The Peninsula Summer Music Festival will run from January 4 -10 on the Mornington Peninsula, treating music lovers to a week of chamber and ensemble musical performances.
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, soprano Jacqueline Porter, Ensemble Offspring and the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra 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.
Artistic Directors Ben Opie and Melissa Doecke have once again curated a celebration of the region’s natural beauty amplified by fine music, wine and food.
The 2025 Festival begins on Saturday January 4 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 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 January 4 at Flinders Civic Hall with a romantic evening of Love and Life featuring acclaimed soprano Jacqueline Porter and principal musicians of the Australian Romantic and 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.
For full details of the Peninsula Summer Music Festival program, visit peninsulafestival.com.au/

• Cheryl Threadgold