Music in the Southern Highlands | Hayllar Music Tours
Music in the Southern Highlands
Music in the Southern Highlands | Hayllar Music Tours
Music in the Southern Highlands
MUSIC IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
3–8 MARCH 2026 (6 DAYS) | EIGHT EXCLUSIVE PERFORMANCES AS PART OF HAYLLAR MUSIC TOURS’ MUSIC IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS FESTIVAL, WITH GOURMET MEALS, LUXURIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND RETURN COACH TRAVEL FROM SYDNEY
Join Artistic Director Umberto Clerici for five days of exquisite music, food and wine in the stunning setting of the Southern Highlands in NSW. Enjoy eight exclusive concerts as part of this Music in the Southern Highlands Festival, organised exclusively by Hayllar Music Tours, along with five nights of rest and relaxation at the picturesque Ardour Milton Park Bowral, a grand mansion from the turn of the 20th-century.
Experience the history of the region, with a guided walking tour of Berrima and a visit to the elegant Victorian homestead Retford Park, and sample some of the region’s finest food and wine as we accompany our musical experiences with a gastronomic tour of the area.
AUD$8,250 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE
LOYALTY CLUB PRICE: AUD$7,837.50
Single supplement: AUD$930
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 3 November 2025)
Final payment due: 22 December 2025
Sold Out | Waitlist Only
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Overview | Music in the Southern Highlands
Overview
Overview | Music in the Southern Highlands
Overview
OVERVIEW
Eight exclusive performances as part of Hayllar Music Tours’ Music in the Southern Highlands Festival, curated by Festival Artistic Director Umberto Clerici, with the following musicians:
Umberto Clerici artistic director & cello
Júlia Pusker violin
Natsuko Yoshimoto violin
Stefanie Farrands viola
Kees Boersma double bass
Tommaso Lonquich clarinet
Alexander Gavrylyuk piano
Claudio Martínez Mehner pianoFour insightful presentations on the music we will hear from our Festival Artistic Director Umberto Clerici.
Five nights’ accommodation in the newly renovated Ardour Milton Park Bowral with breakfast. The standard tour package comes with a Deluxe Garden View Room with the option to upgrade to a Tower Suite, Park Suite or a Forest Suite (details below under Accommodation).
Five gourmet meals throughout the week at the finest restaurants in the region, all paired with local wines. The Festival musicians will join for the welcome and farewell dinners.
A Champagne High Tea at Ardour Milton Park Bowral.
Pre-concert drinks receptions ahead of each evening concert, and canapé receptions ahead of the first and second evening concerts.
A guided walking tour of historic Berrima to explore the village’s beautifully preserved Georgian heritage.
A guided tour of Retford Park, built in 1887 by the Hordern family and lavishly redesigned by James Fairfax in the 1960s.
Attend this exciting event with a maximum of 35 guests, experience outstanding performances, enjoy insightful talks, stay in luxurious accommodation and dine on delicious food and fine wine.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Umberto Clerici
After a career spanning more than 20 years as a gifted cello soloist and orchestral musician, Umberto Clerici is widely regarded for his seamless transition to the podium now as an acclaimed conductor. The 2025 season will mark Clerici’s third as Chief Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in addition to being a frequent guest with several leading orchestras.
Umberto began his career as a virtuoso cellist making his solo debut at the age of 17 performing Haydn’s D Major cello concerto in Japan. After years of performing on the stages of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, Umberto took up the position as Principal cello of the Teatro Regio di Torino following which he was Principal Cello of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra from 2014 to 2021. It was in Sydney in 2018 that Umberto made his conducting debut with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House. Following a swift trajectory of prestigious conducting engagements, Umberto is now in high demand with the major symphony orchestras throughout Australia and New Zealand.
As a cellist, Umberto is beloved by audiences worldwide, having performed internationally as a soloist at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Vienna’s Musicverein, the great Shostakovich Hall of St Petersburg, Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, the Salzburg Festival and is one of only two Italians to have ever won a prize for cello in the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition.
ACCOMMODATION
ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL
Ardour Milton Park Bowral is located in the heart of the Southern Highlands, a region known for its rolling hills, boutique towns, and historic charm. With elegant rooms and lush gardens, Ardour Milton Park Bowral offers a quintessential Southern Highlands experience, combining nature and refined hospitality. The heart of the hotel is a grand mansion, built at the turn of the 20th-century by the Hordern Family of retail and pastoral fame. The estate offers breathtaking views to the horizon in every direction over gardens that are arguably Australia’s finest, that have inspired painters and writers since the early 1800s.
