The Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) is joining forces with Artspace Mackay to offer two free concerts.

The first is this Friday, September 17 at 1pm, with another concert planned for Friday October 1, featuring a stage band.

This Friday, CQU lecturer Robert Keane will accompany Bachelor of Music Performing Arts, and Music Theatre students Melinda Arndt, Kris Brennan, Cindy Foster, Emilie Fredriksson, Cat Griffin, Stephanie Lambourn, Gabby Nascone and Damian Walls as they present 'Solo Singers', a concert featuring songs from the stage - both musical and operatic.

Dr Keane describes the concerts as “warm, fun and lively entertainment for all ages. We pay particular attention to the entertainment value of these public concerts – to show that a University music education is not a stuffy, elitist thing. We enjoy ourselves, and so should our audiences.".

Dr Keane practises what he preaches. Although an internationally recognised concert pianist himself, he appeared last weekend with “Macca” – Ian Macnamara – from the ABC’s “Australia All Over” radio program, at concerts in Nambour and Brisbane, doing “anything but classical piano!".

"My act has been described as a cross between Liberace, Victor Borge, Noel Coward and The Grateful Dead. But I’m still a ridgy-didge University lecturer by day," he said.

The concert at Artspace will run for approximately 45 minutes. Guests can then view the 'Tubular Cells' exhibit, which opened on September 10, and sample some of the fine fare at Foodspace.

According to Artspace Director Robert Heather, this concert is just one of many collaborative projects between Artspace and the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music and this type of event is proving to be very popular with Mackay residents.

“The wonderful setting of Artspace in combination with talented performers from CQCM is an attractive combination, and more events like this will be planned for later in the year,” he said.

For information telephone CQU on 4940 7800 or Artspace on 4957 1775.