The University of Queensland began teaching in 1911 with 83 students and 4 professors. In that first year the need for a “Glee Club” was proposed in the first 'Queensland University Magazine' in October 1911 by one of the editors, Mr H.W. Dinning. The first public appearance of the Musical Society, conjointly with the Dramatic Society, was at the end of second term in 1912. With the formation of the University Union in 1912, all social clubs, including the Musical Society, were under the control of the Union. In its 1934 constitution, it called itself the University of Queensland Union Musical Society but more often it was called the University of Queensland Musical Society. From 1952 it also started to call itself the Queensland University Musical Society. Today the society refers to itself as QUMS (pronounced kwums). It is one of the few non-auditioned choirs in Brisbane. QUMS was participated in all but the first two Intervarsity Choral Festivals. They also performed at University of Queensland functions (including the opening of Mayne Hall, Parents Day and Orientation Week activities), MiniFests, Queensland Day functions, World Expo 88, joint performances with the Queensland Youth Choir, and private functions such as weddings. Regarded as the oldest society at UQ, the group has had as their conductors such people as Hugh Brandon, Gordon Spearritt, Colin Brumby, Robert Boughen, John Villaume, David McFarlane and Chris Andrews.

On January 1 2001 The Queensland Theatre Orchestra combined with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra to create The Queensland Orchestra.