Ballarat Organs & Fine Music Festival 2027

2027 CONCERTS & EVENTS

• More details about Concert 1. Fri 8/1, 7pm - 'Welcome to All the Pleasures'- Van Diemen's Band, St Patrick's Cathedral

  Concert 1. Fri 8/1, 7pm - 'Welcome to All the Pleasures'- Van Diemen's Band, St Patrick's Cathedral

  A festive opening concert of Baroque splendour with Australia's 'Baroque Supergroup' Van Diemen's Band, featuring Purcell’s jubilant Welcome to All the Pleasures and the dazzling orchestral delights of Handel’s Water Music.* What better way to open the Ballarat Organs & Fine Music Festival than with an invitation from Henry Purcell himself? Australia’s Baroque supergroup, Van Diemen’s Band, brings its distinctive energy and virtuosity from Tasmania to launch the 2027 Festival with a sparkling celebration of Baroque music. At its heart is Purcell’s glorious Welcome to All the Pleasures, a work of irresistible energy and colour, written for St Cecilia’s Day and filled with jubilant voices, instruments and dance. The programme also features the unmistakable splendour of Handel’s Water Music, whose brilliant fanfares and elegant dances have delighted audiences for centuries. Alongside this much-loved favourite comes the theatrical brilliance of Matthew Locke and more music by Purcell and Handel, from the sensual Music for a while and radiant Fairest Isle to the irresistible Chaconne from The Fairy Queen. Four outstanding vocal soloists — soprano Myriam Arbouz, alto Alex Ritter, tenor Jacob Lawrence and bass-baritone Oliver Mann — join Van Diemen’s Band for a festive opening concert full of colour, drama and the sheer pleasure of Baroque music. *Following the concert, an Opening Night Supper will be held. (including for all Pass holders, otherwise entry $15) -Concert duration approx. 60 minutes-

• More details about Concert 2. Sat 9/1, 11am, - Crown & Carillon - Thomas Wilson, Ballarat Central Uniting Church

  Concert 2. Sat 9/1, 11am, - Crown & Carillon - Thomas Wilson, Ballarat Central Uniting Church

  Thomas Wilson — organ From the haunting beauty of Barber’s famous Adagio for Strings to the ringing splendour of Vierne’s Carillon de Westminster, discover the organ in all its colour and majesty. Organist Thomas Wilson presents a captivating recital showcasing the extraordinary range of the pipe organ, from stately ceremonial music to moments of reflection and dazzling virtuosity. The programme opens with Walton’s stirring Crown Imperial, in Herbert Murrill’s celebrated organ arrangement, before turning to Bach’s expressive Schübler Chorales and a special highlight: Samuel Barber’s much-loved Adagio for Strings, transformed into a moving solo organ performance. The grandeur of Mendelssohn’s Third Organ Sonata and the atmospheric beauty of Widor’s Symphonie gothique lead towards a spectacular finale with Vierne’s exhilarating Carillon de Westminster. A journey through some of the most evocative music written for, or transformed by, the organ, this recital celebrates the instrument’s power to move, inspire and astonish. -Concert duration approx. 60 minutes-

• More details about Concert 3. Sat 9/2, 2.30pm, - Musettes and Merveilles - Ensemble Pompadour - St Alipius Catholic Church, Ballarat

  Concert 3. Sat 9/2, 2.30pm, - Musettes and Merveilles - Ensemble Pompadour - St Alipius Catholic Church, Ballarat

  Step inside the intimate musical world of eighteenth-century France, where aristocratic friends gathered to make music for pleasure Ensemble Pompadour brings together Simon Rickard (musette), Nicholas Pollock (theorbo), Laura Vaughan (viola da gamba), and special guest Belinda Paul (baroque oboe and musette) for a programme of rarely heard French Baroque music. With works by Boismortier, the Hotteterres, Philidor, Marais and Lully, the music evokes the elegant, playful world of the fête champêtre — aristocrats delighting in pastoral fantasies of shepherds, shepherdesses, dancing and music-making, surrounded by the glittering interiors and gardens of Versailles. At the centre of this distinctive sound world is the baroque musette, a tiny and extraordinarily fashionable bagpipe whose two chanters allow it to play two melodies simultaneously. Once beloved by the French aristocracy, its delicate, unmistakable sound appears alongside the rich colours of theorbo, viola da gamba, and oboe. From Boismortier’s charming Ballets de Village to Lully’s dazzling dance music, Ensemble Pompadour invites you into a rarefied inner circle of French Baroque music — intimate, elegant and thoroughly charming. -Concert duration approx. 60 minutes-

