The Gold Coast Philharmonic Society has its origins in a public meeting held in July 1984 with the purpose of providing a community based opportunity for instrumentalists in the South East Queensland region to perform orchestral works.

The first rehearsal was held in the Community Hall in Southport on July 18 1984 with George Jackson as the Conductor.

The Gold Coast Philharmonic Society now maintains:

• A full symphony orchestra of over 50, all local, professional and semi-professional musicians and highly skilled amateur musicians under the baton of Conductor, Mark Turpin
• An active "Friends of the Philharmonic" Association, which presents special events and boutique Concert opportunities.
• Smaller ensembles formed from within the orchestra performing for community and corporate events and "Friends" events.

The vision for the Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra is to project the Gold Coast’s diverse cultural diversity through the performance and enjoyment of Music and to present Concerts at affordable ticket prices for the Gold Coast and South East Queensland Community.

A Great Orchestra for a Dynamic Area

Diane is a long-standing member of the orchestra, and plays first clarinet position. She is a full-time instrumental music teacher in Education Queensland schools on the northern end of the Gold Coast, as well as teaching privately as a woodwind specialist.

Diane is a qualified teacher, having attained her Bachelor of Education (majoring in music) at the University of Southern Queensland, as well as A. Mus.A. on clarinet and piano (she also plays flute, harmonica and saxophone). Diane has a varied background of both classical and popular music - she attended the Conservatorium of Music High School in Sydney and then continued her education at the Conservatorium after completing high school. In subsequent years, Diane worked for a number of years as a professional entertainer in the Sydney and interstate club and television scene, as well as a number of overseas trips on various cruise ships.

Diane has played as a soloist with the orchestra on both harmonica and clarinet, and has also performed a number of times at Friends of the Philharmonic events with her clarinet and saxophone quartet "The Coastal Wind Ensemble".

Mark was born and educated in Queensland and holds a Bachelor of Education Degree and a Diploma of Secondary Music Teaching. Mark has had extensive experience as a Music Director and Conductor and composed the musical, "A Mid-semester Night's Dream". In 1994 Mark conducted the Australian representative choir at the Osaka Youth Chorus Festival. The choir was chosen to perform the finale at the gala concert held in the Osaka Concert Hall.

Mark has played oboe for the Gold Coast Philharmonic Orchestra since 1987 and has played for several Gold Coast Arts Centre productions. In 2001 Mark started conducting the orchestra and was nominated for Symphony Australia's Artist Development Program in that year.