2026 Newcastle Music Festival: Hands, Feet and Animals
Two dancers perform a leap on stage with arms raised, one in a dark horned costume and the other in a light flowing dress, against a colorful gradient backdrop.
Delight in dance and music with Dave Brubeck’s Points on Jazz and Saint-Saens’ “Carnival of the Animals”
Featuring duo pianists Erin Sweetman and Greg Smith, with poems by Ogden Nash narrated by Barry Shepherd, and featuring accomplished dancers from Newcastle Dance Academy, with musicians from Chamber Music in the Hunter, led by Elizabeth Holowell on violin.
Performing Artists
- Erin Sweetman and Greg Smith - pianos
- Chamber Music in the Hunter:
- Strings: Elizabeth Holowell, Catherine Sheng-Cooper, Paul Groh, Anthea Scott-Mitchell, Heather Price
- Woodwind: Jennifer St George, Zachary Donoghoe
- Percussion: Charissa Ferguson
Program
- Dave Brubeck "Points on Jazz"
- Saint-Saens "Carnival of the Animals"
Event Information
- Date: This Live Performance event will be held on Saturday 8 August 2026 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm
- Duration: 60mins
- Location: Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, Cnr Laman St & Auckland St, Newcastle NSW 2300
- Room: Harold Lobb Concert Hall
- Campus: Newcastle (City)
About the Newcastle Music Festival
The Newcastle Music Festival returns for its ninth season in 2026, having been inaugurated in 2016, and missing festivals in 2020 and 2021. The Festival was founded by its first Artistic Directors, David Banney and Ross Fiddes with music ranging from classical to jazz, and from world music to contemporary music.
Our artists have included the best musicians of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, as well as outstanding national and international performers. In addition, the Festival has given performance opportunities to hundreds of community musicians through the Festival Choir and Festival Strings, and masterclasses.
The 2026 Newcastle Music Festival runs from 6-16 August 2026, you can find out more details on their website.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.