• More details about Concert 4. Sat 9/1, 6.30pm, - Flamenco Flamenco - Arte Kanela - Terminus Theatre, Ballarat

  Concert 4. Sat 9/1, 6.30pm, - Flamenco Flamenco - Arte Kanela - Terminus Theatre, Ballarat

  Internationally renowned for performances of power, musical integrity and deep connection to tradition, Arte Kanela Flamenco brings more than three decades of flamenco artistry to the Terminus Theatre. Formed in Melbourne’s Spanish Quarter in 1990, the company has evolved into one of Australia’s most exciting flamenco forces, combining the raw, emotive energy of flamenco with contemporary stagecraft while remaining grounded in the art form’s enduring traditions. At the heart of the company are brothers Richard Tedesco (guitar and musical direction) and Johnny Tedesco (dance and percussion), joined by acclaimed dancer Chantelle Cano and singer Curro Vicente. Together they create performances of fierce rhythmic energy, virtuosity and musical sensitivity, where improvisation, movement and music come together in an intensely physical and expressive experience. For the Ballarat Organs & Fine Music Festival, Arte Kanela brings flamenco into the intimate setting of the Terminus Theatre — close enough to feel every beat, every stamp and every breath. -Concert duration approx. 60 minutes-

• More details about Concert 5. Sat 9/1, 9.00pm - Soliloquy - Greg Dikmans - St John's Anglican Church, Soldier's Hill

  Concert 5. Sat 9/1, 9.00pm - Soliloquy - Greg Dikmans - St John's Anglican Church, Soldier's Hill

  A candlelit journey through the emotional world of the eighteenth-century traverso, with music by Couperin, Bach, Telemann, C. P. E. Bach and Mozart exploring the passions of the soul. As the day draws to a close, gather by candlelight for an intimate musical encounter with Greg Dikmans and the traverso, the eighteenth-century transverse flute. In the warm, after-dinner atmosphere of St John’s Church, Dikmans explores music that speaks directly to the passions of the soul — from the tender longing of Couperin’s Le Rossignol-en-amour to the expressive depth of Bach, Telemann and C. P. E. Bach, concluding with Mozart’s poignant Ach, ich fühl’s from The Magic Flute, specially arranged for solo flute. For eighteenth-century musicians, music was not simply something to hear: it was an art of persuasion, capable of stirring, calming and transforming the emotions. In this intimate programme, five great composers reveal the extraordinary expressive possibilities of a single instrument. Come after supper, settle into the candlelit glow, and let the music take you on a journey through the passions of the soul. *Port will be available for purchase.* -Concert duration approx. 50 minutes-

• More details about Concert 6. Sun 10/1, 2.00pm - The Edge of Forever - Stefan Cassamenos - Ballaarat Mechanic's Institute

  Concert 6. Sun 10/1, 2.00pm - The Edge of Forever - Stefan Cassamenos - Ballaarat Mechanic's Institute

  The Edge of Forever Stefan Cassamenos - Piano From the dance rhythms and exuberance of Chopin to the emotional power of contemporary Australian music and the dazzling virtuosity of Liszt. Melbourne-born pianist, composer and conductor Stefan Cassomenos, internationally praised for his clarity, expressive range and virtuosity, returns to Ballarat with a compelling programme spanning three distinctive musical worlds. Chopin’s Mazurkas, drawn from different periods of his life, offer a wonderfully varied portrait of the composer, from lively, spirited dances to more reflective moments, culminating in a joyous celebration. Melbourne composer Sam Williams’s The Wednesday on the Edge of Forever (2025) brings a contemporary voice to the programme. Tuneful, harmonically rich and emotionally compelling, this acclaimed new work has captivated audiences since its 2026 premiere at the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival. The recital concludes with Liszt’s spectacular Rigoletto Paraphrase, in which themes from Verdi’s opera are transformed into a dazzling display of pianistic brilliance. From Chopin’s evocative miniatures to Williams’s powerful contemporary writing and Liszt’s operatic fireworks, this is a recital full of character, colour and contrast. -Concert duration approx. 60 minutes-

