The Huntington Estate Music Festival is held each year in the Barrel Room of the winery in Mudgee, a fantastic space with "one of the greatest acoustics on the planet" (Richard Tognetti) and a unique atmosphere. All concerts include generous interval refreshments and are followed by gourmet meals and a selection of the best Huntington wines. Evening concerts are preceded by a choice of aperitifs, with the full wine service continuing through the concert interval and afterwards.

Musical content is devised by Artistic Director Carl Vine and managed by the world's largest chamber music entrepreneur, Musica Viva Australia. In keeping with the long and distinguished history of the festival, each year features a stunning collection of prominent international artists alongside Australia's finest musicians, in stimulating programs that run the full gamut of the chamber music experience.

Tickets go on general sale mid March. To receive an invitiation to purchase tickets for the 2013 Huntington Estate Music Festival, telephone (02) 6373 3825 or email info@huntingtonestate.com.au. For more information, move your cursor over the "Music Festival" Tab at the top of this page to reveal additional pages, or follow these links:

Huntington Estate Music Festival 2013

The 24th Huntington Estate Music Festival will take place from 20 to 24 November 2013

	Festival Schedule
Wednesday	7.30pm	Concert followed by supper
Thursday, Friday, Saturday	11.30am 6.00pm 7.00pm	Concert followed by lunch "In Conversation" with featured artists Concert followed by supper
Sunday	11.00am	Final concert followed by lunch

For more information, explore the website, telephone (02) 6373 3825 or email info@huntingtonestate.com.au

To book accomodation in one of Mudgee's luxury B&Bs, Guesthouses, Hotels, Motels or Caravan Parks, go to www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au.

	Aeropelican is Mudgee's airline. They offer two flights every week day and one flight a day every Saturday and Sunday from Sydney Airport (Terminal 2). Sit back, enjoy a scenic 40 minutes flight and let the pilot worry about the radar! Go to www.aeropelican.com.au or click on the Aeropelican logo to book flights.
	To get to and from concerts, and to explore Mudgee's many cellar doors and natural beauty, Thrifty car hire are offering special rates to music festival audience members. Phone 1300367227, go to www.thrifty.com.au or click on the Thrifty logo to book a hire car.

2012 Festival

The 23rd Huntington Estate Music Festival took place on 21-25 November 2012, and was a classic vintage, bringing together a stellar collection of 34 brilliant artists from all over the world, in unique and brilliant combinations. But don't just take our word for it:

"world-class chamber music festival" Limelight Magazine, January 2013

"if you believe in heaven it might just look a little like Huntington" ABC Classic FM, November 2012

And view some photos of 2012 by Amber Hooper.

One of the world’s great violinists, Anthony Marwood “he’s a magic name in the business” (The Independent, UK); “superb…astounding” (The Boston Globe); “beautifully intelligent…compelling” (Sydney Morning Herald) graced the stage with unique repertoire - in a concerto, in sonatas and leading the Chamber Orchestra comprising the finest string players of ANAM, Australia’s musical ‘finishing school’, whose ranks were swelled by renowned cellist (and ANAM tutor) Howard Penny. Serbian pianist Aleksandar Madžar “daring, tactile, sinewy…playing of this quality, without ego or indulgence remains rare…seek him out.” (The Guardian, UK)”, made his Huntington debut alongside some fabulous artists from New York: the acclaimed pianist and former Sydneysider Andrea Lam “melting lyricism, filigree touch and spirited eloquence” (The Australian) “…real talent” (Wall Street Journal)”, and the extraordinary and energetic Grammy Nominees Enso Quartet “…filled the Coolidge Auditorium with glorious sonorities, whatever they were playing.” (The Washington Post).

From closer to home, Jose Carreras' favourite mezzo-soprano, Perth-based Fiona Campbell "a strong, brilliant and stunning sound" (Sydney Morning Herald), "richly coloured and beautifully shaped..." (The Australian) provided our vocal component for 2012. In a year featuring many first-time and overseas visitors to Huntington, Ian Munro made a welcome return; and the exciting new line-up of the Australian String Quartet made its first collective Festival appearance.

The brilliant 20-year-old Armenian Clarinetist, Narek Arutyunian "...passionate depths with seemingly effortless technical prowess, beguiling sensitivity and an energetic stage presence" (The Washington Post) completed the wonderful line-up for 2012. Winner of the 2010 Young Concert Artists Award (previous winners include Ray Chen and the Tokyo String Quartet) amongst a fistful of other prizes, Narek joined us direct from New York.

2011 Festival

The 22nd Huntington Estate Music Festival was held on 23-27 November 2011. We were joined by one of the world's most charismatic baritones, Thomas Meglioranza, a New York artist acclaimed for his "vocal distinction and expressive warmth" (The Boston Globe) and the dynamic young British virtuoso cellist, Guy Johnston "remarkable by any standard... an exceptionally sensitive musician" (The Sunday Telegraph). That exquisite jewel of Australian choral music, the 12-voice Adelaide Chamber Singers directed by Carl Crossin, made a rare east-coast appearance.

