Special Fundraising Reception and Recital

Celebrating the arrival of spring, and an opportunity to reconnect with the CIMF family and friends.

Beloved Canberra flute virtuoso Sally Walker dazzles in a wistful and intriguing recital,

offering tantalising glimpses of the 2027 artistic program.

The recital will be followed by a reception with drinks and light refreshments hosted by

H.E. Mr Hani Mohamed Nagi Abdelhamid, Ambassador of Egypt.

Tickets here

Sally joins Festival Co-Director Stefan Cassomenos for the world premiere of Last Flight To Mars by musical powerhouse Richard Tognetti, alongside the warm lyricism of Beach’s Romance, and Prokofiev’s masterwork for flute and piano, the SonataOp 94, showcasing his unique blend of elegant playfulness and sardonic charm.

Tickets and further information here

Canberra Bach Ensemble presents Bach’s Trauerode BWV 198, one of his most remarkable and moving ceremonial works.

Written in 1727 in memory of Christiane Eberhardine, Electress of Saxony, the Trauerode combines profound choral writing with an unusually rich instrumental palette, including transverse flutes, oboes d’amore, violas da gamba and lutes.

The program also includes the cantatas Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin BWV 125 and Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht BWV 55.
Canberra Bach Ensemble is joined by specialist singers and period-instrument players, including flautist Sally Walker and tenor Timothy Reynolds, for two performances at St Christopher’s Cathedral, Manuka.

CBE Choir, Baroque Orchestra and Soloists
Greta Claringbould (Soprano), Maartje Sevenster (Alto),
Timothy Reynolds (Tenor), Andrew Fysh (Bass)
Orchestra led by Stephen Freeman
Directed by Andrew Koll

Canberra Bach Ensemble presents Bach’s Trauerode BWV 198, one of his most remarkable and moving ceremonial works.

Written in 1727 in memory of Christiane Eberhardine, Electress of Saxony, the Trauerode combines profound choral writing with an unusually rich instrumental palette, including transverse flutes, oboes d’amore, violas da gamba and lutes.

The program also includes the cantatas Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin BWV 125 and Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht BWV 55.
Canberra Bach Ensemble is joined by specialist singers and period-instrument players, including flautist Sally Walker and tenor Timothy Reynolds, for two performances at St Christopher’s Cathedral, Manuka.

CBE Choir, Baroque Orchestra and Soloists
Greta Claringbould (Soprano), Maartje Sevenster (Alto),
Timothy Reynolds (Tenor), Andrew Fysh (Bass)
Orchestra led by Stephen Freeman
Directed by Andrew Koll

Sally will premiere Arboretum, composer and musical director Dan Walker’s work for flute and choir, with the Canberra Choral Society.

Arboretum has been inspired by the National Arboretum Canberra. Also included are other works inspired by journeys, gardens, woodlands, and wild landscapes.

Photo: Katie Kaars

Friends for over twenty years since meeting each other as students in Germany, flautists Kazuko and Sally present works from Germany, Japan and Australia. Composers include Johann Sebastian Bach, Friedrich Kuhlau, Seiichi Sato, Tōru Takemitsu and the Emerald Ruby (Jen Hankin) together with pianist Kumi Yamaguchi.

Erleben Sie ein wundervolles historisches Flötenkonzert im Herzen von Regensburg und entdecken Sie die faszinierende Klangwelt von Joseph Bodin de Boismortier.

Music for traverso, strings and harpsichord.

Apeiron Baroque is an Early Music ensemble based in Canberra and led by its co-founders, John Ma and Marie Searles. Guest artists: Sally Walker (Traverso), Lauren Davis (Violin), Clara Teniswood (Cello), Henry South (Bass)

“Music and dance are all you need.” Molière: Le bourgeois gentilhomme (1670)

Dance and diplomacy were inseparable at Louis XIV’s opulent palace in Versailles. Every aspect of the palace was designed to reinforce the King’s absolute authority, and Louis protected his political power through pageantry. In appointing the Italian-born musician, composer and dancer Jean-Baptiste Lully as Master of the King’s Music, Louis chose a political manipulator whose ruthlessness matched his own. Their control over music, dance and opera was enforced by complex social etiquette, with failure to conform being devastating to ambition – ensuring that the arts had the single purpose of glorifying the King and France.

