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17th Avon Valley Spring Chamber Music Festival

The Avon Valley abounds in charming little old churches and other historic buildings, ideally suited to intimate concerts of classical chamber music. Now in its sixteenth year, the Avon Valley Spring Chamber Music Festival brings high quality performances of classical music to this region, with three enjoyable Sunday afternoon concerts presented in historic venues in Toodyay, Northam and York.

This 17th Festival presents a selection of Classical and Baroque chamber music for woodwinds and strings, performed by some of WA's finest musicians, including works by Vivaldi, Mozart, and the featured composer Franz Danzi (1763-1826)..

Celebrate the joy of music by joining us for a truly memorable musical journey through our beautiful Avon Valley in springtime!

Concert One - Spring in the Valley

2:30pm Sunday 10 October 2021

St Stephen's Anglican Church (1862)
132 Stirling Terrace, Toodyay

The Festival commences in the quaint little rural town of Toodyay, home to a thriving cafe strip and local produce stores, with a concert in the intimate setting of St Stephen's Church. Backing onto the Avon River, this charming church in the Victorian Gothic style was completed in 1862. Built with handmade bricks and local stone, it has a rare complete set of coloured glass windows.

This special opening event to welcome "Spring in the Valley" features music for flute, violin, cello and harpsichord, with James Oswald's enchanting Scottish baroque pieces in praise of spring, and trio sonatas by Vivaldi and CPE Bach, complemented by two fascinating works by Wendling and Danzi..

Concert Two - Mozart and Friends

2:30pm Sunday 17 October 2021

St John's Anglican Church (1889)
11 Wellington St, Northam

The Festival continues in Northam, a regional centre still retaining echoes of its grand past as the Gateway to the Goldfields, with a performance in the magnificent setting of St John's Church. Built in 1889 from local stone in the Gothic Revival style, this elegant church with its distinctive bell tower has some of the best traditional stained glass in Western Australia.

The programme presents an inspiring selection of superb quartets for flute, violin, viola and cello, composed by Mozart and two of his friends, Ignaz Pleyel (1757-1831) and Franz Danzi (1763-1826). These lyrical and expressive works will be heard to full effect in the warm acoustics of this beautiful church.

Concert Three - Cambini Quintet

2:30pm Sunday 24 October 2021

Holy Trinity Church (1854)
30 Pool St (cnr Newcastle St), York

The Festival concludes at the historic town of York, a pleasant drive through picturesque forests and farm lands, with a concert at Holy Trinity Church, situated on the eastern banks of the Avon River. Completed in 1854 and consecrated in 1858, Holy Trinity is WA's oldest inland church, and it features exquisite altar panels and stained glass by renowned Western Australian artist, the late Robert Juniper.

This concert presents works by Franz Danzi for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and French horn, composed in 1821, only a few decades before this church was built. Brimming with joyful melodic inventiveness, these highly original works explore the full range of tonal textures and the variety of timbres found in this enjoyable ensemble of wind instruments.

Artists:

Emily Gunson - flute
Zak Rowntree - violin
Alex Brogan - viola
Eve Silver - cello
John Hardy - harpsichord
Alexandra Allan - oboe
Clare Waters - clarinet
Natalya Czericziw - bassoon
Tahlia Denn - French horn

Admission to each concert

$39 / $34 concessions & seniors.

Please note:
As seating is limited, advance booking is essential.

Bookings should be made by phone, with payment via credit card, internet banking, or cheque / postal order.

Door sales will be available unless sold out.

In the event of a forced cancellation, the concert(s) will be re-scheduled, and bookings will be automatically carried over.

Bookings & enquires phone 9574 1591.

Fan mail

”Thank you for yet another delightful afternoon of magical music! I simply loved the Adagio by Beethoven, so pure and delicately handled. The trio in G major, op.119, by Kuhlau, was so joyful, it transported me into such a happy place, and I smiled all the way home! The Eileen Joyce Studio was the perfect setting for this wonderful programme. We are so lucky to have you here in Perth!” Yvonne, from City Beach (Concert, 22 August 2021)

”Thank you for an amazing and brilliant concert on Sunday. It is one that will be etched in the memory!” Jan, from Coodanup (Concert, 15 August 2021)

“This was the most beautiful concert that I have been to in years.” Mary, from Parkerville (Concert, 15 August 2021)

"Many thanks for your recent concert, which we thoroughly enjoyed. I particularly liked the combination of flute, harp and cello - quite wonderful!” Enid & Jim, from Manning (Concert, 1 August 2021)

"Wonderful to see you all ‘live’ again — long may it last!" Fiona, from Forrestfield (Concert, 13 June 2021)

"I have thought so much of you all over the course of this year [2020], and have missed so terribly the wonderful concerts that you give! I feel so blessed for the years of inspirational music, and the careful presentation of these composers - bringing us music otherwise rarely heard. I do thank you, and hope that perhaps in the not-too-distant future that we may again experience more beautiful concerts from you all!" Yvonne, from Maylands (has been attending our concerts since 2001)