Music, words and more at the 19th Woodend Winter Arts Festival 2024

Friday 7th - Monday 10th June

The Woodend Winter Arts Festival is excited to share its 2024 program. Over four days the charming village of Woodend will come alive with world-class performances and thought-provoking discussions.

Taking place over the King’s Birthday long weekend (7-10 June 2024), the program will feature some of Australia’s leading classical musicians, alongside some of the country’s greatest thinkers.

MUSIC

Whether you are a classical music aficionado, or simply want to experience a different type of music, the 2024 music program offers something for everyone.  
 
Highlights include:

• A lively performance by Southern Spanish guitarist Paco Lara, who will perform Flamenco of Southern Spain, accompanied by flamenco dancer Deya Giner.

• Jazz great Paul Grabowsky will showcase the piano across centuries, performing selections from his album Solo.

• Twice ARIA-nominated Nat Bartsch will transport the audience into the realm of new Jazz with her award-winning ensemble. 

• London-based pianist Piers Lane will perform Chopin, Smetana & Mozart.

  Woodend’s own Jacqueline Ogeil leads Accademia Arcadia’s performance of the Early Solo Concertos on the Cristofori piano, joined by Adam Masters (oboe), Josephine Vains (cello), Brendan O’Donnell (recorder).

  Australian tenor Daniel Thomson (who grew up in Kyneton) returns from Europe to perform Schubert Lieder with John O’Donnell.

  In celebration of the three-hundredth anniversary of its creation, Accademia Arcadia, Ensemble Gombert, and a cast of outstanding soloists (Christopher Watson, Jerzy Kozlowski, Benjamin Fullarton, Christopher Roache, Timothy Reynolds & Michael Strasser) come together to present Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental Johannes-Passion (St John Passion), directed by John O’Donnell.

WORDS & IDEAS

The Words & Ideas program will deliver engaging debates and discussions on challenging contemporary issues such as city versus country and machines versus humans. Expect to hear from great thinkers such as Nobel Prize winner Peter Doherty and broadcaster/journalists Gideon Haigh, Elizabeth Finkel, George Megalogenis, and Don Watson. Andrew Ford will reveal his latest book, while ABC Radio presenter Robyn Williams will lead a fun and insightful discussion on Sex, Science and Singing with geneticist Jenny Graves. 

FREE COMMUNITY FIREWORKS

The Woodend Winter Arts Festival will kick off with a vibrant display of fireworks at Buffalo Stadium. A regular fixture on the WWAF Program, this year’s promises to be bigger and better than ever before with free musical performances for all to enjoy. The event will then culminate with the fireworks, synchronised to popular classical music.

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.