Festival Prelude a preview of next year's Australian Festival of Chamber Music

The festival was set to celebrate its 30^th birthday in Townsville from July 31- August 9, but organisers were forced to make the difficult call of postponing it until next year.

Festival Prelude will stream online from August 7-9, serving as a preview for next year's event, which is scheduled to take place from July 23-August 1.

Artistic director and pianist Kathryn Stott said organisers were sad to have to postpone the event during a difficult time for artists around the world.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be able to present an online festival as a way of showcasing some of next year's artists," she said.

Kathryn said the event would bring people together through live music, while providing a much needed opportunity for performers to earn some much needed income.

The program

The event will be presented in partnership with Melbourne Digital Concert Hall.

It will be headlined by a feature concert on each day of the event, which will be live-streamed to audiences.

The festival will also present a program of digital content and specially-recorded performances.

Kathryn, who is serving as the event's artistic director for the last time, will perform with some of the biggest names in chamber music, including incoming artistic director and violinist Jack Liebeck.

She said Melbourne Digital Concert Hall had invested in high quality audio and visual equipment to ensure an optimal viewing experience by audiences.

"Audience members can watch from anywhere around the world and we are encouraging our valued patrons, where permitted, to host their own watch parties with friends and family," she said.

Kathryn will also host the event, presenting interviews, flashbacks, a daily chamber challenge and a celebration of Townsville and North Queensland.

The three headline concerts include:

August 7, 7pm - Spring Sonata

Young clarinetist Lloyd Van't Hoff and leading concert pianist Kristian Chong will perform a 90-minute concert featuring works by Beethoven and Brahms.

The performance will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A session.

August 8, 7pm - Dream a Little Dream

Exciting trio Ensemble Liaison will perform a 90 minute concert featuring work by ensemble member Timothy Young, Brahms, Earl Wild and Igor Frolov, followed by a 30 minute Q&A.

The trio features clarinetist David Griffiths, cellist Svetlana Bogosavljevic and pianist Timothy Young.

August 9, 4pm - An American in Paris

Saxophone ensemble Nexas Quartet will present a varied 90 minute program, followed by a 30 minute Q&A.

The quartet features soprano saxophonist Michael Duke, alto saxophonist Andrew Smith, tenor saxophonist Nathan Henshaw and baritone saxophonist Jay Byrnes.

Digital tickets are $20 with a $4 admin fee. three-day passes are also available.

For the full program, or to book tickets, click here.