Can it really be 2025 already? Classical music is given an ideal launch each year with the Peninsula Summer Music Festival – not only one of Victoria’s major music festivals, but held in a spectacular setting when the weather and time of year make it a perfect way to celebrate the summer holidays. Ever since its launch in October, tickets have been in hot demand, but you might be able to squeeze into a concert held in one of the larger venues.
Acclaimed Artistic Directors Ben Opie and Melissa Doecke have once again curated a celebration of the Mornington Peninsula’s natural beauty enhanced by fine music, wine and food. The information offered in the media release below is a reminder of the excellent fare on offer. The PSMN website is also an excellent way to discover the impressive range of what is available and make bookings.
Peninsula Summer Music Festival 2025
“Music lovers will descend on the Mornington Peninsula in January for a week of exquisite chamber and ensemble musical performances at the annual Peninsula Summer Music Festival. Festival favourites such as Twilight Jazz and Balnarring Family Day return to the region alongside Festival artists Stephanie Arnold (cello), The Voice 2023 Winner Tarryn Stokes, acclaimed soprano Jacqueline Porter, Ensemble Offspring and the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra (ARCO) at popular destinations such as St John’s Anglican Church, Peninsula Hot Springs and the region’s fine wineries playing host to more than 35 musicians and performers.
“In 2025 we will celebrate a diverse range of sublime regional experiences featuring award winning artists, world premieres, brand new collaborations and familiar composers. We’re very proud that of our 16 events, 13 feature works by Australian composers” says Opie. “The Peninsula’s stunning venues and picturesque landscapes create idyllic settings for music lovers and friends to immerse themselves in a week of sumptuous multi-sensory delights”.
“The 2025 Festival begins on Saturday 4 January with three of Australia’s brightest emerging musicians to perform showcase works for violin, viola and double bass. Helena Kozdra (violin), Neil Wang (viola), and Jude Hill (double bass) make up the Young Mannheim Symphonists; a prestigious program from the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra (ARCO) that supports young musicians as they begin their careers in historically informed performance. Accompanied by acclaimed pianist Donald Nicolson, the talented trio will perform works from Wanhal, Mozart, Glinka and Dittersdorf at St John’s Anglican Church in Flinders.
“The festival’s signature event takes place on 4 January at Flinders Civic Hall with a romantic evening of Love & Life featuring acclaimed soprano Jacqueline Porter and principal musicians of the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra. The audience will be immersed in love-laden melodies from three of Europe’s most romantic composers. Dramatic Grieg and Schubert string quartets, led by violinist Rachael Beesley, frame Schumann’s song cycle ‘Frauenlieben und Leben’ and Schubert’s ‘Shepherd on the Rock’ featuring Porter and clarinettist Nicole van Bruggen.
“On Sunday 5 January, head to St John’s Church for The Sunrise featuring ARCO performing works by composers Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. The concert also features a newly commissioned work from Australian composer Nicole Murphy.
On Sunday evening at St John’s, acclaimed pianist Georgina Lewis presents the world premiere of Australian composer Stuart Greenbaum’s epic piano immersive experience, Life in Light Years. Traversing a tapestry of human emotion and endeavour in time and distance, Greenbaum and Lewis push the boundaries of how minimalism can be redefined in the new millennium.
On Monday January 6, Montalto Winery in Red Hill once again plays host to an evening of Twilight Jazz with powerhouse vocalist Tarryn Stokes for a night of classic jazz standards and a few surprises. Winner of The Voice 2023, Tarryn’s amazing and dynamic vocals, together with her world-class band, will showcase her deeply personal interpretations of songs including Autumn Leaves, Georgia On My Mind and Fly Me To The Moon, drawing audiences into the worlds of inspiring singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin. This popular annual event offers a casual picnic on the lawn or an outstanding three-course meal in Montalto’s hatted restaurant.
On Tuesday 7 January at Main Ridge Estate, festival goers have a rare chance to hear some of the fascinating chamber works by Joseph Haydn composed for baryton – a little-known classical instrument similar to the bass viol. There exists a significant repertoire of chamber music for this magnificent instrument which is very rarely performed. The Gryphon Baryton Trio draws on the combined chamber music and historical performance practice experience of Laura Vaughan (baryton), Katie Yap (viola) and Edwina Cordingly (cello).
Festival Artist Stephanie Arnold takes to the amphitheatre stage at Peninsula Hot Springs on Tuesday morning with festival Co-Artistic Directors Ben Opie and Melissa Doecke in a program featuring cello, flute, oboe and soundscapes.
Stephanie is a multifaceted artist, performer, and educator, gracefully navigating between the worlds of classical and contemporary music. She is engaged in a wide range of genre-traversing musical and recording projects, tours regularly with Opera Australia, and has graced local and international stages, from concert halls to festival settings.
On Wednesday 8 January at the Peninsula Hot Springs amphitheatre stage. Stephanie performs a double bill with Ensemble Offspring. Stephanie’s collaborative new work, The Elements, marks the culmination of a community engagement program over recent months, and will explore the essence of nature’s five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space. The Elements is paired with Songbirds, which celebrates the breathtaking soundscape of Australian birdsong with an array of original Australian chamber works commissioned by Ensemble Offspring. Performed by Claire Edwardes OAM (Artistic Director / percussion), Lamorna Nightingale (flute), and Jason Noble (clarinet), Songbirds.
Prior to their evening concert, Stephanie Arnold and Ensemble Offspring will also appear at Balnarring Civic Reserve during the free Family Day program.
Festival audiences will also descend on Moorooduc Estate on Wednesday evening for Ensemble Liaison’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Internationally acclaimed for its spell-binding performances, innovative programs and brilliant collaborations with leading artists, Ensemble Liaison comprises David Griffiths (clarinet), Svetlana Bogosavljević (cello) and Timothy Young (piano). The program of favourites includes Ravel’s spiritual Kaddish, Brahms’ majestic trio, Gershwin’s playful Porgy and Bess, Kats Chernin’s Russian rag and some spicy Klezmer.
On Thursday 9 January, Port Phillip Estate plays host to an evening of fine dining and dynamic piano performances. Described as ‘masterful’, ‘positively ecstatic’ and ‘profoundly moving, subtle and exuberant’, the KIAZMA Piano Duo (Aura Go and Tomoe Kawabata) has established itself as one of Australia’s most dynamic ensembles. They are qually at home in solo, two-piano and four-hand repertoire from the baroque to the present day.
On Friday 10 January, the 2025 finale at St John’s features festival favourites Latitude 37 performing Baroque by Candlelight. PSMF founder Julia Fredersdorff (violin) makes a welcome return to the festival with Baroque connoisseurs Latitude 37 also featuring Laura Vaughan (viola da gamba) and Donald Nicolson (organ/harpsichord). The trio has crafted an immersive performance that brings Paris to Flinders via the lens of one of music’s most popular forms, the ground bass. Enjoy works by Couperin, Marais, Satie, Morel and star Australian composer Alice Chance. This concert features the stunning Scottish Renton organ, which has historical records dating back to 1874 in a performance of Dandrieu’s Organ Solo.
Co-Artistic Director Melissa Doecke says the Peninsula Summer Music Festival extends beyond its well-known venues into the Peninsula community. “We are passionate about sharing our music and world class musicians with every corner of our community. This includes festival artists performing at Aged Care homes in Balnarring and Shoreham, to the delight of residents and staff. We also have an ongoing partnership with Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association, and we look forward to that continuing this year. We are delighted that Festival Artist Stephanie Arnold and Ensemble Offspring will lead our community events in 2025.”
Photo supplied.
