Exclusive music programming at the Woodend Winter Arts Festival

Direct from Sydney we are excited to welcome James Crabb, Elena Kats-Chernin and Tamara-Anna Cislowska to the Macedon Ranges for the 21st Woodend Winter Arts Festival!

We can’t wait to once again deliver an incredible line-up of soul-stirring music this June. Across four days, we invite you to witness outstanding artists and thoughtfully curated concerts that span jazz, chamber music, Baroque masterpieces and family‑friendly performances.

Keep reading to learn more about the musical highlights of our 2026 program. And make sure you check out our complete program now, which also includes our many engaging Words & Ideas events. 

Tickets are on sale now and selling fast!

A breath of fresh air! James Crabb

Experience an exhilarating musical journey across five centuries with James Crabb, one of the world’s leading classical accordionists. From Bach and Rameau to Piazzolla and vivid contemporary works, this captivating recital showcases extraordinary colour, drama and range.

When: Sunday 7 June at 5:15pm
Venue: St Ambrose Hall, Woodend

Ancient Letters – Elena Kats-Chernin and Tamara-Anna Cislowska

ARIA Award–winning pianist Tamara‑Anna Cislowska and celebrated composer Elena Kats‑Chernin AO unite for a rare four‑hands piano experience. Celebrating their chart‑topping albums Ancient Letters and Butterflying, this intimate concert reveals beloved works and new gems, re‑created live in an exhilarating collaboration.

When: Saturday 6 June at 4pm
Venue: St Ambrose Hall, Woodend

UpLIFT - Affinity Quartet

Affinity Quartet presents a powerful program of music, from Paul Wiancko’s acclaimed LIFT - heard at WWAF for one of the first times in Australia – to the emotional depths of Shostakovich and the radiant lyricism of Beethoven’s ‘Harp’ Quartet. Renowned for chamber music of international calibre, Affinity Quartet offers distinctive interpretations of the great works while championing and premiering music by today’s leading Australian composers.

When: Monday 8 June at 11:30am
Venue: St Ambrose Church, Woodend

The Art of Close Harmony – Melbourne Octet

The Melbourne Octet unites eight exceptional musicians in a dazzling showcase of close‑harmony jazz. Fresh from an acclaimed 2025 Japan tour, their sophisticated sound features precise ensemble playing and beautifully crafted arrangements. Enjoy an afternoon of refined swing, elegance and excitement – enter the golden era of the jazz band for an hour of pure musical delight.

When: Saturday 6 June at 2:30pm
Venue: St Ambrose Church, Woodend

Monteverdi Vespers - Ensemble Gombert and Accademia Arcadia

Performed by Ensemble Gombert and Accademia Arcadia under John O’Donnell, with tenor soloists Christopher Watson and Christopher Roache, Monteverdi’s magnificent Vespers of 1610 returns to WWAF by popular demand. One of the greatest works of the Early Baroque, this richly expressive work blends radiant choral writing with dramatic virtuosity - an unmissable, transcendent concert experience.

When: Two showings - Saturday 6 June at 7.30pm & Sunday 7 June 3.30pm
Where: St Ambrose Church, Woodend

Jacqueline Ogeil performs Albero

Sebastián de Albero was a brilliant yet overlooked 18th‑century Spanish composer, a contemporary of Scarlatti at the Spanish court. His thirty keyboard sonatas are vibrant, inventive works of rare beauty. Jacqueline Ogeil champions this rediscovered music, bringing Albero’s expressive voice to modern audiences in a captivating live performance.

When: Saturday 6 June at 12pm
Venue: St Ambrose Church, Woodend

Musical Offering - Accademia Arcadia

Step into the world of Bach’s Musical Offering, a brilliant work born from an inspired musical challenge at the court of Frederick the Great. Performed by Accademia Arcadia, this elegant and inventive program showcases Bach at his most playful.

When: Sunday 7 June at 1pm
Venue: St Ambrose Church, Woodend

Variations and Remembrance - Seraphim Trio

Seraphim Trio will showcase four Australian composer variations on a Schubert waltz alongside Tchaikovsky’s deeply moving Piano Trio in A minor – from the lyrical variation from Calvin Bowman, to a mini playful one by Elena Kats-Chernin, a jazzy number by Andrea Keller, and a return of Elena with a fast moto perpetuo variation.

When: Monday 8 June at 1.30pm
Venue: St Ambrose Hall, Woodend

Two Visions of the Sonata: Liszt and Kouvaras – Coady Green

Internationally award‑winning pianist Coady Green brings two powerful piano works together in a striking concert experience. From the sweeping drama of Liszt’s Sonata in B minor to Linda Kouvaras’s deeply moving Herring Island Piano Sonata, this program journeys across time and place, revealing the piano as storyteller, dreamer and witness.

When: Sunday 7 June at 12:15pm
Venue: St Ambrose Hall, Woodend

1001 Nights! Inventi Ensemble

Step into a magical world of stories, heroes and adventure as Scheherazade and the 1001 Nights unfolds through the music of Nikolai Rimsky‑Korsakov. Inventi Ensemble invites children and families on a colourful journey filled with brave quests, clever princesses and far‑off lands. With lively storytelling and playful performances, this joyful concert promises imagination, excitement and fun for all ages.

When: Sunday 7 June at 10am
Venue: St Ambrose Hall, Woodend

An Evening with the Chris Johnstone / Mat Jodrell Quartet

WWAF launches with unforgettable night of modern jazz as Chris Johnstone and Mat Jodrell combine rare chemistry and musical depth. Joined by Ben Hanlon and Danny Fischer, the quartet delivers swinging standards, powerful originals and fearless improvisation. Expect deep groove, lyrical melodies and thrilling spontaneity.

When: Friday 5 June at 7.30pm
Venue: St Ambrose Hall, Woodend

The Woodend Winter Arts Festival is a registered charity. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. Donate here or visit our website for more information on how to donate.