“Music and dance are all you need.” Molière: Le bourgeois gentilhomme (1670)

Dance and diplomacy were inseparable at Louis XIV’s opulent palace in Versailles. Every aspect of the palace was designed to reinforce the King’s absolute authority, and Louis protected his political power through pageantry. In appointing the Italian-born musician, composer and dancer Jean-Baptiste Lully as Master of the King’s Music, Louis chose a political manipulator whose ruthlessness matched his own. Their control over music, dance and opera was enforced by complex social etiquette, with failure to conform being devastating to ambition – ensuring that the arts had the single purpose of glorifying the King and France.

Join the Canberra Symphony Orchestra's 2026 Fellows Jacob Aziz (violin), Jessica Hall (trombone), You Li Ng (piano), Phoebe Mu (piano) and Amanda Tao (flute) as they take the stage for their first public performance of the year.

Additionally, the complete 4 flute version of Miguel Del Aguíla’s “Submerged” (commissioned by Sally Walker) will be premiered - sections of it were premiered at the 2025 Canberra International Music Festival in “Living Poems of the Sea”. This will feature CSO 2025 Artist in Focus, Sally Walker, with flautists who have enjoyed the Fellowship program: Dante Costa, Bailey Stemple, Carl Vitolovich and Amanda Tao.

Tickets here

Join acclaimed flautist Sally Walker and harpist Rowan Phemister for a very special performance with works weaving a rich tapestry of sound and storytelling, including CPE Bach’s Hamburger Sonata, Mozart’s Andante in C, Georges Bizet’s Entr’acte from Carmen and Christopher Sainsbury’s Djagamara.

Bookings via this link.

Guest soloist Sally Walker will premiere a new Flute concerto by young Australian composer Alex Turley.

Two of Beethoven’s symphonies continues the GSO’s cycle of presenting all nine of the composer’s masterpieces.

Tickets and further information: click here.

Photo: Keith Saunders

Proudly celebrating Canberra’s vibrant musical community, this special Early Music Day brings together local performers, teachers, and students alongside esteemed international guests, presented in partnership with Wesley Music Centre, The Friends of the ANU School of Music, and Dr Sally Walker.

Die Elenden sollen essen BWV 75

Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot BVW 39

Was Gott tut, das is wohlgetan BWV99

Die Elenden sollen essen BWV 75

Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot BVW 39

Was Gott tut, das is wohlgetan BWV99

In 2025, Salut! Baroque is proud to celebrate 30 years.

Program:

Telemann Ouverture-Suite in E minor from L’Omphale TWV 55:e8 (c1720)
Telemann Concerto in G Major for flute, strings, TWV 51:G2 (c1708-16)
Handel Concerto Grosso in G minor Op. 6 No. 6, HWV324 (1739)
C.BachAllegretto from Symphony in B minor Wq.182/5 H.661 (1773)
TelemannAria from Cantata, TWV 20:37 (1737)
Buffardin Allegro non molto from Concerto in E minor for Flute
RameauGavotte in A minor (c1728)
Telemann – Modéré from Paris Quartet in E minor TWV 43:e4 (1738)
Corelli Concerto Grosso Op. 6 no. 8 Christmas Concerto (c1690)
RomanAndante; Lento; Presto from Drottningholmsmusique BeRI 2 (1744)
Hurlebusch Adagio from Concerto in A minor (1725)
Anonymous Iag Bari from the Uhrovska Collection (1730)

Photo: Paul Porteus

Tickets and further information here.

Join us to hear two of Australia’s finest musicians. This will be a concert that will live in your memory for a long time.