• More details about Event 7. Sun 10 Jan, 3.45pm - Public Talk on Bellringing - Sarah Stancombe - Ballarat Town Hall

  Event 7. Sun 10 Jan, 3.45pm - Public Talk on Bellringing - Sarah Stancombe - Ballarat Town Hall

  Sarah has been a tower bell ringer in Melbourne for three years and is passionate about sharing the unique skill with new audiences. Change ringing is music, sport, art, maths, physics, history and community all wrapped up in one. Bellringers ring for both religious and secular reasons, and this is exemplified in Ballarat’s two towers, the Town Hall, and St Peter’s Church. She will speak on the history of Ballarat's bells and give an introduction to what ringing is all about, bringing other ringers and handbells to demonstrate the fun and challenge to be had! When she isn’t ringing, or travelling to other cities to ring, you’ll find Sarah producing radio and making music. *THIS EVENT IS FREE BUT REGISTRATIONS ARE REQUIRED* Please note the Ballarat Town Hall closes for public entry at 4pm. -Talk duration approx. 35 minutes-

• More details about Event 8. Sun 10 Jan, 4.30pm - The Ballarat Bellringers - Ballarat Town Hall

  Event 8. Sun 10 Jan, 4.30pm - The Ballarat Bellringers - Ballarat Town Hall

  The magnificent eight bells of Ballarat Town Hall, first rung on Christmas Day in 1871, are among Australia’s finest rings of bells — and one of only a small number in the world housed in a civic building rather than a church. Known as the Alfred Bells, they have sounded for coronations, royal funerals, mayoral installations and countless other civic occasions, becoming an enduring part of the life of the city. Hear the bells themselves in a special performance by The Ballarat Bellringers, the dedicated group entrusted with the care and ringing of Ballarat’s historic bells. Combining music, mathematics, physics, engineering, history and community, English full-circle bellringing is both an ancient tradition and a remarkable feat of coordination. Come and discover the extraordinary bells above Ballarat Town Hall — and hear them ring as you have never heard them before. *PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A SEATED EVENT* Public seating is availalble in the Sturt St median strip garden, or outdoor seating in the surrounding cafes and restaurants.

• More details about Concert 9. Sun 10/1, 6.30pm - Where Song Began - Bowerbird Collective - Ballaarat Mechanic's Institute

  Concert 9. Sun 10/1, 6.30pm - Where Song Began - Bowerbird Collective - Ballaarat Mechanic's Institute

  A mesmerising fusion of live music, film and immersive soundscapes celebrating the beauty and diversity of our birdlife. Described as "Spectacular" by Limelight Magazine in a 5-star review, Where Song Began is an iconic celebration of songbirds. The mesmerising program of music spans 300 years, from Bach and Schmelzer to Arvo Pärt and new commissions, enhanced by a film of evocative visual projections and immersive soundscapes. Performed more than 100 times throughout Australia and internationally to rave reviews, this concert is the Bowerbird Collective's debut in Ballarat! Where Song Began offers audiences an unforgettable and deeply moving evening filled with the beauty, colour and sounds of the Australian landscape. Brought to life by virtuosic, passionate performers with extraordinary multimedia staging, this concert shines a light on our unique and precious birdlife and the evolution of song. 'A delicate and beautiful fusion' - BirdLife Magazine 'Like being sung to by the country' - Audience member -Concert duration approx. 60 minutes-

• More details about Concert 10. Mon 11/1, 11am - Massimo Scattolin - St Paul's Anglican Church, Clunes

  Concert 10. Mon 11/1, 11am - Massimo Scattolin - St Paul's Anglican Church, Clunes