Our standard tour cost includes a Deluxe Garden View Room (subject to availability).
Upgrade options are available as follows:
Upgrade to a Tower Suite for AUD$750 for the full duration of your stay (allocation exhausted).
The luxuriously appointed Tower Suites are spaciously designed rooms (50m2), each with a private ensuite and an open plan lounge.Upgrade to a Park Suite for AUD$850 for the full duration of your stay (allocation exhausted).
The light-filled Park Suite (54m2) is situated within the original Milton Park residence, offering a spacious, private lounge area with stunning views over the world-renowned gardens.Upgrade to a Forest Suite for AUD$1,050 for the full duration of your stay (allocation exhausted).
This spacious 72m2 suite is comprised of a living room, a separate bedroom and a bathroom, and is accessed by a private entrance.
Select your upgrade option when booking below, or contact us on 02 9669 9181.
3–8 MARCH 2026 (6 DAYS)
AUD$8,250 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE
Single supplement: AUD$930
Sold Out | Waitlist Only
Artists | Music in the Southern Highlands
Artists
Artists | Music in the Southern Highlands
Artists
artists - MUSIC IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
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After a career spanning more than 20 years as a gifted cello soloist and orchestral musician, Umberto Clerici is widely regarded for his seamless transition to the podium now as an acclaimed conductor. The 2025 season will mark Clerici’s third as Chief Conductor of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in addition to being a frequent guest with several leading orchestras.
Umberto began his career as a virtuoso cellist making his solo debut at the age of 17 performing Haydn’s D Major cello concerto in Japan. After years of performing on the stages of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, Umberto took up the position as Principal cello of the Teatro Regio di Torino following which he was Principal Cello of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra from 2014 to 2021. It was in Sydney in 2018 that Umberto made his conducting debut with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House. Following a swift trajectory of prestigious conducting engagements, Umberto is now in high demand with the major symphony orchestras throughout Australia and New Zealand.
As a cellist, Umberto is beloved by audiences worldwide, having performed internationally as a soloist at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Vienna’s Musicverein, the great Shostakovich Hall of St Petersburg, Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, the Salzburg Festival and is one of only two Italians to have ever won a prize for cello in the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition.
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Praised by The Strad for her ‘magical simplicity’ and described as a ‘true aristocrat of the violin’ by La Libre, Hungarian violinist Júlia Pusker gained international recognition as a laureate of the 2019 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition.
Highlights of recent seasons include her Wigmore Hall recital debut (2025), Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège under Gergely Madaras—broadcast live on Medici TV and Mezzo—and her debut with the Basel Chamber Orchestra performing Bartók’s First Violin Concerto at the Bartók Spring Festival and Basel Stadtcasino. She has appeared as soloist with major ensembles such as the Belgian National Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Hungarian National Philharmonic, Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra and the London Mozart Players.
A 2023–24 European Concert Hall Organisation Rising Star, Júlia has performed at leading venues such as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Philharmonie de Paris, Wiener Konzerthaus, Konserthuset Stockholm, Kölner Philharmonie, Müpa Budapest and Casa da Música Porto.
Her discography features Eric Tanguy’s Second Violin Concerto with Jyväskylä Sinfonia (Ondine) and Schubert on Violin with pianist Zoltán Fejérvári (Hungaroton). Born into a family of musicians in Hungary, Júlia studied at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest and with György Pauk at London’s Royal Academy of Music. From 2016 to 2021, she was Artist-in-Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel working with Augustin Dumay. She performs on the c.1714 ‘Massart’ Stradivari, generously loaned by the Pauk Family through Beare’s International Violin Society.
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Born in Japan, Natsuko Yoshimoto began playing the violin at the age of three. She studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School and Royal Northern College of Music in England and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She received direct guidance and teaching under Lord Menuhin and Wen Zhou Li.
She has won many awards and prizes in international competitions including the Gold Medal in both the prestigious 1994 Shell/London Symphony Orchestra Competition and the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa Award and the Iwaki Award for outstanding achievement as a Japanese artist.
In great demand as a soloist, she has appeared with many world renowned orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia (London), Halle Orchestra, Odense Symphony (Denmark), Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Melbourne Symphony and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras.
