With sponsorship from the Queensland Teachers’ Union Health Fund and Peter Sculthorpe's music William flew to Japan with the Queensland Orchestra to perform Sculthorpe's work. There was a buzz in the air as the Queensland Orchestra took to the stage. The audience wait in silence then from the entrance of the concert hall Barton made his way to the stage as he cleansed the hall with the Australian sound of the didgeridoo. After Barton finished his didgeridoo solo Michael Christie brought the orchestra in with Mangrove, which was specially revised for William to give the orchestral and didgeridoo version its premiere in Tokyo.

William at rehearsal in the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall

Members of the TQO

Upon entering the stage William heard the news that he was designated a position with the Queensland Orchestra for 2003 as TQO’s first artist-in-residence, the first appointment of an indigenous musician with an Australian symphony orchestra. Courtesy of the Queensland Teachers Union Health Fund in Australia.