THE 40-member Queensland Youth Orchestra (QYO) will give a free concert of orchestral favourites in Proserpine at 3pm this Sunday, July 13.

The concert is part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Proserpine Entertainment Centre Whitsunday and also marks 15 years since the orchestra last performed in Proserpine in 1999.

Conducted by Sergei Korschmin and featuring soprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas, the concert will feature some of the best known works written for symphony orchestra.

Orchestral music to be performed will include Beethoven's 5th Symphony, Brahms' Hungarian Dances, arias by Puccini (Oh my beloved father), Mozart (You who know what love is) and songs from musicals.

The orchestra is made up of a senior ensemble from the world-class Queensland Youth Orchestras organisation based in Brisbane, comprising 470 musicians aged eight to 24 across eight orchestras and ensembles, including three symphony orchestras.

QYO general manager, Geoff Rosbrook, said audiences were sure to enjoy the very high quality of the performance, "with the added bonus of our incredible 17-year-old soprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas, who is undoubtedly one of Australia's most outstanding young opera singers".

Proserpine Entertainment Centre manager, Chris Patrick, said the event had taken about six months to plan.

"It was going to be a paid event, but we decided to absorb some of the costs to make it free so that everyone could enjoy it as part of the centre's birthday celebrations, whether young or old," he said.

"They're up and coming young musicians, but the quality is just superb." Although the concert is free of charge, tickets must be reserved through the Proserpine Entertainment Centre by phoning 4945 2312.

FREE CONCERT

What: Queensland Youth Orchestra

Where: Proserpine Entertainment Centre

When: Sunday, July 13

Time: 3pm

Cost: Free

To reserve seats: 4945 2312