by Jason Blake on 3 February, 2026

The Megalong Music Festival will return to the Blue Mountains over Easter 2026, offering two days of chamber music set against the dramatic escarpments of the Megalong Valley.

Now in its second year, the festival will take place on 4 and 5 April at the Megalong Community Hall, inviting audiences to “escape the madding crowds” for an intimate musical weekend on Gundungurra country.

Led by Artistic Director Asmira Woodward-Page, the festival brings together leading Australian and international musicians alongside emerging artists, with a strong emphasis on mentorship and collaboration.

Woodward-Page, a violinist and chamber musician of international standing, won the Concert Artists Guild Competition in New York and has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall. She describes chamber music as “the heart and soul of classical music – like friends enjoying a get-together”, a philosophy that underpins the festival’s informal yet artistically rigorous approach.

The 2026 guest artist lineup includes Lithuanian-born pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute, an acclaimed collaborator of violinist Midori and Associate Professor of Piano at Duke University; cellist Timothy Nankervis, a member of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Seraphim Trio; Sydney Symphony Orchestra principal clarinettist Frank Celata; and violist Jacqui Cronin, a regular guest principal with major Australian orchestras and a respected educator.

Jokubaviciute said the festival’s intergenerational focus was a particular draw. “It’s wonderful to come to the festival and not only meet professional musicians, but also the new, younger generation of professionals,” she said.

The program features two concerts: A Moment in Time on Saturday 4 April at 5pm, and Folk & Fancy on Sunday 5 April at 11am. Repertoire spans classical and contemporary works by composers including Haydn, Messiaen, Caroline Shaw and Stravinsky. This year’s Sunday concert will also spotlight two young musicians from the Blue Mountains region.

A distinctive feature of the festival is its Fellows Program, which offers emerging Australian musicians an intensive, performance-based mentorship. Fellows rehearse and perform alongside senior artists throughout the week leading up to the festival, culminating in public performances that showcase their collaborative work.

https://limelight-arts.com.au/news/heart-and-soul-megalong-music-festival-2026/