Kate Suthers Reveals 2026 Coriole Music Festival Program
Spanning three beautiful concerts, debuts and premieres the festival will celebrate chamber music and South Australia’s finest food and wine in May 2026.
Weekend packages on sale now via https://www.coriolemusicfestival.com
One of the most in demand orchestral leaders and chamber musicians, Kate Suthers has announced her debut program as Artistic Director of Coriole Music Festival marking an exciting new era for the leading South Australian chamber music festival.
The festival, presented by the McLaren Vale Music Festival Association (MVMFA) will showcase the world’s best chamber music paired with South Australia’s finest food and wine amongst the vines at Coriole Vineyards McLaren Vale on Saturday 16 May and Sunday 17 May 2026.
In her first year as Artistic Director Kate has fittingly curated a program around the idea of beginnings featuring a selection of international and Australian artists to reflect the occasion.
“In a chamber music sense, beginnings provide a clear focus to strings. In a broader music and human sense, I believe that this can relate to programming works full of youth, naivety, curiosity and simplicity”, Kate Suthers said.
Saturday highlights include the festival debuts of Berlin cellist Martin Smith and London violist Richard Waters who will share the stage with Suthers and Australian soprano Desiree Frahn alongside an ensemble of festival favourites including Elizabeth Layton (violin), Gemma Phillips (cello), Damien Eckersly (double bass) and Michael lerace (piano).
The day will wrap up with a genre crossing concert exploring one of the biggest influences on classical music, folk tunes. The program features arrangements by the Danish String Quartet, and compositions by Dobrinka Tabakova, Alice Chance and Jessie Montgomery, interlaced with traditional works from Iceland and further afield.
Sunday highlights include a celebration of Australian female composers with the premiere of new works by Belinda Gehlert and Anne Cawrse. The festival will present the world premiere of Gehlert’s Stellar while Cawrse’s This Too Shall Pass will be adapted exclusively for Coriole Music Festival.
The 2026 festival will culminate with one of American composers John Adams earliest and most iconic works, Shaker Loops featuring Kate Suthers (violin), Alison Heike (violin), Richard Waters (viola), Gemma Phillips (cello) and Damien Eckersly (double bass).
Coriole Music Festival Ticket Information
Weekend packages – Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May 2026 on sale now via https://www.coriolemusicfestival.com
View full program of concerts and meals.