There were the great players of the Modigliani String Quartet "...gripping and persuasive...awesome individual and communal brilliance" (The Strad) plus the four wonderful women of the Australian String Quartet in their very final performance in this line-up. Three brilliant pianists made a welcome return - Caroline Almonte, Kristian Chong and Bernadette Harvey. There were plenty of other exciting artists as well - more than 30 in total. The repertoire was as wonderful and surprising as usual, spanning 400 years of the master composers of classical music.

Roger Covell wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald "...sensitive balance with which the 2011 Festival has brought together new, favourite and little-known older chamber works and given singing voices the consistently prominent place they deserve." (November 29th 2011) To read the full review, click on the link below:

www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/sensitive-balance-of-new-old-and-favourites-20111128-1o36h.html

2010 Festival

The 21st Huntington Estate Music Festival was held in Mudgee on 24-28 November 2010, and was pronounced one of the best in 21 years by audience members who've been with us since the beginning! Air conditioning in the Barrel Hall, an outdoor bar, beautiful decorations and plentiful tables in the winery grounds and excellent and abundant food and wine enhanced the outstanding music, and Mudgee put on it's loveliest spring weather.

Thirty-four magnificent musicians performed a massively varied program in the 2010 festival. Accclaimed soprano Amelia Farrugia, fresh from her success in the title role of Opera Australia's Manon was at Huntington for the first time. The 15 talented musicians of the Australian National Academy of Music Chamber Orchestra brought their vibrant youthful energy to works for string orchestra. Ray Chen, a brilliant young violinist of Taiwanese descent and First Prize Winner of the 2009 Queen Elizabeth International Violin Competition in Belgium was joined by pianist John Chen, winner of the 2004 Sydney International Piano Competition. The award winning Atos Trio from Germany also made their Huntington debut, while the much loved Goldner Quartet and Ian Munro (as both pianist and composer) returned once more.

2009 Festival

The 2009 Festival was described by audience members as "a lifetime joy" and "heaven" for the "best performances and artists ever".

"A long life for the second version of the 20 year-old Huntington Estate Music Festival... seems assured by the size of this year's gathering...and the performances of masterly works...warranted their (the audience's) numbers and enthusiasm" Roger Covell, Sydney Morning Herald (Friday, 27th November 2009)

For images of the 2009 Festival, visit the Photo Gallery.

2008 Festival

The highlights of the 2008 festival were the peerless European period music sensation Hesperion XXI and brilliant Polish pianist Ewa Kupiec. The phenomenal Pavel Haas Quartet from the Czech Republic joined local groups the Goldner and TinAlley string quartets, supported in turn by Australian pianists Ian Munro and Raymond Yong. The festival also featured the world premiere of String Quartet no 1 by Sydney composer Paul Stanhope.

2007 Festival

Matthew Westwood, The Australian, 3 December 2007:
"The convivial atmosphere of music-making, food and company..."
Download: TheOz_HEMF07.pdf

Roger Covell, Sydney Morning Herald, December 2007:
"Cicadas supplying a distant, softly pulsing undertone to string quartets and a blue-faced honeyeater …".
Download: SMH_HEMF07.pdf

History of the Festival

'...Take a few days out of your life to absorb yourself in the world of musicians and their music making.' Bob Roberts

The Roberts family had no idea that their first "music in the winery" would develop into what it is today - The Huntington Estate Music Festival.

'...It started on a Saturday night in October with a group of young musicians from the ABC Sinfonia playing Quartets and Trios, some friends and Huntington wine patrons numbering one hundred. A sit down dinner featured especially prepared local spring lamb, slow open pit roasted , basted in salt, herbs and garlic, accompanied by asparagus picked that morning. The golden half lambs were placed along the centre of the tables on white towelling; the guests were told to each bring a knife and they carved for themselves. The musicians were of course placed amongst the audience at the tables. We had such a good time, in every way that we just had to do it again.' Bob Roberts.

Richard Tognetti had formed the Huntington Chamber Orchestra whilst at the Sydney Conservatorium and had performed previous winery concerts. Everyone was well aware of the stunning power of an orchestra in the winery but Bob and Wendy Roberts couldn't help but wonder if anyone would come?

Twenty years on the Huntington Estate Music Festival is a much loved and highly respected event on the Australian and international music calendars. Over the years the winery has welcomed musicians and guests from all over the world and played to sell-out audiences year after year.

Tim Stevens, the new owner and winemaker of Huntington Estate, was enthusiastic to carry on every aspect of the Huntington Estate Music Festival and so, starting in 2006 under the direction of Carl Vine and Musica Viva, Huntington Estate continued to welcome exceptional musicians from Australia and overseas to the winery. The new incarnation of the festival has been met with rave reviews from the guests, the media and most importantly, from the Roberts family.