Natsuko is also a member of highly acclaimed chamber group, Ensemble Q. She has been the leader of both the Australian String Quartet and the Grainger Quartet as well as the Concertmaster of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Natsuko frequently guests as a Concertmaster with many major orchestras in Australia and Asia and continues to perform chamber music as a guest artist with various groups and musicians in many of the festivals.
Natsuko is also a passionate teacher and is a staff member at the Conservatorium of Music in Queensland teaching violin and chamber music. She has given many world premieres of works by Australia’s most prominent composers and has recorded for Virgin Classics, ABC Classics, Melba Records and Tall Poppies.
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Violist Stefanie Farrands is principal viola of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Prior to her appointment with the ACO, she was principal viola of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. Stefanie has performed extensively throughout Europe, America, Asia and Australia with orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Camerata Salzburg. She has performed as guest Principal Viola with the Strasbourg Philharmonic, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Australian World Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Stef is a passionate chamber musician and a strong advocate for her instrument. She has won numerous awards including the Asia Pacific Chamber Music Competition and has been the recipient of the Freedman Classic Fellowship, which helped support her lifelong passion of commissioning new music for the viola. She has appeared as soloist with major orchestras across Australia, including the ACO, and in 2022 recorded and premiered Holly Harrison’s Hotwire with the TSO.
Stefanie studied at the Australian National Academy of Music, where she was a member of the award-winning Hamer Quartet, before continuing her studies with Tabea Zimmermann at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. Stef has been a member of the String Faculty at the Hobart Conservatorium of Music and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and has given masterclasses through the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Australian National Academy of Music, ACO’s Emerging Artist Program and AYO’s Young Symphonists Program.
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Kees Boersma enjoys a multifaceted career as Principal Double Bass with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Lecturer of Bass at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, recitalist and chamber musician. As a soloist with the SSO he has given world premiere performances of concertos by Colin Bright (Young Tree Green) and Mary Finsterer (Ice Tales No. 1) the latter performances earning an APRA Music Award nomination for ‘Best Australian Performance of a New Work’. He also featured as soloist and presenter as part of the SSO ‘Playlist’ series of concerts.
Kees is a regular performer at such prestigious festivals as the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and a guest leader of Australian and International ensembles, with invitations to perform with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
Kees has been a member of the Australian World Orchestra since its inception and was soloist in the groundbreaking Elena Kats Chernin concerto (The Witching Hour) for 8 Double Basses and orchestra. Prior to his appointment to the SSO he performed, recorded and toured internationally for several seasons with the acclaimed Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam, under such celebrated conductors as Bernard Haitink, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Antal Dorati and Carlo Maria Giulini.
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Musician, psychoanalyst and educator, Tommaso Lonquich is acclaimed by reviewers as a 'formidable clarinetist' and praised for his 'passion, sumptuous tone, magical finesse and dazzling virtuosity'. He is an Artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York and has served as solo clarinetist with Denmark-based Ensemble MidtVest for thirteen years.
He has appeared on the world’s most renowned stages, partnering among others with Christian Tetzlaff, Ilya Gringolts, Pekka Kuusisto, Júlia Pusker, Umberto Clerici, Nicolas Altstaedt, Maximilian Hornung, Anneleen Lenaerts, David Finckel, Wu Han, Claudio Martinez Mehner, Radovan Vlatkovic and the Danish, Van Kuijk, Zaïde and Vertavo string quartets.
As a soloist and guest principal, he has collaborated with conductors including Zubin Mehta, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Fabio Luisi, and Leonard Slatkin. In Denmark, Tommaso Lonquich is the founder and Artistic Director of Schackenborg Musikfest, one of Scandinavia’s most prestigious festivals. Previously he served as Artistic Director of KantorAtelier, a vibrant and multidisciplinary cultural space in Florence. A devoted mentor, he has given masterclasses at the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, and at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, among others.
Alongside his artistic career, Tommaso Lonquich is a practicing psychoanalyst at the International Center for Lacanian Psychoanalysis, which he founded in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He is a lecturer in Theory and Clinic of Lacanian Psychoanalysis and a member of the Scientific Committee at OMANUT in Rome. The 2025–2026 season will take him to Korea, China, the United States, Australia, and throughout Europe.
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A stunningly virtuosic pianist, Alexander is internationally recognised for his electrifying and poetic performances. His performance of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.3 at the BBC Proms was described as 'revelatory' by The Times and 'electrifying' by Limelight. Alexander was Artist-in-Residence at Wigmore Hall for the 23/24 season.
