Celebrate the season with Harp2Harp as two glorious harps and two beautiful female voices join forces with special guests Adelaide Symphony Orchestra principal percussionist Steve Peterka and Ellie and Liam Peterka on junior vocals.

Join acclaimed Adelaide harpist, soprano (and Janeite) Emma Horwood in a celebration of the 250th anniversary of Austen's birth, in the intimate surrounds of elegant Northgate House.

James Huon George, piano

Celebrate the season with Harp2Harp as two glorious harps and two beautiful female voices join forces with special guests Adelaide Symphony Orchestra principal percussionist Steve Peterka and Ellie and Liam Peterka on junior vocals.

From Greek mythology and Macbeth to a Miraculous Mandarin and kung fu fighters, step into a world where myth meets movement and sound becomes story. From epic battles and haunted dreams to lavish orchestral drama and quiet introspection, this concert serves up high drama, power plays and lingering harmonies.

Lyrical dances, ancient airs, folk rhythms and undulating textures from Beethoven to Borodin meet the urban vibrancy of night roadworks and surreal sea shanties.  Tune in, float away and let the music move you. 

Get ready to turn up the volume as beats and brass battle it out in an explosive evening of pure joy. A highlight of the AYO Summer Music Festival, this concert showcases the thrilling power of percussion and the bold brilliance of brass. Hear trombones and timpani go head-to-head, cymbals sing alongside trumpets, and bass drums shake the stage as the ensemble unleashes a sonic spectacle. It’s rhythm versus resonance in this celebration of sound that will leave you breathless.

Prepare your senses for the freshest sounds in orchestral music in this exclusive concert with world premieres by AYO NMC Composition participants. Mentored by prize-winning composer Dr Thomas Green, these young composers are the vanguard of Australian music. Say you heard them here first!

Conversations between friends. Enjoy an intimate night out and experience a range of exquisite, hand-picked chamber music pieces spanning centuries, performed skillfully by the talented musicians of the AYO NMC Chamber Ensembles.

Buzzing energy, bold moves and soaring voices collide. From effervescent operatic overtures and choral glow to balletic elegance and orchestral drama, expect epic vibes, sweeping emotion and metamorphic moments in this AYO Summer Music Festival finale and celebration of song and dance.

James Huon George, piano

Hamish Strathdee, guitar

Martin Hayes’ artistry is grounded in the organic soul of Irish music, reawakening traditional melodies with his vibrant spirit and fresh interpretations. ‘For me, music is about heart, feeling, trust, freedom, communication and true aliveness in the moment,’ he says…

Roomful of Teeth is a GRAMMY Award-winning vocal ensemble dedicated to reimagining the expressive potential of the human voice. The ensemble’s work is built upon creative collaborations with a spirit of curiosity and fearless experimentation, creating genre-defying, imaginative repertoire that pushes the boundaries of vocal music…

Seizing on the milestone of the fortieth anniversary of his debut, Makoto formed the new trio TRiNFiNiTY, featuring young rising stars Shimpei Ogawa on bass and Kunito Kitai on drums…

Clarinettist Tommaso Lonquich, cellist Umberto Clerici and pianist Claudio Martínez Mehner each enjoy distinguished international careers. Together as a clarinet trio, they have transcended geographical distance to cultivate a profound artistic  partnership, which they describe as ‘an enduring source of inspiration and dialogue’…

A powerful evening of story and song with singer-songwriter Nathan May, a chamber music concert that blurs the lines between contemporary country, folk and Baroque traditions. In a collaboration with genre-defying violinist, Julian Ferraretto and Adelaide Baroque string quartet. Directed by Chris Drummond. Created with the support of Create SA, Chamber Music Adelaide and Nexus Arts. Presented by Chamber Music Adelaide.

Mustonen’s Beethoven cycle opens with the composer’s very earliest sonatas, youthful works full of wit and invention. The concert closes with the famed Appassionata, a work of staggering technical demands written as Beethoven grappled with his hearing loss.

The second concert in Mustonen’s Beethoven cycle centres on three consecutive sonatas written in a period of intense creativity, culminating in the famed Les Adieux, and preceded in the first half by two elegant early works.

Music history takes sonic form in this extraordinary pairing of master yidaki artist William Barton with the legendary Brodsky Quartet.

Tracing an arc through time and across cultures, this performance showcases a profound musical dialogue between traditions, where First Nations wisdom converses with the rich textures of European chamber music.

