ACMF 2025 | Program Session 2
Albury Chamber Music Festival ’25
7 – 9 November 2025
“Superlative Times”
Dearest gentle reader,
It is with enormous pleasure that this author presents gifts for the forthcoming season of the Albury Chamber Music Festival which is appropriately themed SUPERLATIVE TIMES.
Embark with us on a journey to an era of opulence, beauty, wonder, and magnificence. You shall find yourself surrounded by elegant ballrooms, stately buildings, and exquisite gardens, as we weave a musical tale of delight and enchantment.
We are channelling the spirit of Jane Austen, Bridgerton, and Downton Abbey. There will be cupcakes on the lawn. Simply put, entertainment awaiteth thee at every turn. Lady Sally-Anne and Sir Mario will guide you through the festival weekend, while our resident director, Lady Sara, all the way from across the pond, will oversee the theatrical elements, bringing our performances to life with her expert direction and vision.
Hasten to obtain your all-inclusive FESTIVAL PASS which shall grant access to ten thrilling performances across the 3-day party season. You will be treated to 4 splendid venues,
including the beautiful deco heritage-listed Regent Cinema, St Matthew’s Church, and the jewel in the crown, the Adamshurst ballroom. A sumptuous three-course dinner (valued at $100) at the exclusive Albury Club shall be accompanied by our salon orchestra, all of this is included in the one pass.
We hope you will be amused and thrilled by our superlative selection of musicians, composers and entertainers. We look forward to meeting you in Albury – it will be most enchanting indeed!
Venues:
Adamshurst, 603 David St, Albury
Regent Cinemas, 456 Dean St, Albury
St Matthew’s Church, 516 Kiewa St, Albury
The Albury Club, 519 Kiewa St, Albury
Friday 7 November - Session 2
Session 2, Performance 1, The Armed Man – A Mass For Peace – Karl Jenkins
St Matthew’s Church
Friday, 7 November, 2:00pm-3:00pm
In times of struggle, music offers solace and hope. This powerful work, commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum and dedicated to the victims of the Kosovo crisis, explores the descent into war, balanced by moments of reflection. It highlights the devastating impact of conflict, while ultimately offering a message of hope for a peaceful future.
Join us for the opening of the 2025 Albury Chamber Music Festival as we celebrate the transformative power of music with this Mass for Peace. Let this beautiful work remind us that, even in difficult times, hope and healing are always within reach.
Sally-Anne Russell, mezzo soprano
Timothy Reynolds, tenor
Sophia Kirsanova, concertmaster
Tara Chambers, violin 1
Madeleine Jevons, violin 2
Damien Jones, violin 2
William Newbery, viola
Jessie Swan, viola
Molly Kadarauch, cello
Catriona Byles, cello
Michael Fortescue, double bass
Eliza Shephard, flute
John Foster, trumpet
Kevin Tamanini, piano
Mark Ferguson, piano
Michael Evans- Barker, percussion
Edward Higgs, percussion
Lux Alba chamber choir
The choirs of The Scots School and Trinity Anglican College
Mario Dobernig, conductor
Session 2, Performance 2, More beautiful than before: The Radish and the shoe and other real tales
Adamshurst Ballroom
Friday, 7 November, 4:00pm-5:00pm
The characters, a Radish, a Shoe and a group of Letters, all reside inside a book which they call their home. One day a pair of scissors attacks the book, destroying the characters’ home, leaving them completely despondent. However, they pick themselves up and repair their book, and in the process inadvertently transform their ‘home’ into something more beautiful than before. The story is cleverly analogous with survival in the real world and one that has always rung resonances with the composer’s philosophical approach to life.
Andrew Perkins (libretto by Louise Jalbert) The Radish and The Shoe
Songs by Peter Warlock, Ivor Gurney, John Ireland, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Frederick Septimus Kelly
Sara Brodie, narrator
Timothy Reynolds, tenor
Eliza Shephard, flute
Scott Marshall, oboe
Natasha Fearnside, clarinet
John Foster, trumpet
Kevin Tamanini, piano
Michael Evans-Barker, percussion
High Tea information: Louise Jalbert’s book won the Parents’ Choice Award when it was first published in California in 1984. It has since been republished.
Session 2, Performance 3, The Royal Plucker: Lady Shaula and her Celtic Harp
St Matthew’s Church
Friday, 7 November, 9:30pm
Celtic kings considered the harp their royal instrument, symbolizing their authority and connecting them to their cultural heritage. It was used in courtly ceremonies and celebrations to reinforce their power and prestige. Lady Shaula will weave her magical web spinning Celtic folksongs by O’Regan, Salathé, Enya and many more, all surrounded by candlelight!
Lady Shaula, Celtic Harp
In preparation for this performance we kindly ask you to say “Pheasant Plucker” ten times.
Saturday 8 November - Session 2
Session 2, Performance 4,
The Australian Orgelmeister – Organ Recital David Macfarlane
St Matthew’s Church
Saturday, 8 November, 9:00am-10:00am
David Macfarlane is the only Australian to have studied both harpsichord and organ as first study instruments at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Alongside his expertise in Australian compositions, German and French Romantic music, Baroque and Renaissance works, David has also held significant roles in church music, including Director of Music at churches with prominent music programs. This concert program is David’s musical biography.
