Captured and imprisoned by the German Army in a prisoner-of-war camp, Messiaen wrote Quartet for the End of Time using paper and a pencil given by a sympathetic guard. The work is a series of eight movements relating to a Biblical passage from Revelation, depicting the Angel of the Apocalypse. Though one might interpret the work as owing to his own experiences as a prisoner, Messiaen intended it to be an acknowledgement of the end of past and future, and the beginning of eternity.

Step into an evening of refined elegance where music, wine, and gastronomy converge in a rare and captivating dialogue of the senses, set within the magical atmosphere of the Sala Rossini at the Marche Club.
“INTROSPECTIONS” – From Sibelius to Respighi, an exceptional oenological concert imagined by pianist Ida Pelliccioli. Designed as a truly immersive experience, this event transcends the traditional concert format, offering a sophisticated journey through sound, taste, and emotion.

Nexus Arts Orchestra presents a collection of musical works reflecting its spirit of brilliant cross-cultural artistic collaboration. Featuring world premier compositions by South Australian cellist and composer, Jack Overall, and directed by renowned jazz violinist and composer, Julian Ferraretto, Letters from Home explores memory, identity and connection through sound.

Composer, improviser and visual artist Austin Engelhardt brings together an eclectic group of musicians for an evening of curiosity, collaboration and sonic exploration. His work explores new ways of communicating through sound, notation and shared creative practice, often inviting performers into an active, interpretive relationship with the music. 

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…

The Jazz Honours Ensemble performs the music of Hoagy Carmichael, the legendary composer and pianist behind some of the Great American Songbook's most enduring standards – including Georgia on My Mind, The Nearness of You, Skylark, and Stardust.

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…

A stunning array of musical threads that intersect in a program of vivid contrasts.

Join the Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra for three contemporary works that explore texture, rhythm, and inventive musical landscapes…

A stunning array of musical threads that intersect in a program of vivid contrasts.

Dubbed “the sorceress of percussion,” Claire Edwardes OAM has been a defining force in Australian new music for three decades…

A symphony so monumental it ushered in a new period of composition, Beethoven’s Eroica expanded the possibilities of the symphonic form…

Following on from our sold-out ‘Alehouse Sessions’, join us for a deeper dive into the music of old London Town from two of its most colourful characters – from fantasias to folk tunes, music for the spirit and music for merry-making!

Programme:
Tchaikovsky - "Children’s Album", Op. 39
Jankowski - "Time Sphere"
Boulanger - "Trois Morceaux pour piano"

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…

From the grandeur of ceremonial fanfares to the hushed reverence of sacred reflection, these works chart a journey through time, colour, and sound featuring brass and organ…

Wildsong examines humanity’s relationship with nature, through choral music ranging from playful to profound.

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)….

Deeply contrasting with its partner work D'un soir triste, D'un matin de printemps is a brief, sweet and playful work, a fleeting moment of happiness that asks only to be remembered. It is rather appropriate, then, that Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50, In Memory of a Great Artist, follows. Initially hesitant about the trio medium, Tchaikovsky wrote the work after the death of his close friend and pianist Nikolai Rubinstein, ultimately creating a deeply personal work that combines heartfelt remembrance with rich chamber textures.

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…

Gao Ping’s music combines his Chinese heritage with his musical education in the United States, bridging tradition and innovation, and blending lyricism, colour, and subtle wit…

American-born, Australian-based harpist Emily Granger, Principal Harp of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, presents 'A Thing of Beauty' — a recital tracing her artistic journey through contemporary music for solo harp.

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…

A program of great masterworks, we open with Bach’s uplifting 1st Orchestral Suite, leading into Handel’s wonderful Ode for the birthday of Queen Anne of England. From 1713, it is subtitled ‘Ode for the Peace’ in reference to the Treaty of Utrecht which the monarch was about to sign, marking the end of the War of the Spanish Succession.

Michel Richard Delalande, a French Baroque composer and organist in the service of King Louis XIV is known best for his masterful grand motets and Super Flumina Babylonis is one of the most sublime (with one of our choristers being a direct descendent of the composer!).

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.

Presented in partnership with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO), She Speaks returns in 2026 to spotlight the voices of women composers…

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…

In 18th-century Vienna, house concerts (or chamber music performances) were a significant part of the musical culture, particularly among the aristocracy and emerging middle class. These events were intimate gatherings in private residences, contrasting with the large public opera houses and concert halls that became more common later in the century. We present the music of Haydn, Beethoven and Corelli.