The final concert features the beloved Moonlight sonata and the profound Op. 110 – Beethoven’s
penultimate sonata, written in ill health and filled with transcendent beauty.

Jazz titan, Tyshawn Sorey performs in solo piano mode for one-night-only.

Tyshawn Sorey is a remarkable figure in contemporary music – an acclaimed composer and multi-instrumentalist and one of the most in demand drummers amongst the titans of the jazz scene. Collaborating with icons like John Zorn, Bill Frisell, Joe Lovano and Vijay Iyer, Sorey stands at the vanguard of the contemporary classical world.

British tenor Allan Clayton and Australian pianist Kate Golla set out once again on A Winter’s Journey in the internationally-acclaimed production reimagines Schubert’s Winterreise…

For the first time ever together, we are proud to present Anthony Marwood and Olli Mustonen in an exclusive duo performance that marks the culmination of their individual Adelaide Festival residencies. Though long-time admirers of one another’s artistry, incredibly they have never shared the stage, until now. This final concert showcases their extraordinary talents as soloists before they come together for Shostakovich’s mysterious Sonata for Violin and Piano.

Alma Moodie, born in 1898 in regional Queensland, was one of the pre-eminent violin soloists in Europe during the early 20th century. Helping to bring this remarkable Australian virtuosa out of the historical shadow, the Alma Moodie Quartet shares the dedication to music, both popular and neglected, that their namesake championed.

The soaring oratorio El Niño by John Adams, one of the leading composers of his generation, had its Australian premiere at the 2002 Adelaide Festival in a landmark production directed by Peter Sellars.

El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered is a new chamber adaptation of this monumental work, featuring Grammy Award-winning singer Julia Bullock. Hailed as “intimate, affecting and quietly rich with activism” (The New York Times), this distilled rendering centres the maternal voice within what has historically been delivered as a patriarchal narrative.

Pairing effortless lyricism with intense virtuosity, Italian-based violinist Sergej Krylov carries the influence of the great cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, with whom he regularly shared a stage as a young violinist. Krylov has held the multi-faceted role of Music Director of the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra since 2008, while performing as soloist with orchestras such as the London Philharmonic, Orchestre National de Lyon and the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin…

Pairing effortless lyricism with intense virtuosity, Italian-based violinist Sergej Krylov carries the influence of the great cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, with whom he regularly shared a stage as a young violinist. Krylov has held the multi-faceted role of Music Director of the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra since 2008, while performing as soloist with orchestras such as the London Philharmonic, Orchestre National de Lyon and the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin…

A powerful evening of story and song with singer-songwriter Nathan May, a chamber music concert that blurs the lines between contemporary country, folk and Baroque traditions. In a collaboration with genre-defying violinist, Julian Ferraretto and Adelaide Baroque string quartet. Directed by Chris Drummond. Created with the support of Create SA, Chamber Music Adelaide and Nexus Arts. Presented by Chamber Music Adelaide.

Slava, Leonard, Vladimir and Andrew are renowned nationally and internationally as leading soloists and passionate advocates for  their distinctive instrument. They are also recognised for their formidable and diverse repertoire. For UKARIA, they present a  beautifully balanced program showcasing intimate delicacy and extravagant flair. The concert opens with Bach’s sixth Brandenburg  Concerto, here arranged by James Smith for guitar quartet…

As a regular recitalist at London’s Wigmore Hall and as a soloist with the London and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras, French pianist Cédric Tiberghien is noted for his sensitive, versatile musicality as well as his innovative and engaging programming…

Anna Pope, soprano
Emma Horwood, soprano
Kenneth Pope, bass

Journey from Australian shores to the elemental landscapes of Scandinavia. Strings swell in Barber’s Adagio for Strings. In Richter’s On the Nature of Daylight, a repeating melody rises with quiet resignation – cinematic and deeply tender. Sibelius and Thorvaldsdóttir evoke endless skies, frozen air, and distant warmth – a still, slow-moving northern landscape conjured in the quiet language of strings.

Journey from Australian shores to the elemental landscapes of Scandinavia. Strings swell in Barber’s Adagio for Strings. In Richter’s On the Nature of Daylight, a repeating melody rises with quiet resignation – cinematic and deeply tender. Sibelius and Thorvaldsdóttir evoke endless skies, frozen air, and distant warmth – a still, slow-moving northern landscape conjured in the quiet language of strings.

