Renowned as Australia’s longest-running winter arts festival, the much-anticipated Woodend Winter Arts Festival (WWAF) returns this June for a vibrant four-day celebration of music, literature, and ideas in the picturesque Macedon Ranges.
Held over the King’s Birthday long weekend, WWAF offers an exciting lineup of performances and discussions that bring together world-class artists and some of Australia’s leading thinkers in an intimate village setting.
More than 100 artists will take the stage across various venues throughout the quaint town of Woodend. From the stunning acoustics of St Ambrose Church to the cozy atmosphere of the adjacent St Ambrose Hall, the festival provides an opportunity to experience the talents of artists who typically perform in prestigious concert halls.
Music enthusiasts can look forward to performances by renowned Southern Spanish guitarist Paco Lara, who will showcase Flamenco of Southern Spain with dancer Deya Giner. Jazz maestro Paul Grabowsky will display his expertise in piano with selections from his album Solo, while twice ARIA-nominated Nat Bartsch will take the audience on a journey through contemporary jazz with her award-winning ensemble.
Pianist Piers Lane, based in London, will perform pieces by Chopin, Smetana, and Mozart. Meanwhile, Woodend’s own Jacqueline Ogeil will lead Accademia Arcadia in performing early solo concertos on the Cristofori piano. Australian tenor Daniel Thomson will return from Europe to perform Schubert Lieder alongside John O’Donnell, who will also conduct two renditions of Bach’s powerful St John Passion with Ensemble Gombert and Accademia Arcadia.
The Words & Ideas program will feature engaging debates and discussions on contemporary issues, touching on topics like ‘city versus country’ and ‘machines versus humans.’ Esteemed thinkers such as Nobel laureate Peter Doherty and journalists Gideon Haigh, Elizabeth Finkel, George Megalogenis, and Don Watson will share their insights. Andrew Ford will present his latest book, while ABC Radio host Robyn Williams will moderate a lively discussion on ‘Sex, Science, and Singing’ with geneticist Jenny Graves.