The program will include:

Amy Beach: Romance 
Cesar Franck: Sonata in A Major for Violin (flute) and Piano
—-
Paul Stanhope: phoSpheric Variations
Kats-Chernin: Mystery of the Pine Cone (2025) 
Sergei Prokofiev: Sonata in D Major Op. 94 

Image: Keith Saunders

Tickets and further information here.

This concert features CSO Artist in Focus flautist Sally Walker. Explore the sound of the flute and dive into the beautiful music written for this instrument.

Rediscovering Music supports people with hearing loss to connect meaningfully with music and enhance their listening experience.

Works by: J.M. Hotteterre, G.F. Telemann, J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, Bill Wheelan, Cyrus Meurant, Lyle Chan, Pēteris Vasks and Elena Kats-Chernin.

Photo: Keith Saunders

Tickets and more information here.

Living Poems of the Sea is a meditation on the enthralling world of dolphins and whales in music, sound, words and images.

Acclaimed flautist Sally Walker was inspired to create Living Poems of the Sea through her experiences of playing her flute to enraptured dolphins and her friendship with dolphin researcher Dr Olivia De Bergerac.  Sally plays music accompanying videos and images of human-dolphin interactions over decades, and narrates a story illustrating the importance of dolphins, whales and their complex relationship with humans.

With stirring words and music by composer Lyle Chan, and special appearances of music by Christopher Sainsbury and Miguel del Aguila, Living Poems of the Sea is a work of art that asks a fundamental question: how are we meant to relate to these remarkable creatures?

Bach’s iconic St Matthew Passion heard through Romantic ears in a recreation of the concert that sparked the 19th-century Bach revival. The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, led from the violin by Rachael Beesley, partnered with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs conducted by Elizabeth Scott in an illuminating performance of Mendelssohn’s 1841 version – Australia’s first-ever on rare historical instruments on Thursday 17 April in ARCO’s Sydney Opera House debut.

Composed specifically for our CSO Artist in Focus, Sally Walker, Night and now by Elena Kats-Chernin AO showcases the entire range of the flute. It’s a rich, lyrical work steeped in the composer’s own recollections of a childhood in Russia: from folk tales and forest picnics, to hardship and food scarcity. 

Tickets and further information here

Composed specifically for our CSO Artist in Focus, Sally Walker, Night and now by Elena Kats-Chernin AO showcases the entire range of the flute. It’s a rich, lyrical work steeped in the composer’s own recollections of a childhood in Russia: from folk tales and forest picnics, to hardship and food scarcity. 

Tickets and further information here

In 2021, Sally Walker played her flute on the bow of a boat near Port Stephens, to which dolphins emerged from the ocean around her. This program culminates in a regenerative commission from Dharug composer Christopher Sainsbury, drawing inspiration from Walker’s encounter and from the rhythm and lyricism of the Dharug word for dolphin: barru-waluri. Only a few Dharug songs survived colonisation; the original song for the barru-waluri is sadly no longer known. Sainsbury writes his new song with a sense of melancholy and as a kind of reclamation – and ‘something of the feel of an invigorating swim’.

Artists
Jessica Cottis Conductor
Sally Walker Flute, Artist in Focus
CSO Chamber Ensemble

Repertoire
ALICE CHANCE World premiere, new CSO commission
JANE SHELDON Spectre: three attempts to summon her
PEGGY POLIAS COMPOSER IN CONNECTION World premiere, new CSO commission
NARDI SIMPSON Wilga’s Last Dance: Last melody of the area
CHRISTOPHER SAINSBURY World premiere, new CSO commission

Tickets and further information here.

A workshop with Jane Downer (baroque Oboe), Dr Sally Walker (baroque & modern flute) and Ben Hoadley (baroque & modern bassoon) highlighting J.S. Bach’s unique solo obbligato writing, raising awareness of 18th-century performance practice and techniques, stimulating an appreciation of baroque repertoire and associated sound world and encouraging the art of expressive performance.
Enrolments here