  Massimo Scattolin - guitar *The concert will commence with a prelude by Myfanwy McIndoe (organ)* From the sunlit landscapes of Spain to the evocative mythology of Greece, Italian guitarist and Festival favourite Massimo Scattolin takes us on a musical journey around the Mediterranean. The recital brings together the colour and lyricism of Spanish guitar music, from the passionate intensity of Tárrega’s Capricho árabe and Albéniz’s celebrated Asturias to the haunting beauty of songs by Federico García Lorca, arranged for guitar by Scattolin himself. The much-loved La Paloma adds a touch of nostalgic charm. The journey concludes with Scattolin’s own Greek Myth, a suite of eight evocative miniatures inspired by Greek places, mythology and muses. Rich in atmosphere and imagination, this is a celebration of the Mediterranean’s diverse musical heritage, brought to life through the expressive possibilities of the solo guitar. -Concert duration approx. 60 minutes-

• More details about Concert 11. Mon 11/1, 2.30pm - Zephyro Spira - Clunes Town Hall

  Concert 11. Mon 11/1, 2.30pm - Zephyro Spira - Clunes Town Hall

  Jacob Lawrence (tenor) Anna Stegmann (recorders) Jorge Jiménez (violin) Hannah Lane (historical harp) Zephyro Spira “The wind is blowing…” In the luminous atmosphere of the summer, Zephyro Spira unfolds as an intimate Renaissance soundscape shaped by breath, poetry and improvisation. A richly coloured broken consort of voice, recorder, violin, and harp brings together distinct timbres in a refined dialogue where each line speaks with its own character. At its core lies the poetic universe of love, longing and renewal, inspired by Francesco Petrarca. The recurring image of the spring breeze, echoed in the frottola by Bartolomeo Tromboncino that lends the programme its title, becomes a metaphor for music that moves in cycles of departure and return. Many of the selected madrigals and frottole set texts that speak of emotional ambiguity: the joy and pain of love, devotion intertwined with loss, and the fragile beauty of human desire. Works by composers such as Cipriano de Rore and Marco Cara reveal how Renaissance composers shaped poetry into music through expressive melodic lines that mirror the natural rhythm of speech. At its heart lies the art of diminution, described by Silvestro Ganassi in his 1535 treatise La Fontegara as a form of “silent speech”… music animated anew in the very moment of performance. Perfectly suited to the evocative summer setting of the picturesque Clunes Town Hall, this programme invites listeners into a world where voices and instruments entwine, where polyphony becomes conversation, and where Renaissance music breathes with immediacy and elegance. -Concert duration approx. 60 minutes- *This concert is supported in part by a grant from Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), a state agency.

• More details about Concert 12. Mon 11/1, 6.30pm - J.S. Bach Orgelbüchlein - Calvin Bowman, St Paul's Anglican Church, Bakery Hill

  Concert 12. Mon 11/1, 6.30pm - J.S. Bach Orgelbüchlein - Calvin Bowman, St Paul's Anglican Church, Bakery Hill

  Calvin Bowman, organ A universe of music in miniature. J. S. Bach’s Orgelbüchlein — or “Little Organ Book” — contains just 46 short chorale preludes, yet within these tiny works Bach explores an extraordinary world of colour, invention and emotion. From the anticipation of Advent and the joy of Christmas, through the darkness of the Passion and the triumph of Easter, to music of prayer, hope and mortality, each miniature reveals a different facet of Bach’s genius. At St Paul’s historic 1864 J. W. Walker organ, renowned Australian organist Calvin Bowman brings this remarkable collection to life. A three-time performer of Bach’s complete organ works, Bowman has a particularly deep connection with this music. An intimate, profound and ultimately unforgettable journey through one of Bach’s greatest collections. -Concert duration approx. 90 minutes, including interval-

• More details about Concert 13. Tue 12/1, 11am - Out of My Soul's Depth - Dowland's Foundry, Loreto College Chapel, Ballarat

  Concert 13. Tue 12/1, 11am - Out of My Soul's Depth - Dowland's Foundry, Loreto College Chapel, Ballarat

  A journey from darkness into light * Travelling from the UK, tenor Daniel Thomson and lutenist Sami Brown, members of Dowland’s Foundry, invite us into the deeply expressive world of early seventeenth-century England. At the heart of this programme is the music of John Dowland, whose extraordinary ability to give voice to melancholy, longing and spiritual reflection is complemented by music from Thomas Campion, Orlando Gibbons, Thomas Ford, John Danyel, William Byrd and Robert Jones. Alongside the music, readings from poets including Robert Southwell, Aemilia Lanyer, George Herbert and Edmund Spenser trace a parallel journey through sorrow, repentance, devotion and hope. Beginning in the shadows of sin, grief and lamentation, the programme gradually turns towards prayer and redemption. Tears become an expression of contrition and grace; music itself becomes a source of consolation and healing. In the final works, the imagery of divine light transforms the journey, with Campion’s radiant Author of Light bringing the programme to its conclusion. A profound exploration of the capacity of music and poetry to give shape to suffering, offer consolation and ultimately lead us from darkness towards light. -Concert duration approx. 60 minutes-

