Australian Festival of Chamber Music | Hayllar Music Tours
Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Australian Festival of Chamber Music | Hayllar Music Tours
Australian Festival of Chamber Music
AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF CHAMBER MUSIC
24–28 JULY 2026 (5 DAYS) | ATTEND THE FIRST HALF OF THE AFCM INCLUDING NINE CONCERTS & EVENTS, INFORMATIVE TALKS AND EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE EVENTS
Join us for the first half of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, which will be held for the first time in Cairns in 2026. Attend nine performances, enjoy private talks on the music from Tour Leader, Dr Jack Stephens, and attend exclusive private events including a dinner with artists performing in the festival and an In-Conversation with a festival musician. Stay at Crystalbrook Riley, a luxury 5-star resort, in a King Room with Sea View. The hotel is perfectly positioned on Cairns’ iconic waterfront Esplanade, a 10-minute walk from Cairns Performing Arts Centre, where the festival performances will take place.
AUD$5,350 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE
LOYALTY CLUB PRICE: AUD$5,082.50
Single supplement: AUD$750
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due on 24 February 2026)
Final payment due: 21 May 2026
Places Available
tour leader
Overview | Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Overview
Overview | Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Overview
OVERVIEW
Attend the first Australian Festival of Chamber Music to be held in Cairns, and immerse yourself in a busy and exciting program with a Gold Plus Subscription to the first half of the festival, giving you access to nine outstanding concerts.
Attend insightful pre-performance talks presented by Tour Leader, Dr Jack Stephens.
Attend an exclusive In-Conversation with a festival musician hosted by Tour Leader, Dr Jack Stephens.
Attend a private pre-performance dinner with artists performing in the festival.
Enjoy four nights at the 5-star luxury resort, Crystalbrook Riley, staying in a spacious King Room with Sea View.
Travel in a small group (maximum 20 people) giving you the opportunity to get to know your fellow guests and to enjoy one-on-one time with your Tour Leader.
TOUR LEADER
DR Jack Stephens
Sydney-born conductor, bass, and artistic director Dr Jack Stephens is the Director of Music at St Paul’s College, Sydney. Recognised for his ‘artistic brilliance’ (TheMusicTrust), he has led the Choir of St Paul’s College in ‘faultless performances’ and ‘exquisite musical beauty’ (CanberraCityNews, 2023). Recent highlights in 2025 include residencies conducting services at Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral London, Canterbury Cathedral, and York Minster, as well as presenting concerts in Paris at Saint-Eustache, La Madeleine, and Saint-Sulpice.
Jack has performed as a soloist with the Choir of Christ Church St Laurence, Bach Akademie Australia, Victoria Chorale, the Albury Chamber Music Festival, the Canberra International Music Festival, and the Four Winds Festival Bermagui. He was also an Associate Artist with The Song Company. Jack completed his doctorate on the staging of Bach’s Passions, supervised by Erin Helyard, and is the Artistic Director of the Sydney Cantata Project, which regularly presents concerts featuring the lesser-known cantatas of J.S. Bach with Australia’s leading early-music specialists.
Jack has directed Purcell’s complete operas, including The Fairy Queen (2023), Dido and Aeneas (2022, with Sally-Anne Russell, Andrew Goodwin, and Celeste Lazarenko), and King Arthur (2021, with Peter Cousens). In 2024, he directed the Australian premiere of Lampe’s The Dragon of Wantley with The Muffat Collective and Peter Coleman-Wright AO. Jack regularly gives pre-concert talks for the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Hayllar Music Tours and MusicaViva, produces and directs Australia’s longest-running show - Victoriana!, and is a scholar of the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust.
Hotel
CRYSTALBROOK RILEY, CAIRNS
The luxury 5-star Crystalbrook Riley is perfectly located at the northern end of Cairns’ iconic waterfront Esplanade, a short walk from the Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Bulmba-ja Arts Centre and Cairns Museum, and a short taxi-journey from Cairns Botanic Gardens. The hotel has three restaurants and bars including Cairns’ highest rooftop bar, Rocco, an expansive lagoon pool, a private beach, the Eléme Day Spa, and a 24-hour fitness centre. Guests will stay in a King Room with Sea View, which offers stunning views over the Coral Sea.
The tour cost includes a King Room with Sea View.
If you would like hotel upgrade options please contact us on 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181.
24–28 JULY 2026 (5 DAYS)
AUD$5,350 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE
Single supplement: AUD$750
Places Available
Itinerary | Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Itinerary
Itinerary | Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Itinerary
ITINERARY
DAY 1 | FRIDAY 24 JULY 2026
1ST OF 4 NIGHTS AT CRYSTALBROOK RILEY, CAIRNS
ARRIVE CAIRNS & THE AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF CHAMBER MUSIC (D):
Guests arrive at the luxury 5-star hotel, Crystalbrook Riley, perfectly positioned on Cairns’ iconic waterfront Esplanade, a short walk from the centre of Cairns and from Cairns Performing Arts Centre, where the festival performances will take place. Hotel check-in is at 2:00pm and we recommend arriving at this time.
At 3:30pm we attend welcome drinks followed by our first pre-performance talk by our Tour Leader, Dr Jack Stephens. We then enjoy a delicious pre-performance dinner where we have the special opportunity to dine with some of the musicians performing in the festival. After this we attend the Opening Night Concert of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music at Cairns Performing Arts Centre.