Michelle Nicolle and Paul Grabowsky have been aware of each other for a very long time. As Michelle says, she ‘grew up’ watching  Paul on television and was aware of his work with the great Vince Jones and others; somewhat later Paul became aware of Michelle’s trajectory toward becoming, in his words, ‘one of the greatest jazz singers Australia has produced’…

David Elton is no stranger to either Australian or international audiences. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) Principal Trumpet, virtuosic soloist and esteemed chamber musician brings an engaging program that highlights the range and versatility of his instrument. David is joined in his explorations by three colleagues, each renowned musicians in their own right: SSO Concertmaster Andrew Haveron, SSO Associate Principal Cello Simon Cobcroft and concert pianist and composer Stefan Cassomenos…

The Berlin-based Leonkoro Quartet has been making waves on the international chamber music scene since triumphing at the 2022 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition. Now partnering exclusively with the Alpha Classics recording label, the  Quartet has a string of critically-acclaimed albums and performs regularly at venues such as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the  Leipzig Gewandhaus and NYC’s Carnegie Hall. On their first Australian tour, their recital programs reflect their interpretative range  and their ‘profound sensitivity’…

In their second offering for UKARIA, the Leonkoro Quartet presents a unique selection of Austro-German voices old and new…

Australian pianist and storyteller Aura Go has worked with Finnish/Australian-based cellist Timo-Veikko (Tipi) Valve for many years, performing nationally and internationally as a duo. She’s also toured extensively with virtuoso Australian violinist Kristian Winther…

ARIA Award-winning tabla player Bobby Singh returns to UKARIA for a collaboration that spans cultures, generations and borders.  Featuring the compositions of tabla maestro Aneesh Pradhan, the music revolves around the nucleus of Bobby Singh – himself a  student of Aneesh. Bridging Indian classical tradition, jazz and blues, the presence of Tjupurru’s didgeridoo grounds this collaboration in the roots of this land, with Bobby as the musical sutradhaar – the narrator who connects all the threads in this story…

Ukrainian-Australian pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk returns with a characterful and dramatic program that showcases his ‘revelatory’ and ‘electrifying’ artistry. Each half opens with a distinctive evocation of childhood: Robert Schumann’s Kinderszenen  (Scenes from Childhood) offers an adult’s perspective, in a series of reminiscences of childhood experience. By contrast,  Tchaikovsky’s Children’s Album – which begins the second half – is a twenty-four-part cycle written specifically for children…

Radical Son is the creative moniker of David Leha, an artist from the Kamilaroi nation of Australia and the South Pacific nation of Tonga. His voice carries the compelling story of his turbulent past, restoration through culture and ever-deepening connection to  Country, which has been captured in two critically-acclaimed albums: Cause ‘N Affect (2014) and Bilambiyal (2024)….

The charismatic French pianist and composer Lucas Debargue makes his UKARIA debut. Since his sensational appearance at the 2015 Tchaikovsky competition, where he was awarded the prestigious Moscow Critics Award, Debargue has forged an international  career as a virtuosic soloist and sought-after chamber musician. To regular performances as a soloist in Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, he adds chamber music collaborations with artists including Janine Jansen, Gidon Kremer and Renaud  Capuçon. As a Sony Classical recording artist, Lucas Debargue has released five solo albums, with a sixth to appear in early 2026…

German cellist Maximilian Hornung presents a program uniquely suited to our intimate space. Hornung’s sophisticated musicality and virtuosity have enabled him to forge a unique career path. Following his 2007 win of Germany’s prestigious ARD competition (with his Tecchler Piano Trio), Hornung served for four years as principal cellist of Munich’s hallowed Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, before leaving the post to devote himself to solo and chamber music repertoire. A former protégé of Anne-Sophie Mutter, Hornung appears regularly with orchestras such as the Berlin and London Philharmonics, and counts Vilde Frang, Daniil Trifonov and Mutter among his chamber music partners…

From hushed lyricism to fiery folk rhythms, this concert celebrates the incredible versatility of the ASO’s string players. Joseph Bologne’s Violin Concerto No.9 is a joyful window into the bright and energising performance styles of 18th-century France. Dvořák’s Nocturne offers a moment of tenderness and quiet melancholy before Bartók’s Divertimento dances between rustic spirit and shadowy reflection.