Highlights of the 2025-26 season include debuts with Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Tonkünstler Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Opera North orchestra and i Solisti di Pavia. Alexander will also return to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Philharmonia. Recent highlights also include Hamburger Symphoniker, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liege, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Estonian National Symphony, Phil Zuid, Enescu Philharmonic and Taiwan National Symphony. This season also sees returns to Baerum Kulturhaus and the Piano Masters Series in Stoke-on-Trent as a recital artist along with his recital debut at Theater Heerlen.
Alexander collaborates regularly with conductors including Rafael Payare, Alexandre Bloch, Thomas Søndergård, Donald Runnicles, Juraj Valcuha, Kirill Karabits, Edward Gardner & Gustavo Gimeno.
Born in Ukraine in 1984 and holding Australian citizenship, Alexander began his piano studies at the age of seven and gave his first concerto performance when he was nine years old. At the age of 13, Alexander moved to Sydney where he lived until 2006. He won First Prize and Gold Medal at the Horowitz International Piano Competition (1999), First Prize at the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (2000), and Gold Medal at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Masters Competition (2005).
As a recitalist Alexander has performed at the Musikverein in Vienna, Tonhalle Zurich, Victoria Hall Geneva, Southbank Centre’s International Piano Series, Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw Master Pianists Series, Suntory Hall, Tokyo Opera City Hall, Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Cologne Philharmonie, Tokyo City Concert Hall, San Francisco, Sydney Recital Hall and Melbourne Recital Centre.
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Claudio Martínez Mehner was born in 1970. He began his musical studies at the Real Conservatorio Superior de Madrid with Amparo Fuster, Pedro Lerma, and Joaquín Soriano. In addition to his piano studies, he participated in several youth orchestras as a violinist, violist, and harpsichord player.
He continued his studies at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid with Prof. Dmitri Bashkirov; at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany, with Vitalij Margulis; at the Fondazione per il Pianoforte in Como, Italy; and at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, USA, with Leon Fleisher. He also took part in masterclasses given by Murray Perahia, Fou Ts’ong, Alexis Weissenberg, Karl-Ulrich Schnabel, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Mstislav Rostropovich, and György Kurtág, among many others. For almost a decade, he received invaluable guidance from Prof. Ferenc Rados.
Claudio Martínez Mehner has won several first prizes at the German competition Bundeswettbewerb Jugend musiziert. He was a finalist at the Paloma O’Shea International Piano Competition in Santander (1990) and won first prizes at the Pilar Bayona International Competition in Zaragoza, Spain (1992); the Fondation Chimay Competition in Belgium (1993); and the Dino Ciani International Competition in Milan, Italy (1993).
As a soloist, he has performed in most major cities across Europe, the United States, Russia, Central America, Japan, and Korea, with orchestras such as the Munich Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, Filarmonica della Scala, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, Norddeutscher Rundfunk, Filarmonia Hungarica, and most of the major Spanish orchestras.
An avid chamber musician, he has performed with numerous ensembles throughout Europe and Asia. He is currently Professor of Piano at the Hochschule für Musik in Basel, Switzerland, and at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne, Germany. In October 2026, he will assume a professorship at the University Mozarteum in Salzburg. He regularly gives masterclasses throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States.