In 18th-century Vienna, house concerts (or chamber music performances) were a significant part of the musical culture, particularly among the aristocracy and emerging middle class. These events were intimate gatherings in private residences, contrasting with the large public opera houses and concert halls that became more common later in the century. We present the music of Haydn, Beethoven and Corelli.

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…

18th century Germany was a hotbed of innovation and exploration for both composers and instrumentalists alike, and wind instruments in particular were developing and fascinating repertoire was being conceived.

We’re fortunate to have Emma Gregan display her skills as one of the top natural horn players in Australia, whilst Brendan O’Donnell has established himself as one of the finest and most versatile historical woodwind players in Australia since returning from Germany.

This will be a treat for the ears with a colourful and fascinating program of rarely heard works by Bach, Telemann, Graun, Zelenka and Fasch (with likely SA premieres) in the wonderful acoustics of St John’s Halifax St.

Adelaide University’s Quartet-in-Residence, the Australian String Quartet (ASQ), joins forces with the Elder Conservatorium’s Dean, Professor Anna Goldsworthy, for a program that pairs fresh creative talent with one of the great cornerstones of the Romantic repertoire…

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…

In his youth, Shostakovich was employed as a cinema pianist, improvising soundtracks for silent films. This theatrical flair and narrative sensibility can be found in his Five Pieces for Two Violins and Piano. A suite of vignettes, each piece tells its own story and unfolds like a reel of miniature scenes. Composed during his so-called Year of Chamber Music’ ,  Schumann’s Piano Quintet won him the valuable approval of Richard Wagner, who remarked, ‘I liked the Quintet very much: I asked your lovely wife to play it twice.’ Guest artist Ikki Opitz’s appearance is made possible by the EMR Distinguished Visiting Artist Fund.

In the era after the legendary virtuosi of the nineteenth century, instrumentalists continually redefined the limits of technical brilliance and expressive possibility…

There is perhaps not a more exciting time in an artist’s career than the beginning – full of possibility and promise, works are infused with a certain youthful vigour. Ensemble Lumen guides audiences back to almost the beginning of Shostakovich and Franck’s careers…

The Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra joins forces with classical voice students and a special guest soloist for an evening of operatic favourites. From beloved arias to stirring choruses, this gala concert celebrates the drama, passion, and vocal brilliance of the operatic tradition under the baton of Dane Lam.

Johannes Brahms’s Liebeslieder-Walzer reveals the composer at his most intimate and warmly expressive. Drawing on folk-inspired dance forms and poetic texts about love in its many guises, these short waltzes balance elegance with emotional directness. The music moves effortlessly between light-hearted charm and moments of deep tenderness, combining a vocal quartet with  four-hand piano accompaniment Though modest in scale, the Liebeslieder display Brahms’s extraordinary craftsmanship, weaving rich harmony and lyrical melody into works that feel both immediate and timeless. Together, these selections offer a glimpse into Brahms’s deeply human, affectionate musical world.

Following our highly successful ‘Old Worlds and New’ project in 2024, we now continue our journey eastwards to explore the historical musical worlds of current-day Greece, Syria and Persia, amid the overarching influence of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. We will weave a narrative in music and words telling of this time and of travelling musicians, exchange of arts and instruments, and the diasporas from religious persecution.

Following our highly successful ‘Old Worlds and New’ project in 2024, we now continue our journey eastwards to explore the historical musical worlds of current-day Greece, Syria and Persia, amid the overarching influence of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. We will weave a narrative in music and words telling of this time and of travelling musicians, exchange of arts and instruments, and the diasporas from religious persecution.

Following our highly successful ‘Old Worlds and New’ project in 2024, we now continue our journey eastwards to explore the historical musical worlds of current-day Greece, Syria and Persia, amid the overarching influence of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. We will weave a narrative in music and words telling of this time and of travelling musicians, exchange of arts and instruments, and the diasporas from religious persecution.

This special concert honours the memory of Beryl Kimber (Leske), whose distinguished career as an international virtuoso and violin teacher at the Elder Conservatorium spanned decades, shaping generations of musicians…

Experience the full spectrum of jazz vocal excellence as the Elder Conservatorium presents two exceptional ensembles in one lunchtime concert…

While this unusual combination of instruments has little historical repertoire, this concert features three fantastic modern works that illuminate the unique sound world of double reeds and piano…

Fresh from winning two Championship Trophies at the World Choir Games in Auckland, a sold-out Cabaret Festival performance at the Dunstan Playhouse, and headline appearances at South Korea's Youngnak International Sacred Choral Festival and Gyeongnam International Choral Festival, Festival Statesmen present a diverse program showcasing male voice a cappella choral works from around the world and across the centuries.

