Southern Cross Soloists (SXS) have announced the artists for the 22nd SXS Chamber Music Festival 2026, set to unfold across three days from August 14 to 16 at Shambala Estate, Tamborine Mountain.
Twice APRA-AMCOS nominated for Best Regional Event (2022 and 2023), the critically lauded festival is presented in association with Shambala Estate and continues its celebrated Queensland chapter, bringing together 14 outstanding artists across nine events in an intimate, immersive setting.
Curated by Festival Director and three-time Grammy Award-winning flautist Tim Munro, the 2026 festival explores the theme ‘Safe in Sound’ – a celebration of family, connection and belonging.
From musical siblings to lifelong collaborators and chosen artistic families, the 2026 program traces connections across generations, cultures, and creative partnerships.
World-Class Artist Line-Up
Leading this year’s festival is one of Australia’s most beloved sopranos, Sara Macliver as well as Timo-Veikko Valve (cello, ACO principal), and Aura Go (piano).
They will perform alongside the acclaimed Lyrebird Trio, Glenn Christensen (violin), Simon Cobcroft (cello), Angela Turner (piano).
The program also features Southern Cross Soloists artists Tim Munro (flute) and Ashley Smith (clarinet).
The festival continues its strong commitment to emerging talent through the SXS Next Gen Program, with appearances by the Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholar 2026 recipient Tashana Hardy (soprano).
The 2026 SXS Next Gen artists are Sophia DeLuccio (violin), Bridget Wegner (viola), Amy Tashjian (flute), Hamish Cassidy (clarinet) and William Elvin (percussion).
Festival Director Tim Munro said this year’s festival is about connection – between people, across generations, and through music.
“We explore the idea of family in all its forms: the families we’re born into, the ones we choose, and the artistic relationships that sustain us,” he said.
“Tamborine Mountain becomes our meeting place – where artists and audiences come together and find belonging through sound.”
Program Highlights
Across ten curated events, audiences will experience a rich and emotionally resonant journey.
The five main stage concerts are:
Friday August 14
Coming together – 7pm: A performance with members of the Tamborine Mountain Orchestra and local schools, including a world premiere.
Other scheduled sidebar events include:
A mystery concert in a secret location
A ‘Good Tunes’ folk artist jam session
A sound healing meditation with festival artists
A family-friendly concert for young audiences directed by award winning Theatre maker Julie Ritchey.
Community collaborations with the Tamborine Mountain Orchestra and the young stars of tomorrow the SXS Next Gen Artists 2026 and the Margaret Schindler Vocal Scholar recipient 2026.
Saturday August 15
Without Words – 11am Main stage Concert 1: Mendelssohn and Cawrse reimagine song without voice – Sara Macliver joins the “exquisite and exhilarating” Lyrebird Trio for a program humming with bright morning energy.
Reflections – 2pm Main stage Concert 2: Parisian sound worlds of Ravel, Debussy, and the Boulanger sisters.
Musical friendship in early-20th-century Paris. Music by Ravel, Lili and Nadia Boulanger, and Debussy moves from folksong to woodwind poetry. Soprano Sara Macliver brings her “thrilling and mesmerisi ng”voice to the program, joined by the “brilliant” pianist Aura Go.
Lineages – 4:30pm Main stage Concert 3: A single musical line unfolds.
In the hands of Timo-Veikko Valve, the cello becomes storyteller and singer.
This program traces the idea of variation across centuries, with music by JS Bach, Giuseppe Colombi and Jean Sibelius that is shaped by repetition and memory.
Sunday August 16
Tipi and Aura – 12noon, Main stage Concert 4: Aura Go and Timo-Veikko Valve love playing Beethoven together, bringing “extraordinary life and colour” (Limelight) to his cello sonatas.
Here they assemble a “new” Beethoven sonata from favourite movements, framed by miniatures from Helvi Leiviskä, Anton Webern and Lisa Illean’s ever-weaver.
Exsultate! – 3pm Main stage Concert 5: The festival ends in celebration. Ravel’s Three Mallarmé Songs brings together Sara Macliver and festival artists.
Duos by Derek Bermel and Jessie Montgomery add energy, before Mozart’s radiant Exsultate, jubilate sends everyone out singing.
Now in its 22nd year, the festival builds on a legacy of more than two decades, having presented over 800 artists across 270 concerts and earning national acclaim as one of Australia’s leading chamber music experiences.
