they have carried forward in their own work. The family legacy is recognized through efforts such as the naming of the Curro Chamber Orchestra at the Australian Youth Orchestra National Music Camp, honoring both John Curro's contributions and his daughters' ongoing musical innovation.

Death and legacy

Final years and posthumous influence

John Curro died on November 6, 2019, in Brisbane, Queensland, at the age of 86. He had been admitted to hospital that morning before passing away in the afternoon. A memorial celebration of his life was held on December 22, 2019, at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, featuring tributes and performances by the Queensland Youth Orchestras' ensembles and alumni orchestras. Tributes at the time and in subsequent reflections emphasized his foundational vision in establishing the Queensland Youth Orchestras in 1966, which became a cornerstone of orchestral training and music education across Australia. Leaders from the organization and the broader musical community described his impact as extraordinary, noting how he inspired thousands of young musicians and contributed significantly to the development of Australia's orchestral landscape. His posthumous influence endures through the generations of alumni who have advanced to prominent positions in major orchestras and as soloists, including violinists Richard Tognetti and Ray Chen among others who have credited him with shaping their careers. Former students have recalled him as a mentor of profound and lasting impact, whose guidance instilled a lifelong love of music and changed countless lives within Australia's classical music community. One tribute expressed that his light continues to shine for all those he influenced.
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