Program | Music in the Southern Highlands
Program
Program | Music in the Southern Highlands
Program
Program - MUSIC IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2026
CONCERT 1 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL, 6:00pm
Matthew Hindson Song of Life
George Enescu The Fiddler
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto
Jörg Widmann Fantasie for Solo Clarinet
Performed by Tommaso Lonquich
Olivier Messiaen Louange à l'Éternité de Jésus (from Quatuor pour la fin du temps)
Performed by Umberto Clerici and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Sergei Rachmaninov Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14
Performed by Alexander Gavrylyuk
Johann Sebastian Bach / György Kurtág Sonatina (Actus tragicus), Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106
Igor Stravinsky Petrushka, movement I: The Shrovetide Fair (arr. for four hands by the composer)
Performed by Alexander Gavrylyuk and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Garth Knox STILL
Henri Vieuxtemps Capriccio in C minor, Op. 55, Hommage à Paganini
Performed by Stefanie Farrands
Béla Bartók Rhapsody No. 2, Sz. 89
Performed by Júlia Pusker and Claudio Martínez Mehner
WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH 2026
CONCERT 2 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL, 10:30am
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330
Franz Liszt Années de pèlerinage II, Supplément Venezia e Napoli, No. 3 Tarantella, S. 162
Performed by Alexander Gavrylyuk, followed by a conversation with the artist
CONCERT 3 - BENDOOLEY ESTATE BOOK BARN, 6:30pm
Adolf Busch Duet No. 2 for Violin and Clarinet in B-flat Major, Op. 26b
Performed by Júlia Pusker and Tommaso Lonquich
Maurice Ravel Sonata for Violin and Cello, M. 73
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto and Umberto Clerici
Bernard Herrmann Clarinet Quintet, Souvenirs de voyage
Performed by Júlia Pusker, Natsuko Yoshimoto, Stefanie Farrands, Umberto Clerici and Tommaso Lonquich
THURSDAY 5 MARCH 2026
CONCERT 4 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL, 6:30pm
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky None but the Lonely Heart, Op. 6, No. 6 (arr. for piano trio by William Felton)
Performed by Alexander Gavrylyuk, Natsuko Yoshimoto and Umberto Clerici
Sergei Rachmaninov Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor - Dedicated to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Alexander Gavrylyuk, Natsuko Yoshimoto and Umberto Clerici
Claude Debussy Sonata in G minor for Violin and Piano, L. 140 - Dedicated to Debussy’s wife, Emma
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Felix Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66 - Dedicated to Louis Spohr
Performed by Júlia Pusker, Umberto Clerici and Claudio Martínez Mehner
FRIDAY 6 MARCH 2026
CONCERT 5 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL, 10:30am
Béla Bartók Sonata for Solo Violin Sz. 117, movement I: Tempo di ciaccona
Eugène Ysaÿe Sonata No. 1 in G Minor for Solo Violin, Op. 27
Performed by Júlia Pusker, followed by a conversation with the artist
CONCERT 6 - BOWRAL MEMORIAL HALL, 6:00pm
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Trio in E-flat major, K. 498, Kegelstatt
Performed by Tommaso Lonquich, Stefanie Farrands and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Franz Schubert Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667, Trout
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto, Stefanie Farrands, Umberto Clerici, Kees Boersma and Alexander Gavrylyuk
SATURDAY 7 MARCH 2026
CONCERT 7 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL, 10:30am
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 11, Gassenhauer
Johannes Brahms Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114, movement I: Allegro
Performed by Tommaso Lonquich, Umberto Clerici and Claudio Martínez Mehner, followed by a conversation with the artists
CONCERT 8 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL, 6:00pm
Sergei Prokofiev Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op. 34
Performed by Júlia Pusker, Natsuko Yoshimoto, Stefanie Farrands, Umberto Clerici, Tommaso Lonquich and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8, Poème
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto, Umberto Clerici and Alexander Gavrylyuk
Igor Stravinsky Suite from L'Histoire du soldat (The Soldier's Tale) for clarinet, violin and piano
Performed by Tommaso Lonquich, Júlia Pusker and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Holly Harrison Daredevil
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto, Júlia Pusker, Stefanie Farrands, Umberto Clerici, Tommaso Lonquich and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Itinerary | Music in the Southern Highlands
Itinerary
Itinerary | Music in the Southern Highlands
Itinerary
ITINERARY
DAY 1 | TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2026
1ST OF 5 NIGHTS AT ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL
SYDNEY CENTRAL STATION AND SYDNEY DOMESTIC AIRPORT TO MILTON PARK, CONCERT I (D):
Guests are collected by private air-conditioned coach. The coach will make one stop at Sydney Central Station at 1:00pm and a second stop at Sydney Domestic Airport at 1:30pm. We then travel from Sydney to the picturesque Southern Highlands.
After arriving at Ardour Milton Park Bowral, we have time to rest, relax and unpack.
In the late afternoon we gather for welcome drinks and canapés overlooking the impressive estate of Milton Park. Milton Park’s world-renowned gardens were designed by the English School of Landscape and remain the only work undertaken outside of Europe by that esteemed academy. Anthony Hordern travelled extensively and had the means, interest, knowledge and contacts to collect many rare specimens of trees that were totally unknown in the Southern Hemisphere. There will be time available during the week for guests to explore these wonderful grounds.
Following our welcome reception, we then settle in - glass in hand - for the first of our gala evening performances as part of the Music in the Southern Highlands Festival.
