Orange is well known as a food and wine destination, but the launch of a new festival could see it become just as synonymous with classical music.

As with many good ideas, this one began around a dinner table with friends.

“It was over a couple of cheese boards and good wines and we pretty much simultaneously came up with the idea that we should do a chamber music festival in Orange,” said Stephan Duwe, Violist with the acclaimed Acacia Quartet.

Stephan and his wife Lisa Stewart made Orange home in 2019 and are now the Quartet in Residence at the Orange Regional Conservatorium. Stephan and Lisa, along with fellow newcomers to Orange Carmen Nieves and Jay Byrnes of the Nexus Saxophone Quartet, and Orange Regional Conservatorium teacher David Shaw have now launched the Orange Chamber Music Festival, which will bring together local and international artists for three days of chamber music in April.

The program includes performances by the Acacia Quartet, the Nexus Quartet, the Orange Regional Conservatorium Chamber Academy, and solo performances from guest artists saxophonist Niels Bijl and harpist Emily Granger.

“There's nothing like this in Orange,” said Stephan, and with the long-running Huntington Estate Music Festival in Mudgee coming to an end last year, he believes there is room to grow the Orange Chamber Music Festival into a significant annual event.

“The Huntington festival in Mudgee has been a massive chamber music festival... it has run for decades. So, we thought let’s do something like that especially as there is no other festival around here.

“At Mudgee people would book accommodation way ahead, so we think there is lot of potential here. We just need to get the word out, spread it as much as possible and invite everybody!”

The program has been limited to three days for the inaugural festival but, if well supported, Stephan expects they will increase the number of events and invite more musicians in the coming years.

“We can grow it from here if it goes well. We will keep doing it and we might add a day next time, we don't want to go crazy at first, but there is potential,” said Stephan.

“Good music, good food and good wine — we think is a great combination!”

The Orange Chamber Music Festival will take place 16-18 April, 2020.

Visit www.orangechambermusicfestival.com.au for the full program and more information.