RISING STARS of the Sydney Conservatorium Open Academy is a vibrant, performance-focused program that nurtures exceptionally gifted school-age musicians through specialist tuition and a highly-supportive learning environment.

As part of our 2026 BCMF program, we are delighted to welcome our amazing Rising Stars, and to support and share their brilliant artistry with you in this special Friday afternoon concert.

The link below provides a downloadable PDF containing the full program notes and artist biographies for this performance.

Program

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN | Cello sonata No.3 in A major Opus 69 [1808]
Performers: Isabella Guo ~ piano, Franco Fan ~ cello
i. Allegro ma non tanto
ii. Scherzo: Allegro molto
iii. Adagio cantabile – Allegro vivace

Alfred UHL | Kleines Konzert for piano, viola and clarinet [1937 - revised in 1988]
DJO Vivo: David Kim ~ piano, Jiashan Wang ~ viola, Oliver Gao ~ clarinet
i. Allegro con brio
ii. Grave, molto tranquillo
iii. Vivo

Antonin DVOŘÁK | Piano Quartet No.2 in E-flat major Opus 87 [1889]
Performers: Connie Liu ~ violin, Nerissa Du ~ viola, Franco Fan ~ cello, and
Isabella Guo ~ piano
iv. Finale: Allegro ma non troppo

Artists

Connie Liu | violin [16 yrs]
Nerissa Du | viola [17 yrs]
Franco Fan | cello [14 yrs]
Isabella Guo | piano [12 yrs]

DJO Vivo
David Kim | piano [15 yrs]
Jiashan Wang | viola [15 yrs]
Oliver Gao | clarinet [15 yrs]

Experience the mesmerising presence of shakuhachi grand-master, RILEY LEE, as he returns to Blackheath, this time with powerful percussionist, TIMOTHY CONSTABLE, and the dynamic TAIKOZ drummers. Shaping an evocative journey through sound, RESOUNDING BELL promises to be an unforgettable evening of engaging energy and quiet wonder.

The link below provides a downloadable PDF containing the full program notes and artist biographies for this performance.

Program

Riley LEE ~ John CLEWORTH | Drifting
Performer: Riley Lee

Riley LEE ~ Timothy CONSTABLE ~ TAIKOZ | Mushin
Performers: Riley Lee, Timothy Constable, and
TAIKOZ: Haruka Kunimune, Ian Cleworth, Ryuji Hamada, Silvana Imperatori

Timothy CONSTABLE | Last Shaman
Performers: Timothy Constable, Ian Cleworth, Riley Lee

Ian CLEWORTH | The Dragon
Performers: Ryuji Hamada, Ian Cleworth

Ian CLEWORTH | Lion Dogs
Performers: TAIKOZ: Ian Cleworth, Ryuji Hamada, Silvana Imperatori, Haruka Kunimune

Riley LEE ~ Kevin MAN ~ Kerryn JOYCE | Resounding Bell
Performers: Riley Lee, Timothy Constable, and
TAIKOZ: Ian Cleworth, Ryuji Hamada, Silvana Imperatori, Haruka Kunimune

Artists

Riley Lee | shakuhachi
Timothy Constable | percussion

TAIKOZ
Ian Cleworth | taiko, percussion
Ryuji Hamada | taiko, shinobue
Silvana Imperatori | taiko, vocal
Haruka Kunimune | taiko

Don’t miss this special showcase of HUNTINGTON ESTATE WINES, long-time supporters of the Blackheath Chamber Music Festival. Enjoy a curated tasting, seated in the elegant dining space at Glenella Heritage House. With strictly limited places available for this VIP experience, we encourage you to book early to secure your seat at the table.

An exclusive guided tasting of Huntington Estate’s award-winning wines.

Hosted by Nicky Stevens, Owner and CEO, this intimate and leisurely tasting will take place at the stunning Glenella Heritage House.

• Enjoy a thoughtfully curated selection of museum and back-vintage releases, perfectly paired with delicious Mudgee morsels.

• Discover the character of the region and gain insight into the ‘method and the madness’ behind this celebrated 5-star winery’s most exceptional bottles.

• Take advantage of exclusive Members only offers and generous specials—kindly extended to the Blackheath Chamber Music Festival attendees.

THE PASSIONATE PILGRIM — Music inspired by the poems of William Shakespeare and Thomas Wyatt.

In this exciting world-premiere, Jennifer Eriksson’s artistic collective ELYSIAN FIELDS joins acclaimed actor, JOHN BELL, bringing the the words of William Shakespeare and Sir Thomas Wyatt to life through music. Newly created works and fresh reinventions of early music intertwine with the spoken and sung word, to take you on an exquisite, compelling, and memorable journey.

The link below provides a downloadable PDF containing the full program notes and artist biographies for this performance.

Program

Jennifer ERIKSSON | The Garden Party — a 3-section piece inspired by Marin Marais’ Feste Champêtre

Matt McMAHON | What Should I Say — song cycle based on poetry by 16th century poet Sir Thomas Wyatt [1503 – 1542]
i. Stand Whoso List
ii. Whoso List to Hunt Prelude
iii. Whoso List to Hunt, I Know Where Is An Hind
iv. What Should I Say
v. They Flee From Me

William SHAKESPEARE | The Tempest: Act 3, Scene 2 [1564 – 1616]

Robert JOHNSON | Full Fathom Five [1583-1633] — found in The Tempest and arranged by Matt McMahon

William SHAKESPEARE | Twelfth Night: Act 2, Scenes 3 and 4 [1564 – 1616]

Laura BISHOP | Thia Sui Balan Enni — poetry by Sappho [c. 630 – c. 570 BCE]

William SHAKESPEARE | Sonnet 30 [1564 – 1616]

Matt KEEGAN | Elysium III — text by Philip Pogson

William SHAKESPEARE | Twelfth Night: Act 1, Scene 1 [1564 – 1616]

Jan Gunnar HOFF | Meditatus — text from the Latin Mass

Artists

John Bell | narration

ELYSIAN FIELDS
Susie Bishop | voice and violin
Paul Cutlan | saxophone
Matt McMahon | piano
Jennifer Eriksson | electric viola da gamba
Brett Hirst | double bass
Rease Cameron | drums

Clarinettist LLOYD VAN’T HOFF joins the dynamic CHROMA QUARTET for this intimate program that spans fiery contemporary energy and deep Romantic expression.