CONCERT 1 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL, 6:00pm
Matthew Hindson Song of Life
George Enescu The Fiddler
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto
Jörg Widmann Fantasie for Solo Clarinet
Performed by Tommaso Lonquich
Olivier Messiaen Louange à l'Éternité de Jésus (from Quatuor pour la fin du temps)
Performed by Umberto Clerici and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Sergei Rachmaninov Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14
Performed by Alexander Gavrylyuk
Johann Sebastian Bach / György Kurtág Sonatina (Actus tragicus), Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106
Igor Stravinsky Petrushka, movement I: The Shrovetide Fair (arr. for four hands by the composer)
Performed by Alexander Gavrylyuk and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Garth Knox STILL
Henri Vieuxtemps Capriccio in C minor, Op. 55, Hommage à Paganini
Performed by Stefanie Farrands
Béla Bartók Rhapsody No. 2, Sz. 89
Performed by Júlia Pusker and Claudio Martínez Mehner
At the conclusion of this first concert, we enjoy a delicious welcome dinner with our Festival musicians at Hordern’s, Milton Park’s private restaurant. Following this dinner, guests might like to retreat to the Polo Bar to relax by the fire with a drink in hand.
DAY 2 | WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH 2026
2ND OF 5 NIGHTS AT ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL
MILTON PARK, BENDOOLEY ESTATE, CONCERTS II & III (B, D):
Following breakfast, served in Hordern’s, we return to the Baillieu Ballroom for the first of our morning Concert Conversations. All of these conversations will focus on one of our Festival artists, and will feature a conversation and performance showcasing that musician.
CONCERT 2 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, MILTON PARK, 10:30am
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330
Franz Liszt Années de pèlerinage II, Supplément Venezia e Napoli, No. 3 Tarantella, S. 162
Performed by Alexander Gavrylyuk, followed by a conversation with the artist
Following this morning’s Concert Conversation, time is allowed to rest or to explore the hotel’s beautiful grounds. Milton Park also has a wonderful 20m indoor pool, or tennis courts with racquets available from reception.
Late this afternoon, we enjoy a scenic drive to the nearby Bendooley Estate, where we will enjoy an evening of gourmet delights and wonderful music. Bendooley Estate is Paul Berkelouw’s childhood home, and is the place where his father, Leo Berkelouw, built up the family book business that had started as a humble proposition in Holland in the early 1800s. For the past forty years, the iconic Book Barn within the estate, has operated successfully as a new, rare, second-hand and antiquarian bookshop, and it is in this atmospheric setting that we enjoy our concert and dinner this evening.
On arrival, we enjoy a welcome canapés and drinks reception, followed by the first of our pre-concert talks with our Festival Artistic Director, Umberto Clerici. We then settle in to enjoy our evening concert in the beautiful Book Barn.
CONCERT 3 - BENDOOLEY ESTATE BOOK BARN, 6:30pm
Adolf Busch Duet No. 2 for Violin and Clarinet in B-flat Major, Op. 26b
Performed by Júlia Pusker and Tommaso Lonquich
Maurice Ravel Sonata for Violin and Cello, M. 73
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto and Umberto Clerici
Bernard Herrmann Clarinet Quintet, Souvenirs de voyage
Performed by Júlia Pusker, Natsuko Yoshimoto, Stefanie Farrands, Umberto Clerici and Tommaso Lonquich
After the conclusion of the concert, we stay on at Bendooley Estate for a group dinner, along with our musicians from this evening’s concert. Following dinner, we return to our hotel.
DAY 3 | THURSDAY 5 MARCH 2026
3RD OF 5 NIGHTS AT ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL
DAY TRIP TO BERRIMA, CONCERT IV (B, L):
This morning we set out for the historic village of Berrima. Nestled in the heart of the Southern Highlands, Berrima is a charming historic town dating from the 1830s. On arrival, we enjoy a relaxed stroll around this picturesque town with a local tour guide, who will point out the important historic buildings and uncover some of the surprising secrets that shaped colonial life here.
Following our guided walking tour, we settle in for a delicious group lunch. Set inside one of the most significant heritage buildings in Berrima, Eschalot is one of the finest restaurants in the Southern Highlands. Run by Head Chef Matty Roberts and his partner Cass Wallace, the restaurant delivers consistently beautiful cuisine and has been winning culinary awards for many years now.
After lunch, we return to our hotel.
In the early evening, we gather once again for the second of our musical talks. Following the presentation, we enjoy our pre-concert drinks before the third of our evening gala performances.
