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Program

Curtain Raiser

On Friday night... at the spectacular "Plaza Theatre" in Laurieton, Baz Lurhmann's training ground, David McGowan will do an introduction on how words and music have shaped the world of movies. He will the present a non-digital  (an original 35mm full technicolor print) of a ground breaking movie, from his amazing collection of original movies, that relates to the "words and music" theme. 

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Trio Novalis - Chamber music

Join Trio Novalis for an afternoon of chamber music at the Kendall Hall. Goetz Richter, violin, Minah Choe, cello, and Jeanell Carrigan , piano, perform works by Haydn, Hutchens and Dvořák.

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Musical Theatre performance

A Gala Production of highlights from the musical theatre repertoire featuring performers from the Sydney Conservatorium led by Narelle Yeo and Rob McDougall.

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Jazz concert with a unique collaboration

Kevin Hunt, piano, and vocalist Nikki Crayson collaborate in a unique style with first nation's performer, Troy Russell. Music with intervals of discussion about why the vocals and words are interpreted and performed certain ways for effect. Not to be missed.

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String orchestra ensemble performance

Directed by Goetz Richter, the Verbrugghen String Virtuosi feature some of Australia’s most talented emerging artists from the Sydney Conservatorium performing music by Schubert and Janacek.

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Festival Close. Meet the musicians, poets and artists.

Free entry to all ticket holders in a casual farewell to the artists.

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Official Opening

Speeches to welcome artists and guests featuring some of our presenters and performers. Opened by Port Macquarie Hastings Mayor, and includes entry to the following poetry presentation by well renowned Mark Tredinnick OAM.

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Dinner at Fat Alberts Artisan Dining

This dinner is for special guests and comes at a premium. Join us and the stars. Limited seats.

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Author presentation Inga Simpson

Presentation, book signing and intriguing insights into the nature writers world. Not to be missed.

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George Palmer AM - How words meet music

Australian composer, George Palmer, has written song cycles and operas to Australian words and poetry. In this presentation he demonstrates how text has inspired his musical compositions with the words of Ned Kelly and the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins and Judith Wright. He will be joined by singers Narelle Yeo and Rob McDougall and Jeanell Carrigan, piano.

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Poetry Salon with Luke Fischer

Orphic Elegy. A poetic and musical journey with Orpheus from antiquity to the present day, from the enchantment of animals to ecological crisis. Alternating between music and readings of the five-part poem ‘Orphic Elegy’ this event reimagines the legends and teachings of Orpheus from scenes in antiquity to the atrocities of the twentieth century and the current period of ecological crisis.

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