Superpower! Celebrating the superheroes at Queensland Children’s Hospital

There were super smiles galore when the Queensland Conservatorium Wind Orchestra put on a superhero-themed concert at the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

With more than 50 orchestra members donning costumes of their favourite superhero characters and playing the theme songs of all their favourite superhero movies, staff, patients and family members all came along to enjoy the show.

Deputy Director of Engagement at Queensland Conservatorium and orchestra conductor Professor Peter Morris said the idea for the concert came about after they did a pilot version last year.

Deputy Director of Engagement at Queensland Conservatorium, Professor Peter Morris

“We just wanted to go play some music for the kids so we put together some fun songs from Indiana Jones, The Incredibles and Disney and I just told the students to wear something fun,” he said.

“One girl showed up in a full banana suit and played the flute in that, but the rest just wore Hawaiian shirts or capes or the like.

“It was good fun but we realised it could be something much bigger and even more fun.”

When planning this year’s concert, Professor Morris jokingly suggested the students could all come dressed in superhero costumes, but the joke was on him when they were all for it.

“Disguises costume shop came on board and gave the students 30 per cent off costume hires which many of them (me included) took advantage of, but the creativity of some of them making their own is also just astounding!” he said.

For kids unable to attend the concert in person, the team ran a Facebook Live stream so they could still join the fun from their hospital beds.

Crowd favourites included the themes from Batman, Superman, Mary Poppins, Austin Powers, Frozen and of course Bluey, with the TV show created by Griffith Film School Animation alumnus Joe Brumm and soundtrack by Queensland Conservatorium composition alumnus Joff Bush.

Queensland Conservatorium students often play at the hospital, whether it be as quartets, individuals, orchestras or other small groups, but the themed concert looks set to be a fixture in the calendar moving forward.

“The kids and hospital staff all really love it,” Professor Morris said.

“We just wanted to put a bit of a spotlight on the superheroes they are, and it’s just been so much fun for everyone involved.”