CONCERT 4 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL, 6:30pm
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky None but the Lonely Heart, Op. 6, No. 6 (arr. for piano trio by William Felton)
Performed by Alexander Gavrylyuk, Natsuko Yoshimoto and Umberto Clerici
Sergei Rachmaninov Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor - Dedicated to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Alexander Gavrylyuk, Natsuko Yoshimoto and Umberto Clerici
Claude Debussy Sonata in G minor for Violin and Piano, L. 140 - Dedicated to Debussy’s wife, Emma
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Felix Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66 - Dedicated to Louis Spohr
Performed by Júlia Pusker, Umberto Clerici and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Following the concert, the rest of the evening is free to rest.
DAY 4 | FRIDAY 6 MARCH 2026
4TH OF 5 NIGHTS AT ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL
MILTON PARK, RETFORD PARK, CONCERTS V & VI (B, D):
After a relaxed breakfast, we once again return to the Baillieu Ballroom for the second of our morning Concert Conversations.
CONCERT 5 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL, 10:30am
Béla Bartók Sonata for Solo Violin Sz. 117, movement I: Tempo di ciaccona
Eugène Ysaÿe Sonata No. 1 in G Minor for Solo Violin, Op. 27
Performed by Júlia Pusker, followed by a conversation with the artist
Time is then allowed for an independent lunch, to rest, or to continue your exploration of Milton Park’s impressive grounds.
Later in the afternoon, we drive to the nearby estate of Retford Park.
This elegant Victorian Italianate residence and former home of James Fairfax AC is surrounded by pristine gardens and framed by an arboretum of towering trees. We will enjoy an intimate tour of the formal and private spaces inside. The striking ‘Portuguese Pink’ mansion and its extensive collection of fine antique furniture, significant artworks, beautiful soft furnishings and superb decorative arts, reflects the 50-year ownership of James Fairfax, well-known champion of the arts and generous philanthropist.
Following our tour of the house, time is allowed for an independent stroll around the impressive grounds, stretching to well over 30 hectares. In the autumn, the grounds come to life with fragrant daphne, delicate snowdrops, witch hazel, bergenia and honeysuckle.
After our visit to Retford Park, we make the short journey to the impressive Bowral Memorial Hall. Built for the Bowral School of Arts back in 1884, a multi-million dollar transformation of Bowral Memorial Hall, completed in 2023, has re-established the venue with state-of-the-art facilities and incredible acoustics.
Before our evening concert, we will enjoy a pre-concert talk from our Artistic Director, Umberto Clerici, followed by a welcome drinks reception.
We then settle in for our fourth evening concert, this evening to be hosted at the newly renovated Bowral Memorial Hall.
CONCERT 6 - BOWRAL MEMORIAL HALL, 6:00pm
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Trio in E-flat major, K. 498, Kegelstatt
Performed by Tommaso Lonquich, Stefanie Farrands and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Franz Schubert Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667, Trout
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto, Stefanie Farrands, Umberto Clerici, Kees Boersma and Alexander Gavrylyuk
Following the concert, we make a short journey to one of Bowral’s premier dining destinations for a delicious post-concert dinner, before returning to the hotel.
DAY 5 | SATURDAY 7 MARCH 2026
5TH OF 5 NIGHTS AT ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL
MILTON PARK, OPTIONAL TRIP TO BOWRAL, CONCERTS VII & VIII (B, D):
This morning we enjoy the last of our morning Concert Conversations.
CONCERT 7 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL, 10:30am
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 11, Gassenhauer
Johannes Brahms Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114, movement I: Allegro
Performed by Tommaso Lonquich, Umberto Clerici and Claudio Martínez Mehner, followed by a conversation with the artists
After our final morning Concert Conversation, for those who would like to, we will have an optional trip to Bowral. For those with an interest, you might like to take this opportunity to visit the wonderful Bradman Museum. The Bradman Museum celebrates the stories and people who shape the spirit of cricket, at the heart of which, is the remarkable story of arguably the greatest cricketer of all time, Sir Donald Bradman. Sir Don was raised in Bowral from the age of three until he was 15, and attended Bowral Public School. This museum honours the values of modesty, dignity, integrity and courage that Bradman was renowned for.
After our optional trip to Bowral, we return to the hotel for a traditional Champagne High Tea to mark the final day of our Festival, featuring a selection of sandwiches, scones, savoury pastries, and desserts.
This evening, we gather for one final presentation, wrapping up the musical wonders we have experienced this week, before enjoying our final gala evening concert.