The link below provides a downloadable PDF containing the full program notes and artist biographies for this performance.

Program

Johannes BRAHMS | Clarinet Quintet in B Minor Opus 115 [1891]
i. Allegro
ii. Adagio
iii. Andantino
iv. Con moto

Holly HARRISON | Spitfire [2020]

Leoš JANÁČEK | String Quartet No.2 — Intimate Letters [1928]
i. Andante – Con moto – Allegro
ii. Adagio – Vivace
iii. Moderato – Andante – Adagio
iv. Allegro – Andante – Adagio

Artists

Lloyd Van’t Hoff | clarinet

CHROMA QUARTET
Harry Bennetts | violin
Victoria Bihun | violin
Amanda Verner | viola
Eliza Sdraulig | cello

Join JOSHUA BATTY with AMANDA VERNER and LOUISE JOHNSON for a reflective morning of chamber music. Blending the evocative tone colours of flute, viola and harp, this program offers an invitation to be still, listen, and experience gorgeous music from the inside out.

The link below provides a downloadable PDF containing the full program notes and artist biographies for this performance.

Program

Claude DEBUSSY | Syrinx [1913]

Claude DEBUSSY | Clair de Lune [1905]

Toru TAKEMITSU | And I knew ‘Twas Wind [1992]

Nicholas ROUTLEY | Sonata for flute, viola and harp [2024]
i. Misterioso
ii. Adagio mesto
iii. Allegro con fuoco

Arnold BAX | Elegiac Trio [1916]

Artists

Joshua Batty | flute
Amanda Verner | viola
Louise Johnson | harp

An electrifying ensemble of acclaimed Sydney Symphony Orchestra principal Wind Soloists—Emma Sholl, Shefali Pryor, Olli Leppäniemi, Samuel Jacobs, Matthew Wilkie and Alexander Morris—will present a lively journey through this Sunday afternoon concert, brimming with rhythmic vitality and vivid storytelling, and the unmistakable charm of this wind ensemble.

The link below provides a downloadable PDF containing the full program notes and artist biographies for this performance.

Program

Astor PIAZOLLA | Estaciones Porteñas arranged for wind quintet [1969 - 1970]
i. Primavera Porteña – Allegro
iii. Otoño Porteño – Andante mosso

Maurice RAVEL | Ma mère L’Oye for wind quintet [1910]
i.   Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant.
ii.  Petit Poucet
iii. Laideronnette, Impèratrice des Pagodes
iv. Les entre tines de la Belle et la Běte
v.  Le Jardin féerique.

Ross EDWARDS | The Laughing Moon [2012]
i. Laughing Dance
ii. Interlude with Imaginary Birds
iii. Ecstatic Dance
iv. Moon Song
v. Clapping Dance

Leoš JANÁČEK | Mladi for wind sextet [1924]
i. Allegro
ii. Andante sostenuto
iii. Vivace
iv. Allegro animato

Artists

Emma Sholl | flute
Shefali Pryor | oboe
Olli Leppäniemi | clarinet
Samuel Jacobs | horn
Matthew Wilkie | bassoon
Alexander Morris | bass clarinet

Do not miss this bespoke celebration of our much-loved Australian composer ROSS EDWARDS—a vivid homage to Mother Earth in summer.

His evocative music brings together six exceptional singers: SUSANNAH LAWERGREN, JESSICA O’DONOGHUE, ANDREW O’CONNOR, SUSIE BISHOP, GEOFFREY WEBB and PHILIP MURRAY. They are joined by a remarkable instrumental ensemble—RILEY LEE (shakuhachi), LOUISE JOHNSON (harp), JULIAN SMILES (cello) and TIMOTHY CONSTABLE (percussion)—under the baton of composer, musicologist and founding director of the Sydney Chamber Choir, NICHOLAS ROUTLEY.

Suite from Vespers for Mother Earth—originally scored for eight singers and a large instrumental ensemble—has been especially re-written by Edwards for this curated and never-heard-before, spine-tingling performance.

TERRA MATER AESTIVA promises a deeply moving finale—a stunning way to draw the BCMF26 to a close.

The link below provides a downloadable PDF containing the full program notes and artist biographies for this performance.

Program

TERRA MATER AESTIVA:
A bespoke homage to Mother Earth in summer by Ross Edwards

Ab Estatis Foribus | At the Gates of Summer [1979]

Suite from Vespers for Mother Earth [2024] (four of the seven sections)
i. To Invoke the Morning
ii. Flame of the Sun: Aria
iii. Orison
iv. o magnum mysterium

Dance Mantra [1992]

Artists

Nicholas Routley | conductor

Riley Lee | shakuhachi
Louise Johnson | harp
Julian Smiles | cello
Timothy Constable | percussion

CHOIR
Susannah Lawergren | soprano
Susie Bishop | soprano
Jessica O’Donoghue | mezzo-soprano
Geoffrey Webb | tenor
Andrew O’ Connor | bass baritone
Philip Murray | bass