Oscar Parry
Music, discussions, and fireworks will fill the streets of Woodend for the 19th Winter Arts Festival over the King’s Birthday long weekend.
Running from Friday, June 7 to Monday, June 10, the festival program features a diverse range of musical performances and discussions at multiple Woodend venues.
Over 100 musicians will perform during the festival, which will showcase both local and international artists across several genres.
The program includes Southern Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco Lara and dancer Deya Miranda Giner, Australian jazz great Paul Grabowsky, and twice ARIA-nominated Nat Bartsch.
For the piano enthusiasts, London-based pianist Piers Lane will perform a recital, and Woodend’s own Jacqueline Ogeil will lead Accademia Arcadia’s ‘Early Solo Concertos’ on the Cristofori piano.
Ogeil is also the executive and artistic director of the festival, and said she is excited about this year’s line up.
“The quality and diversity of the program is evident in how well ticket sales have gone … with several events expected to sell out over the next week,” she said.
“Personally, I am very much looking forward to the performance of Bach’s St John Passion, which celebrates the 300 year anniversary of this great masterpiece.”
The ‘Words & Ideas’ program includes a series of debates and discussions from an eclectic mix of speakers, such as immunologist and Nobel laureate Peter Doherty; journalists Gideon Haigh, Elizabeth Finkel, George Megalogenis; and author0screenwriter Don Watson.
Andrew Ford will reveal his latest book, and ABC Radio presenter Robyn Williams will lead a discussion on ‘Sex, Science and Singing’ with geneticist Jenny Graves
.”We’ve … included a feature on science as well as several talks which cover music in our Words & Ideas program – all of which promise to be entertaining and engaging discussions,” Ogeil said.
Fireworks will light up the sky at 6.30pm on the festival’s opening night, at a free and all-ages event at the Woodend Buffalo Sports Stadium.
Details: woodendwinterartsfestival.org.au/