CONCERT 8 - BAILLIEU BALLROOM, ARDOUR MILTON PARK BOWRAL, 6:00pm
Sergei Prokofiev Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op. 34
Performed by Júlia Pusker, Natsuko Yoshimoto, Stefanie Farrands, Umberto Clerici, Tommaso Lonquich and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8, Poème
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto, Umberto Clerici and Alexander Gavrylyuk
Igor Stravinsky Suite from L'Histoire du soldat (The Soldier's Tale) for clarinet, violin and piano
Performed by Tommaso Lonquich, Júlia Pusker and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Holly Harrison Daredevil
Performed by Natsuko Yoshimoto, Júlia Pusker, Stefanie Farrands, Umberto Clerici, Tommaso Lonquich and Claudio Martínez Mehner
Following the concert, we enjoy our final farewell dinner together, where we will also be joined by Artistic Director Umberto Clerici and our incredible Festival musicians.
DAY 6 | SUNDAY 8 MARCH 2026
MILTON PARK TO SYDNEY DOMESTIC AIRPORT AND SYDNEY CENTRAL STATION (B):
Following our final breakfast at Milton Park, we travel in our private coach back to Sydney. We will arrive at Sydney Domestic Airport at approximately 12:30pm and Sydney Central Station at approximately 1:00pm.
Inclusions | Music in the Southern Highlands
Inclusions
Inclusions | Music in the Southern Highlands
Inclusions
INCLUSIONS
3–8 MARCH 2026 (6 DAYS)
AUD$8,250 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE
Single supplement: AUD$930
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 3 November 2025)
Final payment due: 22 December 2025
INCLUSIONS:
Performances: Eight exclusive performances as part of our Music in the Southern Highlands Festival.
Talks on the Music: Four presentations on the music we will hear from Artistic Director Umberto Clerici.
Tour Managers: Services of two experienced Tour Managers throughout.
Hotel: Five nights' accommodation at Milton Park Country House Hotel. The standard tour package comes with a Deluxe Garden View Room (subject to availability). Upgrade options are available as follows:
Upgrade to a Tower Suite for AUD$750 for the full duration of your stay (allocation exhausted).
The luxuriously appointed Tower Suites are spaciously designed rooms (50m2), each with a private ensuite and an open plan lounge.Upgrade to a Park Suite for AUD$850 for the full duration of your stay (allocation exhausted).
The light-filled Park Suite (54m2) is situated within the original Milton Park residence, offering a spacious, private lounge area with stunning views over the world-renowned gardens.Upgrade to a Forest Suite for AUD$1,050 for the full duration of your stay (allocation exhausted).
This spacious 72m2 suite is comprised of a living room, a separate bedroom and a bathroom, and is accessed by a private entrance.
Travel: One private air-conditioned coach transfer from/to Sydney Central Station and Sydney Domestic Airport, to Milton Park Country House Hotel. Land travel by private air-conditioned coach throughout the Festival.
Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning. Five lunches/dinners with wine, water and tea/coffee. One Champagne Afternoon Tea at the hotel. Pre-performance drinks before each of the evening concerts, and drinks and canapés functions before the first and second evening concerts.
Tips: Tips for drivers, local guides and meals included in your itinerary.
Information Pack: Comprehensive pre-tour information pack.
EXCLUSIONS:
International/Domestic Travel: Hayllar Music Tours can provide you with a quote. Phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com
Airport Transfers: Transfers to/from your local airport at the beginning and end of the tour. These can be arranged at an additional cost. One private air-conditioned coach from/to Sydney Central Station and Sydney Domestic Airport is included in the tour price.
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 (Australia / International) 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.
GROUP SIZE
The Festival will operate with a minimum of 20 guests. There will be a maximum of 35 guests at the Festival.
FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED - LEVEL 1
All members of the group must feel comfortable walking for around 1.5 hours (if joining the two walking tours, in Berrima and at Retford Park), covering the short distances between hotel rooms and concert venues and embarking/disembarking coaches.
BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS
Please note that booking terms and conditions apply. Click here for the booking terms and conditions.
Booking | Music in the Southern Highlands
Booking
Booking | Music in the Southern Highlands
Booking
MUSIC IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
SOLD OUT | WAITLIST ONLY
This tour is now sold out. To register your place on the waitlist, please fill out the form below, or contact us on 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or contact@hayllarmusictours.com