Woodend Winter Arts Festival 2025
The Woodend Winter Arts Festival is excited to celebrate its 20th festival in 2025 as it delivers another feast of music, film, words and ideas over the Kings Birthday long weekend in June.
The music program features international guests Davide Monti (violin) and Maria Christina Cleary (harp); along with Moroccan vocalist Lamiae Naki and her ensemble Seffarine. Direct from Vienna, Anne-Harvey-Nagl will perform Brahms’ three sonatas with John O’Donnell.
Other artists include Chris Johnstone (guitar) & the Mat Jodrell Quartet; Trio Anima Mundi (piano), Ken Murray (Spanish guitar), Berta Brozgul (solo piano) and 8 Cellos. Internationally acclaimed Victorian based ensembles Ensemble Gombert and Accademia Arcadia return, while Inventi Ensemble will deliver a family friendly performance of Cinderella.
The Words & Ideas program will deliver engaging discussion and debates. In celebration of 250 years since the birth of the great Jane Austen, we will hear from her great niece, Caroline Jane Knight; while art consultant Christopher Menz will discuss the works of one of the greatest pattern designers of all time, William Morris.
We will also hear from literary greats such as Rodney Hall and Margaret Simons; political historian Judith Brett; leading scientist Dietmar Toubier; and local garden designer Michael McCoy.
This year’s engaging program is rounded off with both theatre and film, with two absurdist plays from award-winning author and publisher, Peter Rose, along with a screening of The Great White Whale by Michael Dillon.