Across regional and remote Australia, access to live arts experiences is far from guaranteed. Distance, limited infrastructure, and tight local budgets often mean that communities miss out on the kind of cultural experiences many city audiences take for granted. The Musica Viva Australia Regional Touring Program exists to close that gap, bringing high-quality performances to underserved audiences in regional NSW. These communities are just as eager to experience exceptional chamber music as their city counterparts.
Each year, the program partners with regional presenters and artists from across the country to deliver concerts, workshops and residencies in towns of all sizes. These tours don’t just entertain – they build connection, inspire young musicians and strengthen the local arts ecosystem. Some of our presenting partners have been presenting Musica Viva Australia artists for decades.
Here’s a closer look at how the program supports a couple of our regional presenters and their communities – straight from the presenters themselves.
Image: Goldner Quartet in Yass, 2024
Presenter Spotlight – Yass Music Club
'Yass Music Club was formed in 1953 with the aim of bringing fine music to our community, and we have been doing that successfully ever since. We usually have five concerts a year and run a successful scholars’ program for high school students living in the Yass Shire to assist and encourage their music education.
'The MVA Regional Touring Program provides a wonderful source of well-known and up-and-coming artists, giving Yass some memorable concerts over the years. Some recent concerts include: The Flinders String Quartet, The Goldner String Quartet, Arcadia Winds, Two If By Sea, and Slava Grigoryan (both with his wife Sharon and brother Leonard).
'Thanks to a generous benefactor, Yass Music Club owns a Steinway D concert grand piano, and we’ve been fortunate in recent years to be able to feature up-and-coming pianists like Josh Hooke, as well as seasoned pianists such as Andrea Lam, Elena Kats-Chernin and Tamara Anna Cislowska.
'Yass Music Club would like to thank the Musica Viva Australia Regional Touring Program and all its wonderful donors. The quality of concerts and the ease of working with such an organisation is much appreciated.
'We hope to have a long association with Musica Viva Australia and its Regional Touring Program.'
Peter Jones, Music Director and Peter Crisp, President
For regional presenters, the program provides the essential support of tour planning, logistics and access to professional artists. This collaboration allows presenters to be ambitious and bring in artists they may not otherwise have the means to host.
Image: Ziggy & Miles at Bathurst Anglican Cathedral, presented by Creative Galah, 2025.
Presenter Spotlight – Creative Galah, Bathurst
'It’s essential that audiences everywhere can access high quality, international standard classical music experiences, regardless of where they live.
'When regional audience numbers will never fill venues like metropolitan ones, the artists still deserve to be paid properly – but as a presenter the risk is so much greater. Without the support of Musica Viva Australia and Create NSW, these tours simply wouldn’t happen and regional audiences would miss out.
'Listening to music on the radio isn’t the same as being in the same space where the music is being made; being able to watch the musicians live, the interaction between them and with the audience, and the excitement of letting that last note hang in the air before rapturous applause… It’s inspiring, thrilling and so much more moving when it’s live. As a presenter, to have the ability to create those moments for regional communities… it’s very rewarding.'
Jonathan Llewellyn, Creative Galah
As the program continues to grow, so does its reach. The Musica Viva Australia Regional Touring Program demonstrates what’s possible when artists, presenters and communities work together to ensure that live music is accessible to all – regardless of postcode.
In 2026, catch Musica Viva Australia regional artists in NSW regional towns like:
- Northern NSW: Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Tamworth and Gunnedah -
- Central West: Orange and Bathurst -
- South Coast: Ulladulla, Bateman’s Bay, Barragga Bay and Tathra
By connecting artists and communities, the program ensures that the magic of live music isn’t limited to the big cities, because great music belongs everywhere. We hope to see you at a 2026 regional performance, whether you are in your hometown or just passing through.