WOMEN COMPOSERS, SPANNING CONTINENTS AND GENERATIONS, MEET IN A WEEKEND OF MUSICAL STORYTELLING.

Superstar Canadian violinist James Ehnes joins forces with his longtime duo partner, the celebrated American pianist Orion Weiss, to present a recital of duo repertoire. Ehnes is one of the great violinists on the global stage: a fixture as concerto soloist with orchestras like the New York and London Philharmonics and the Boston Symphony, and recitalist at Carnegie Hall, Verbier Festival and other venues across Europe, Ehnes is a two-time GRAMMY Award-winner with an extensive discography. Weiss is one of the most sought-after concert pianists in the US: a regular soloist with LA and New York Philharmonics, he is renowned for his 'powerful technique and exceptional insight’. For their recital at UKARIA, Ehnes and Weiss offer a rare opportunity for Australian audiences to experience two star soloists in an exceptionally intimate setting…

Musica Viva Australia is excited to present the London-based Doric String Quartet performing Thomas Ades with the brilliance of Australian clarinettist and FutureMaker Lloyd Van't Hoff…

The Gesualdo Six is an award-winning and critically-acclaimed vocal ensemble made up of some of the UK’s most esteemed consort singers. The group, who are lauded for their ‘imaginative programming and impeccable blend’, has toured around the world and records exclusively for Hyperion Records (their tenth album was released in August 2025). Following their residency at the 2023 A Cappella Academy, The Gesualdo Six returns to UKARIA with a program that traces the evolution of the vocal consort tradition…

Perfect Imperfections is a bold reimagining of the flute as an instrument of power, soul, and raw humanity. This journey takes us into the emotional landscapes of each listener, inviting us to find beauty within imperfection, connection through vulnerability, and uplift through music…

Event description: Prepare to be kissed by a fairy, haunted by a dream and transformed by music when Canadian virtuoso violinist Leila Josefowicz and fellow-Canadian pianist John Novacek bring their fantastical tales and captivating sounds to tour Australia. ..

The Sitkovetsky Trio is one of the pre-eminent piano trios at work on today’s global stage. Formed by classmates at the UK’s Menuhin School over twenty years ago, the trio performs regularly in venues such as Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and London’s Wigmore Hall, and their extensive discography for BIS Records has won numerous awards…

For their second concert, the Sitkovetsky Trio is joined by Australia’s own Stefanie Farrands, Principal Viola of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, in a program of distinctively Hungarian flavour. The scene is set with Haydn’s Hungarian-influenced Piano Trio No. 39 in G major, written during one of Haydn’s ‘liberating’ sojourns in London and dedicated to his student and intimate confidant Rebecca Schroeter…

Andrea Lam is one of Australia’s most recognised concert pianists. The host and star of hit ABC TV series The Piano, Andrea is a passionate advocate for her instrument, introducing a new generation of Australians to its expressive power and possibility. In demand as concerto soloist with Australia’s major orchestras, and following a celebrated US career, Andrea returns for her first solo recital at UKARIA with a nuanced, wide-ranging program that showcases her interpretative sensitivity…

Much loved Australian young person’s author Alison Lester’s book Are We There Yet? comes to life through music in this unique family performance.

Much loved Australian young person’s author Alison Lester’s book Are We There Yet? comes to life through music in this unique family performance.

Federico Bucaioni, piano
Gioia Barbera, piano

Two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Attacca Quartet is one of the most fearless and opinionated young quartets at work today. They make their UKARIA debut with a recital that exemplifies the ensemble’s unique character and programming style…

In the intricate weave of sounds that make up a baroque ensemble, the lute is central. It's fitting, then, that French-American lutenist Thomas Dunford is at the centre of some of the most exciting early music-making of the moment…

Acclaimed British concert pianist Paul Lewis is celebrated for his interpretations of the great piano works of Beethoven and Schubert. He now turns his laser-like focus and insightful musicianship to Mozart…

Internationally regarded as one of the leading musicians of his generation, Paul Lewis’ cycles of core piano repertoire by Beethoven and Schubert have received universal critical acclaim. For his latest project beginning in 2026, Paul turns his attention to Mozart…

The Latvian Radio Choir spread their wings and fly with Australia’s own recorder queen, Genevieve Lacey. Join them as they look to the skies for dancing planets and soaring birds in the music of Peteris Vasks…