Winter Sanctuary Small Halls Concert

Welcome to our first Winter Sanctuary Small Hall Concert presented by Long Listen Festival.

A public concert experience celebrating winter-inspired chamber music featuring violinist Courtenay Cleary and cellist Louise King, with storytelling, Australian composers and music inspired by gathering, folklore and firelight.

About The Experience

Step into a snug winter evening concert celebrating intimate live music, storytelling and connection at the heritage and acoustically vibrant Eudlo Hall.

Presented as part of the Long Listen Festival fundraiser weekend, Winter Sanctuary // Small Hall Concert brings together acclaimed violinist Courtenay Cleary and cellist Louise King for a richly atmospheric program of chamber music inspired by winter, folklore, firelight and gathering.

The evening features music by Vivaldi, Elena Kats-Chernin, Anne Cawrse, Ross Edwards, Piazzolla and more, woven together with artist stories and reflections throughout the performance.

From 6pm, guests are invited to arrive early and settle in with homemade soup, chai, tea, coffee and cake available for purchase before the concert.

For a more immersive listening experience, patrons are also welcome to BYO a yoga mat, cushion or soft blanket and enjoy the music lying down beneath the warm acoustics of the wooden hall floor.

This is an intimate, slow-listening concert experience designed to nourish community, conversation and to create a sanctuary for listening in the heart of the hinterland.

Presented by: Long Listen Festival in partnership with Cello Dreaming and Roads, Peregian. 

Optional tax-deductible donations in support of the 2026 festival program will be available at checkout and during the event.

Arrival & Parking

• Guests are welcome to arrive from 6pm

• Please allow time to park, settle in, and purchase a soup or a chai, tea or coffee with cake

• An event reminder will be sent to ticket holders closer to the event

Our Concert Program 

Our program features Vivaldi’s iconic Winter concerto reimagined for violin and cello duo, alongside music by leading Australian composers Elena Kats-Chernin, Stephen Chin, Betty Beath, Anne Cawrse, Ross Edwards and Katherine Rawlings. Woven throughout our program are haunting renaissance tunes by Hildegard von Bingen, Nordic and Scandinavian folk melodies, alongside the fiery rhythms of Piazzolla and the dramatic virtuosity of Saint-Saëns ‘Danse Macabre’ to close.

PART ONE

Stephen Chin - Prelude for Solo Violin (New Work)  

A striking contemporary opening by Australian composer Stephen Chin.

Antonio Vivaldi - Winter from The Four Seasons (1st Movement)  

Reimagined for violin and cello duo, Vivaldi’s famous winter storm bursts to life with icy virtuosity.

Elena Kats-Chernin - Eliza’s Aria from Wild Swans Suite  

One of Australia’s most loved contemporary works, lyrical, cinematic and expressive.

Anne Cawrse - Sanctuary  

A beautifully reflective Australian chamber work exploring birdsong, stillness, fragility and nature.

Ross Edwards - Ecstatic Dances  

Rhythmic and energetic music inspired by movement, ritual and the Australian landscape.

Traditional Scandinavian Folk Song - Vem Kan Segla  

A haunting Nordic folk melody filled with longing and winter atmosphere.

Katherine Rawlings - Rain Dancing  

A playful and evocative contemporary Australian miniature inspired by weather and movement.

Astor Piazzolla - Libertango  

Passionate, fiery and irresistible tango energy to close the first half.

INTERVAL Homemade soup, chai, tea, coffee and cake available for purchase.

PART TWO

Ross Edwards - White Cockatoo Spirit Dance for Solo Violin  

A vivid and virtuosic solo inspired by birdsong, spirit and the Australian environment.

Hildegard von Bingen - O Virtus Sapientiae  

Ancient chant and luminous simplicity from one of history’s earliest female composers.

Rebecca Clarke - Lullaby  

A tender and intimate work by the pioneering British composer and violist.

Georg Philipp Telemann - Solo Divertissement for Violin & Basso Continuo  

Elegant Baroque brilliance with wit, charm and virtuosity.

Betty Beath - A Table for Two  

A short evocative Australian chamber work celebrating conversation and connection.

Traditional English Folk Song - Scarborough Fair  

A timeless melody woven with mystery and nostalgia

Traditional Norwegian Folk Tune - The Beautiful Waltz  

A gentle folk dance filled with Nordic warmth and lyricism.

Antonio Vivaldi - Winter from The Four Seasons (2nd & 3rd Movements)  

From fireside stillness to wild winter energy, Vivaldi’s masterpiece returns to close the seasonal journey.

Camille Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre  

A thrilling finale of dancing skeletons, flickering shadows and virtuosic flair.

About Our Artists

Louise King - cello

Artistic Director of Long Listen Festival and founder of Cello Dreaming, Louise is an award-winning English cellist whose career spans Europe, Asia and Australia. She has recorded 17 albums with labels including ABC Classics, and has performed everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall to regional halls and private homes. Louise is passionate about building community, mentoring creatives and connecting audiences to artists through thoughtful programming, and creating meaningful musical experiences beyond traditional city concert halls.

Courtenay Cleary - violin 

Violinist Courtenay is a graduate of The Juilliard School (MMus) and the Royal Academy of Music, London (BMus Hons I). She has performed as soloist for HM Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, and at major venues including Wigmore Hall, St James’ Piccadilly, and QPAC Concert Hall. Recent highlights include concertos with the Canberra Symphony, Willoughby Symphony, Brisbane Philharmonic, and Corda Spiritus, plus the Australian premiere of David Lang’s Mystery Sonatas. A recipient of numerous awards including the Dame Joan Sutherland Award, Courtenay was named one of Queensland’s 40 Under 40 (2024) and teaches at Griffith University’s Young Conservatorium.

Why This Event Matters

This is part of a new micro-fundraising initiative designed to support the future of Long Listen Festival. These events are relationship builders, intimate, generous, and grounded in shared values around music, place, and community.

• The annual festival costs over $150,000 to deliver to the region

• Our goal is to raise $10,000 through fundraising events

• Every contribution, from $25 to major gifts, makes a difference

• Donations are tax deductible via Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation and Australian Cultural Fund

This project is proudly supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, Queensland Arts Showcase Program, and the Regional Arts Development Fund, a partnership between the Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council supporting local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

This project is supported by the generosity of individual donors who support our donor campaigns. Our fundraising partners are Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation and the Australian Cultural Fund.