• More details about Event 14. Tue 12 Jan, 1.30pm - Bellringing - The Ballarat Bellringers, St Peter's Anglican Church, Ballarat

  Event 14. Tue 12 Jan, 1.30pm - Bellringing - The Ballarat Bellringers, St Peter's Anglican Church, Ballarat

  Discover the fascinating sound of English full-circle bellringing at St Peter’s Church, where a historic ring of eight bells has called the faithful to worship since 1892. The bells at St Peter’s provide an important home for The Ballarat Bellringers, and a place where new generations of ringers learn this remarkable musical and physical art. Hear the ringers demonstrate the extraordinary coordination involved in ringing the bells, creating intricate patterns and rhythms from the movement of the bells high above the church. With its combination of music, mathematics, history and community, bellringing is a centuries-old tradition that remains very much alive. Come inside St Peter’s and experience these magnificent bells in action.

• More details about Concert 15. Tue 12/1, 2.30pm - The Recorder Co-Op, St Peter's

  Concert 15. Tue 12/1, 2.30pm - The Recorder Co-Op, St Peter's

  The Recorder Co-op -Alexandra Bailliet-Joly, Hannah Coleman, Ruth Wilkinson & Ryan Williams (recoders) From Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary Australian compositions, The Recorder Co-op explores the evocative colours and expressive possibilities of the recorder consort. The warm, distinctive sound of the recorder consort brings together centuries of music in Summer Haze, a programme that moves between the intricate beauty of Renaissance polyphony and the fresh perspectives of contemporary composers. Music by Josquin des Prez, William Byrd, Palestrina and their contemporaries reveals the expressive richness of the Renaissance, from the graceful counterpoint of sacred works to the wit and liveliness of secular songs and dances. These historical treasures sit alongside modern compositions, including Miggs Cogan’s Currawongs, Ryan Williams’s Summer Haze and Pieter Campo’s Meditativo and Vuur, offering a fascinating dialogue between past and present. Performed by Alexandra Bailliet-Joly, Hannah Coleman, Ruth Wilkinson and Ryan Williams, this is an invitation to enjoy the recorder’s remarkable versatility in music that ranges from contemplative and atmospheric to spirited and playful. -Concert duration approx. 60 minutes-

• More details about Concert 16. Tue 12 Jan, 6.30pm - Transformations - Van Diemen's Band & Andrew O'Connor - St Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat

  Concert 16. Tue 12 Jan, 6.30pm - Transformations - Van Diemen's Band & Andrew O'Connor - St Patrick's Cathedral, Ballarat

  In this stunning program, Van Diemen's Band and bass-baritone Andrew O’Connor perform a program of sacred and secular works from 17th century Germany alongside two newly commissioned works by Alice Chance and Brooke Shelley that reimagine and recontextualize this rich musical heritage. This gloriously expressive repertoire, characterised by rich harmonies and playful dialogue, is the perfect medium to showcase the beauty of the baritone voice. This concert features works by Heinrich Schütz, Franz Tunder, Nicolaus Bruhns, and Dieterich Buxtehude—composers whose music explores profound themes of faith, readiness, and human vulnerability. Connecting this music to the present day, two extraordinary Australian composers have created contemporary responses to this baroque repertoire: Brooke Shelley's Et Versa Est Victoria takes Schütz's deeply moving Fili mi, Absalon—a father's lament for his son—as its point of departure; and Alice Chance's Au Nord draws on one of the program's central works, Mein Herz ist bereit (My heart is ready), exploring the unexpected paths life presents and our courage to keep striving for the things for which we yearn. Transformations offers audiences a meditation on how we inherit, honour, and reimagine the artistic voices of the past. -Concert duration approx. 60 minutes-