Benjamin Britten, THE SECRET GARDEN and More Set for Queensland Conservatorium's 2016 Season

Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University promises yet another captivating year of performance, featuring the talents of award-winning Australian director Bruce Beresford and a host of exceptional emerging and established musicians.

QCGU Director, Professor Scott Harrison, said audiences can expect an incredibly diverse program to suit all musical tastes.

"It is our delight to continue to showcase home-grown talent by staging more than 250 performances to well over 40,000 patrons," Professor Harrison says.

"The 2016 season will present classical voice and instrumental, opera, the symphony orchestra, musical theatre, jazz, world music, new music, the Con Big Band, popular music and everything in between."

"We're also proud to announce that Bruce Beresford will join us to direct our annual opera, Benjamin Britten's Albert Herring."

Britten's work has particular meaning at Queensland Conservatorium, with the school revisiting the famed comic opera every 15 - 20 years.

"Gregory Massingham of the Opera department had the privilege of studying with Britten's partner in London during his early career and teacher Joseph Ward OBE sang in the original cast," Professor Harrison explains.

"Alumnus and head of opera Lisa Gasteen also sang in the lead role the very first time we presented the opera when she herself was a student, and conductor Nicholas Cleobury was the Founder Laureate of the Britten Sinfonia - one of the world's most celebrated and pioneering ensembles."

The renowned Musical Theatre department will return to the main theatre stage for the 2016 season and welcomes back London-based musical director Ian Good, who Professor Harrison says "turned down a UK tour of Wicked to work with our students again".

"Ian will work closely with our triple-threat talents to present audience favourite, The Secret Garden, over eight shows in August."

The season will conclude with The Gala, which returned in 2015 after a 20 year hiatus - bringing together every department of Queensland Conservatorium for one night of unified celebration and performance.

The full 2016 season will be available from February on www.conevents.com.au.