Olivia Payne
Olivia Payne, currently a Taryn Fiebig Scholar with Pinchgut Opera and a full-time member of the Opera Australia Chorus, joins us for Opera Cocktails. Don’t miss it!
Classical
Clemens Leske
Distinguished pianist Clemens Leske appears in two concerts during this year’s Newcastle Music Festival. He will perform a solo recital which includes Bach’s Goldberg Variations, and appears as associate artist with violinist Madeleine Easton.
Madeleine Easton
Madeleine Easton is an internationally recognised violinist, who will perform in two concerts during this year’s Newcastle Music Festival.
Toby Faber
Bronwyn Douglass is a dedicated concert artist, having worked with many companies within Australia.
Hourglass Ensemble
Hourglass Ensemble, established in 2015, play an eclectic range of contemporary and classical music, and are based in Sydney.
Orava Quartet
ORAVA QUARTET “beautifully calculated and co-ordinated, time and motion seemed to defy the laws of physics” — The Washington Post “Their sound was often downright gorgeous – rich as a vintage port – and their style at once disciplined and supple.” — Tim Passmore, Brisbane Live Reviews. Predicted by The Australian to become ‘one of Australia’s
Bronwyn Douglass
Bronwyn Douglass is a dedicated concert artist, having worked with many companies within Australia.
Erin Sweetman
ERIN SWEETMAN In demand as a soloist, chamber musician, accompanist and teacher, Erin Sweetman is one of the Hunter region’s most loved musicians. Most recently, Erin performed Beethoven’s virtuosic Emperor Concerto in June 2025, and in 2024, Rachmaninoff’s epic Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Opus 43. These performances, alongside Christ Church Camerata and
DAVID BANNEY
David Banney “As a conductor, David Banney is simply one of the best in the country.” (Roger Woodward, AC, OBE, Concert Pianist) Co-founder of the Newcastle Music Festival, and described in the Hunter Lifestyle magazine as “quite possibly the busiest and most multi-talented man in the Hunter”, David has established a significant profile as a
CHRIST CHURCH CAMERATA
Christ Church Camerata Christ Church Camerata was founded in 2009 by David Banney, Peta Dries, Helentherese Good and Peter Guy. These founders possessed a vision to present exceptional performances to the people of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. The Camerata has quickly developed an enviable reputation as Newcastle’s finest orchestral ensemble. The Camerata made its