Opening Night Concert
Cairns Performing Arts Centre, 7:30pm
DAY 2 | SATURDAY 25 JULY 2026
2ND OF 4 NIGHTS AT CRYSTALBROOK RILEY, CAIRNS
AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF CHAMBER MUSIC (B):
This morning, we attend our first informative Concert Conversation hosted by Festival Artistic Director, Jack Liebeck at Cairns Performing Arts Centre.
Concert Conversations 1
Cairns Performing Arts Centre Studio, 10:00am
Following the Concert Conversation, the early afternoon is free. In your free time you might like to explore some attractions such as the NorthSite Contemporary Art Gallery located in Bulmba-ja Arts Centre or Cairns Museum, both located a short walk from our hotel. Or, you may like to take a 10-minute taxi journey to Cairns Botanic Gardens, a tropical paradise renowned as one of the best exhibitions of tropical plants in Australia.
In the afternoon, Jack Stephens will give a pre-performance talk about the music we will hear in this evening’s concerts. We then attend two concerts at the festival, the first Sunset Series Concert and the Governor’s Gala.
Sunset Series 1
Cairns Performing Arts Centre, 5:00pm
Governor’s Gala
Cairns Performing Arts Centre, 7:30pm
DAY 3 | SUNDAY 26 JULY 2026
3RD OF 4 NIGHTS AT CRYSTALBROOK RILEY, CAIRNS
AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF CHAMBER MUSIC (B, D):
This morning, Jack Stephens will give a pre-performance talk about the music we will hear today. Following this, we have a private In-Conversation with a musician performing in the festival, hosted by Jack Stephens.
Time is then allowed to rest and have lunch before we depart for the festival’s Church Concert at St Monica’s Cathedral, located just across the road from our hotel.
Church Concert
St Monica’s Cathedral, 1:30pm
Following the concert, the late afternoon is free.
We come together in the early evening for a delicious dinner before attending the festival’s first Evening Concert.
Evening Concert 1
Cairns Performing Arts Centre, 7:30pm
DAY 4 | MONDAY 27 JULY 2026
4TH OF 4 NIGHTS AT CRYSTALBROOK RILEY, CAIRNS
AUSTRALIAN FESTIVAL OF CHAMBER MUSIC (B, L):
This morning, we attend our second informative Concert Conversation hosted by Jack Liebeck.
Concert Conversations 2
Cairns Performing Arts Centre Studio, 10:00am
Following the concert, we enjoy a gourmet farewell lunch.
In the late afternoon, Jack Stephens will give a pre-performance talk about the concerts we hear this evening. We then attend our second Sunset Series and Evening Concert.
Sunset Series 2
Cairns Performing Arts Centre, 5:00pm
Evening Concert 2
Cairns Performing Arts Centre, 7:30pm
DAY 5 | TUESDAY 28 JULY 2026
TOUR ENDS
Following our final breakfast, the tour concludes.
Please note: The festival will announce their 2026 program in early 2026.
Inclusions | Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Inclusions
Inclusions | Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Inclusions
INCLUSIONS
24-28 JULY 2026 (5 DAYS)
AUD$5,350 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE
Single supplement: AUD$750
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due on 24 February 2026)
Final payment due: 21 May 2026
INCLUSIONS:
Performances: Gold Plus Subscription seating for nine performances at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in Cairns.
Tour Leader and Talks: Tour leadership and private talks about the music by Dr Jack Stephens.
Tour Manager: An experienced Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout the tour.
Hotels: Four nights’ accommodation at the luxury 5-star Crystalbrook Riley, Cairns staying in a King Room with Sea View.
Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach. Please note that short journeys will be by foot.
Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning at the hotel. Three lunches/dinners with wine, water and tea/coffee, and welcome drinks on day 1.
Tips: Tips for drivers, local guides and for meals included in your itinerary.
Information Pack: Comprehensive pre-tour information pack.
EXCLUSIONS:
Domestic Travel: Hayllar Music Tours can provide you with a quote. Phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com
Airport Transfers: Transfers to/from airports and hotels at the beginning and end of the tour.
Travel Insurance: Please note that travel insurance is recommended for tours within Australia. Hayllar Music Tours can organise your travel insurance for you. Please contact them at phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com
Meals: Lunches and dinners not nominated in your itinerary.
Personal Expenses: Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and mini-bar.
Activities in Free Time: Costs associated with any activities suggested for you in your free time.
SMALL GROUP SIZE
The tour will operate with 8 people. The maximum number on the tour will be 20 people.
FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED - LEVEL 1
All members of the group must feel comfortable walking for 1–2 hours, standing for long periods of time in museums, art galleries etc. and embarking/disembarking coaches.
BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS
Please note that booking terms and conditions apply. Click here for the booking terms and conditions.
Booking | Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Booking
Booking | Australian Festival of Chamber Music
Booking
Australian Festival of Chamber Music
DEPOSIT ONLY | AUD$1,500 PER PERSON
24–28 JULY 2026 (5 DAYS) | ATTEND THE FIRST HALF OF THE AFCM INCLUDING 9 CONCERTS & EVENTS, INFORMATIVE TALKS AND EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE EVENTS