Program

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. Presenting an original 35mm black and white print of a ground breaking movie, from his amazing collection of original movies, that relates to the "words and music" theme. Nibbles and bubbles to start in this 1930s themed evening.

Dress in black and white . Best dressed wins prizes donated by Rob Dwyer MP.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.