FRIDAY 5 JUNE

FRIDAY NIGHT JAZZ: An Evening with the Chris Johnstone / Mat Jodrell Quartet

Kicking off the Festival’s opening night, Chris Johnstone and Mat Jodrell bring chemistry and musical depth for an unforgettable evening of modern jazz. The perfect start to your WWAF weekend, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into one of New York’s underground jazz clubs. Joined by Ben Hanlon and Danny Fischer, the quartet delivers swinging standards and fearless improvisation. Expect deep groove, lyrical melodies and thrilling spontaneity.

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

SATURDAY 6 JUNE

PIANO MASTERCLASS: Emerging talent with Elena Kats-Chernin and Tamara-Anna Cislowska

Witness the next generation of pianists up close. WWAF invites audiences to experience exceptional young pianists in action as they perform and receive live guidance from acclaimed musicians Elena Kats‑Chernin and Tamara‑Anna Cislowska – an inspiring Festival first celebrating emerging talent.

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

EARLY PIANO: Jacqueline Ogeil performs Albero

WWAF’s very own Artistic Director, Jacqueline Ogeil, brings the vivid, rediscovered music of Sebastián de Albero to life in this must-see performance. A brilliant yet overlooked 18th‑century Spanish composer and contemporary of Scarlatti, Albero wrote thirty inventive keyboard sonatas of rare beauty. Ogeil champions this vibrant repertoire in a captivating live performance that reveals Albero’s expressive voice to modern audiences. This is an Australian Premier performance.

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

ABSURDIST THEATRE: The Marriage Game by the Highly Strung Players

The Highly Strung Players, an absurdist troupe founded by author Peter Rose, returns to the Woodend Winter Arts Festival with three short plays from Rose’s six-part series The Ones. In these rehearsed readings we meet two married publishers at different stages in their long, brittle relationship. An evening of witty, irreverent repartee is guaranteed.

When: Saturday 6 June at 5:45pm
Venue: St Ambrose Hall, Woodend

SATURDAY EVENING & SUNDAY AFTERNOON

BAROQUE MASTERPIECE: Monteverdi Vespers - Ensemble Gombert and Accademia Arcadia

Back by popular demand and selling fast – and performed twice across the Festival weekend – Monteverdi’s magnificent Vespers of 1610 returns to WWAF. Ensemble Gombert and Accademia Arcadia, under John O’Donnell, join tenor soloists Christopher Watson and Christopher Roache for this landmark Early Baroque masterpiece. Radiant choral writing and dramatic virtuosity combine in an unmissable, transcendent concert experience.

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

Proudly sponsored by The Peggy & Leslie Cranbourne Foundation

SUNDAY 7 JUNE

FAMILY FRIENDLY: 1001 Nights with Inventi Ensemble

Perfect for children and families, this magical concert invites audiences of all ages to step into a world of stories, heroes and adventure. Scheherazade and the 1001 Nights unfolds through the captivating music of Nikolai Rimsky‑Korsakov – and three brand new pieces by Australian composers – as Inventi Ensemble takes you on a colourful journey filled with brave quests, clever princesses and far‑off lands. With lively storytelling and playful performances, this joyful experience is brimming with imagination, excitement and fun for everyone.

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

WORDS & IDEAS: Visions of Beethoven – with Christopher Menz

Join one of Australia’s leading voices when it comes to art, Christopher Menz, as he explores how images have shaped the myth of the great composer Beethoven. From nineteenth‑century portraits and busts to modern film, this thought-provoking talk asks what these images truly represent – and how Beethoven has been used for cultural and political meaning.

When: Sunday 7 June at 10am
Venue: Woodend Community Centre

BAROQUE ENSEMBLE: Bach’s 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 the highly acclaimed Accademia Arcadia, this elegant and inventive program showcases Bach at his most playful.

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

Proudly sponsored by The Peggy & Leslie Cranbourne Foundation

VCASS VCE STUDENT RECITAL: Ensemble Area 57 – Young Virtuosos

AREA 57 is a dynamic collective of young musicians blending jazz‑trio energy with the richness of classical cello. Formed at Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in 2025, their Woodend Winter Arts Festival program spans jazz and classical works by Claude Bolling, David Baker and more – showcasing remarkable versatility and virtuosity.

Tickets are free for children and just $10 for adults.

When: Sunday 7 June at 2:15pm
Venue: St Ambrose Hall, Woodend

MONDAY 8 JUNE

WORDS & IDEAS: Look after your feet (and other things) – with Rosalie Ham

Acclaimed author of The Dressmaker, Rosalie Ham presents her first work of non‑fiction. The title, Look after your feet, is both literal advice and a metaphor for self-preservation. Join Rosalie for an entertaining and witty discussion as she shares her observations on ageing with mischief and a healthy dose of perspective.

When: Monday 8 June at 1pm
Venue: Woodend Community Centre

CHAMBER MUSIC: 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

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.