Arts in the Valley 2011

Garden Sculpture Exhibition →

If you are in the valley during the day, you can have a preview of, and an opportunity to purchase, the sculptures in advance of the official opening of the exhibition on Saturday morning.

Talk by local landscape architect Michael Bligh BLA AAILA on The Art of Garden Design at 12 noon each day. Michael is well known as one of the most experienced and qualified garden designers in Australia. During the last 30 years he has been personally involved with the design of over 3,000 gardens located throughout rural and metropolitan Australia.
Visit the website of Michael Bligh

John Harding in Recital →

John Harding – violin
Ian Munro – piano

A very rare event opens the 2011 Festival: a recital by John Harding, who has held the position of Concert Master of the Sydney Symphony, The Australian Chamber Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra. He is currently with the Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra, and has performed throughout Europe for many years leading the Orlando Quartet. He rarely gives recitals so this is a very special occasion. He will perform with the Australia Ensemble’s pianist Ian Munro. The program will include the ravishing Ravel Violin Sonata. Single tickets now available.

Garden Sculpture Exhibition - Official opening →

10am - Official opening and announcement of first prize
We welcome you to one of our signature festival events. Our garden this year is part of a property that has won two Australian Tourism Awards and the local owners are leaders in pursuing sustainable energy use. The garden offers a rambling walk on level ground through a design that creates many different “rooms” in which to display sculptural works. Most of the sculptures will be for sale and you will be able to meet the sculptors at the official opening. You will be able to contribute your say in the People’s Choice Award (to be announced on Sunday afternoon).

Dance and Drum → Sold out

Yuin Ghudjargah and TaikOz Quartet

Yuin Ghudjargah is the Shoalhaven-based Aboriginal dance troupe which has been performing throughout Australia for nearly 20 years (formerly known as the Doonoch Dancers) and took part in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This is their first performance in Kangaroo Valley. A Welcome to Country will be performed by elder Paul McLeod before a program of song and dance. The second half of this event will feature TaikOz Quartet, a Sydney-based percussion group playing Japanese Taiko drums. Bubbling with energy, TaikOz music gives Asian sounds a distinctive Australian flavour.

Dance and Drum Family Concert Saturday morning
Tickets still available
For details click here -> Dance and Drum Family Concert Bookings

Harmony in Nature →

The Song Company

The ever-popular Song Company (directed by Roland Peelman) will sing a special program of music from the past and the present, all of which deals with our relationship to the natural world. Included will be a bracket of superb songs by Claudio Monteverdi, as well as songs by our local composer Martin Wesley-Smith. In our last festival we celebrated the 80th birthday of Australia’s best-known composer Peter Sculthorpe and in this concert the Song Company will sing three of his rarely-heard works. Single tickets now available.

Garden Sculpture Exhibition - People's choice →

Enjoy sculptural works while walking through the many different “rooms” in Crystal Creek Meadows. Contribute your say in the People’s Choice Award, to be announced in the afternoon.

Genevieve Lacey → Sold out

Genevieve Lacey will play a solo recital on her recorders in Kangaroo Valley’s landmark house. She will play music from the baroque and some land-mark works written for the instrument in the 20th century. Included will be Queensland violinist/composer John Rodger’s wonderful music about birds.

Ian Munro →

Ian Munro will play a solo recital of piano works by Mozart, including Sonata no 11 in A major, K331 (with the famous Turkish Rondo) in the purpose-built room which is the venue for an occasional series of concerts. Single tickets now available.

David Pereira & Micky Allan → Sold out

Cellist David Pereira will perform with painter Micky Allan in the spacious Cedar Grove lounge room with its picture-perfect valley views. Together they will improvise new works for cello and artist. This event was scheduled for the 2007 festival but David fell ill. It’s been a long wait. This is your chance to witness the birth of a new piece!

Genevieve Lacey → Sold out

Genevieve Lacey will play a solo recital on her recorders in Kangaroo Valley’s landmark house. She will play music from the baroque and some land-mark works written for the instrument in the 20th century. Included will be Queensland violinist/composer John Rodger’s wonderful music about birds.

Ian Munro →

Ian Munro will play a solo recital of piano works by Mozart, including Sonata no 11 in A major, K331 (with the famous Turkish Rondo) in the purpose-built room which is the venue for an occasional series of concerts. Single tickets now available.

Alice Giles → Sold out

Alice Giles will play a solo recital showing off the harp in all its glory, including music by CPE Bach, Lustig, Berio, Britten and the great harp virtuoso Carlos Salzedo.