Louis-Nicolas Clérambault Suite de deuxième ton
Plein Jeu
Duo
Trio
Basse de Cromorne
Flûtes
Récit de Nazard
Caprice sur les Grands Jeux
Johann Sebastian Bach Passacaglia in C minor BWV 582
Louis Vierne Symphonie No 3 Op 28
- Allegro maestoso
IV. Adagio
V. Final
David Macfarlane, organ
Session 2, Performance 5, Living Legend – Suprema Ballerina Jessie Vonk
Regent Cinemas Albury
Saturday, 8 November, 10:45am-11:45am
Born in 1941 in Pullach, near Munich, Jessie rose to fame as a Baby Ballerina with the Borovansky Ballet (early Australian Ballet), before becoming a Prima Ballerina in Germany, Paris, England, and Amsterdam. She will share her stories from the stage and her life with her husband, Dutch conductor Hans Vonk, former Chief of the Dutch Radio Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, and Staatskapelle Dresden.
High tea information: Jessie can still do the splits at the age of 84.
Jessie Vonk, living legend
Session 2, Performance 6, Lost love: Songs of a Wayfarer – Gustav Mahler
St Matthew’s Church
Saturday, 8 November, 1:00pm-2:00pm
Mahler’s autobiographical song cycle, written as a response to his unhappy love to soprano Johanna Richter, reflects on the composer’s journey through unrequited love, heartbreak and search for solace.
Gustav Mahler – Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of A Wayfarer)
Ross Edwards Water spirit song
Stuart Greenbaum Variations for solo violin
Reinhold Glière Pieces for violin and cello, op. 39
Gustav Mahler Piano Quartet in A minor
Sally-Anne Russell, mezzo soprano
Sophia Kirsanova, violin
Madeleine Jevons, violin
William Newbery, viola
Molly Kadarauch, cello
Michael Fortescue, double bass
Eliza Shephard, flute
Natasha Fearnside, clarinet
Kevin Tamanini, piano
Edward Higgs, percussion
Mario Dobernig, conductor
Session 2, Performance 7, The Prodigy – Joshua Han, piano
St Matthew’s Church
Saturday, 8 November, 3:00pm-4:00pm
In this all-Chopin program international competition winner Joshua Han will have you searching for superlatives on superlatives. Be ready for the ultimate experience!
High tea information: in his free time Joshua enjoys studying towards medical degree…
Frédéric Chopin Etude Op. 10 No. 8 in F Major
Etude Op. 25 No. 4 in A minor
Three Mazurkas, Op. 59
No. 1 in A minor
No. 2 in A flat Major
No. 3 in F sharp minor
Ballade in F minor, Op. 52
Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 55 No. 2
Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise Brillante in E Flat Major, Op. 22
Joshua Han, piano
Session 2, Performance 8, The Queen’s Diamond Ball – Gala Dinner
The Albury Club
Saturday, 8 November, 6:30pm-9:30pm
Delight in a sumptuous feast with entertainment provided, games and fun are guaranteed. In previous years, we have enjoyed unicorn dances, a real alpaca, Maltesers races and limerick competitions, so perhaps a poetry slam will be in order this time. Kitchen utensils may also feature in Brett Jones’ world premiere of Dinner Music.
Sally-Anne Russell, mezzo soprano
Susan Ferguson, voice
John Foster, trumpet
Sophia Kirsanova, violin
Natasha Fearnside, clarinet
Molly Kadarauch, cello
Michael Fortescue, double bass
Kevin Tamanini, piano
Mark Ferguson, piano
Mario Dobernig, conductor and drums
Sunday 9 November - Session 2
Session 2, Performance 9, The Prince of Albury – Festival Service
St Matthew’s Church
Sunday, 9 November, 9:00am-10:30am
Join us for our esteemed festival service, a distinguished tradition with a unique and unorthodox spirit, led by the Prince of Albury, Fr. Peter Macleod-Miller. And there will be three world premieres!
Johann Sebastian Bach Bleibt ihr Engel, bleibt bei mir BWV 19
George Frideric Handel Eternal Source of Light Divine
Ciara Ferguson world premiere
Peter Leech Festival Te Deum – world premiere
Brett Jones world premiere
Fr. Peter Macleod-Miller, Prince of Albury
Sally-Anne Russell, mezzo soprano
Timothy Reynolds, tenor
John Foster, trumpet
David Macfarlane, organ
Joshua Han, piano
Lux Alba, chamber choir
St Matthew’s Choir
Session 2, The little Cupcake
Adamshurst Ballroom
Sunday, 9 November, 1:15pm-2:00pm
Join us for cupcakes and other treats in the Adamshurst Garden (adjourning to the Adamshust Carriageway if the weather is poorly), and be serenaded by the border’s own Moodemere String Quartet.
Moodemere String quartet:
Tara Chambers, Lady Penelope
Damien Jones, Lord Anthony
Jessie Swan, Lady Violet
Catriona Byles, Lady Agatha
Session 2, Performance 10, Bridging Past and Present –
The Australian Songbook reimagined
St Matthew’s Church
Sunday, 9 November, 3:00pm-4:00pm
Get ready to experience a fresh take on the timeless tunes we all know and love! Composer and jazz pianist Mark Ferguson has reimagined these classics with his unique arrangements, specially crafted for our festival.
Susan Ferguson, voice
John Foster, trumpet
Mark Ferguson, piano
Sam Anning, double bass
Michael Evans- Barker, drums
Check out last year’s gallery gorgeous photographs including many captured by Kosta from ‘Living Imagery’ in our 2024 photo galleries.
We can’t wait for ACMF | 25? Tickets are on sale here.