The charismatic and energic ensemble Arcadia Winds presents a delightful afternoon of chamber music for woodwind instruments…

Salvatore Lanzetti was an Italian cello virtuoso whose works had largely been forgotten until modern times. Brilliantly virtuosic, and yet cellistic, his style contributed to several developments in cello technique, and his cello sonatas are revered today as some.

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…

Experience an exhilarating concert featuring the Elder Conservatorium Wind Orchestra, performing music full of exuberance, virtuosic brilliance, and wonder…

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…

Two of Australia’s finest collegiate choirs share the stage for a choral collaboration that offers a veritable smorgasbord of vibrant, varied and inspired choral music from across the centuries, across Australia, and across the world.

An expedition to the outer limits of the string quartet.

The Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra take to the stage under the baton of Lien Boon Hua from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory, National University of Singapore…

An expedition to the outer limits of the string quartet.

Trumpet Portraits traces the expressive range of the trumpet across styles, eras, and national traditions.

Brass instruments have long captivated audiences, conveying both grandeur and intimacy, from triumphant fanfares to reflective lyricism. Joined by guest trumpeter Selina Ott and acclaimed baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Elder Brass presents a program of remarkable emotional range.

Join mezzo-soprano Deborah Humble and pianist Anna Goldsworthy for a journey through the passionate songs of Europe and Latin America. From Brahms's fiery Zigeunerlieder and Bizet's seductive Habanera, to the folk-inspired artistry of Manuel de Falla and the melancholic beauty of Carlos Guastavino's Argentine songs, this recital celebrates wandering spirits and musical passion across cultures.

Our annual classical performance showcase concert, featuring top student performers from the Elder Conservatorium of Music and School of Performing Arts. Supported by the Peter Brooker Prize for Musical Excellence.

Curated by Dr Oliver Fartach-Naini, the annual Guitarissimo concert presents Elder Conservatorium guitar students in solo and chamber works, culminating with a performance by the Elder Conservatorium Guitar Ensemble.

One renowned for devilish skills yet who spent his time in the company of cardinals; the other a priest with a colourful reputation! Corelli and Vivaldi feature along with the mysterious Iganzio Sieber, recorder virtuoso who kept the company of them both…

lthough Beethoven and Schoenberg were physically and harmonically worlds apart, the Transfigured String Trio presents two works that perfectly complement each other.  Beethoven’s Op. 9 trios, while not as perennially popular as the quartets, were among his earliest mature chamber works. Each of the four movements is filled with the humorous wit and joie de vivre for which Beethoven was known. While at this point, Beethoven was likely in denial about the onset of his deafness, Schoenberg was very much open about his own illness: this trio was written after a near-fatal heart attack. He regarded the work as a portrait of his illness in music, a representation of the delirium, agitation, and suffering he experienced throughout his life.

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…

Musically, Christmas is a favourite time of year for everyone!  Great choral music, well-known carols to sing along with, and the warm, generous spirit that is an invaluable and treasured part of all collegial music-making.  Share Christmas with Chorale and explore the range, and power of Christmas music!

Handel’s music is eternal, optimistic, lively, and given fresh life in this invigorating and inspiring performance. What Christmas is complete without the joyous music of “For unto us a child is Born”, the Hallelujah Chorus, and the resounding final Amen? And no more fitting venue than the beautiful surrounds of St Peter’s Cathedral. Adelaide Baroque is very excited to be again partnering with the St Peter’s Cathedral Consort for what is becoming a annual ‘Messiah’ on historical instruments in Adelaide. The Concert is presented by the St Peter’s Cathedral Music Foundation.

Handel’s music is eternal, optimistic, lively, and given fresh life in this invigorating and inspiring performance. What Christmas is complete without the joyous music of “For unto us a child is Born”, the Hallelujah Chorus, and the resounding final Amen? And no more fitting venue than the beautiful surrounds of St Peter’s Cathedral. Adelaide Baroque is very excited to be again partnering with the St Peter’s Cathedral Consort for what is becoming a annual ‘Messiah’ on historical instruments in Adelaide. The Concert is presented by the St Peter’s Cathedral Music Foundation.