Presented by Orange Chamber Music Festival Incorporated.
In association with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Musica Viva Australia, Kinross Wolaroi School, Orange Regional Gallery, Orange Regional Museum and Central West
Libraries.
Saturday 14 March 2026
10am – 6pm
Orange Cultural Precinct & Derek Pigot Auditorium
The Orange Chamber Music Festival is delighted to announce the return of Cultured, its free, all-day community cultural event, traditionally placed on the third day of the annual Orange Chamber Music Festival.
Once again, Cultured embraces the Orange Cultural Precinct, offering a full day of interactive, accessible cultural activities for audiences of all ages, celebrating music, art, history and community in a relaxed and welcoming environment. As a signature OCMF initiative, Cultured is designed to foster high-quality, multi-disciplinary collaboration; increase participation from under-represented community groups through free access; and enhance Orangeʼs reputation as a premier cultural destination for visitors.
Since 2022, OCMF initiated and has developed Cultured as a joint cultural experience that connects the visual arts, local history and live music into a mobile and immersive program. Activities are open to all members of the community and are intentionally informal, offering an alternative to traditional concert settings. The day will commence at 1000am at the Orange Regional Museum, where musicians of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellows will perform a series of solo and chamber works throughout the museum galleries, responding to the exhibitions and spaces.
Following this, audiences will be welcomed into the Orange Regional Gallery, where another group of Fellows will engage musically with the galleryʼs architecture, textures and light. Performing alongside local and touring exhibitions, the musicians will present works that thoughtfully juxtapose the art of music-making with the art of visual appreciation.
Audiences are then invited to continue their journey at the adjacent Library, for a relaxed performance by visiting Victorian ensemble Gryphon Baryton Trio, who will introduce audiences to the baryton — a rare and historically significant instrument — through a relaxed performance.
A core element of Cultured is its commitment to supporting local talent by providing opportunities to collaborate with visiting artists and perform within a world-class festival setting. Since OCMFʼs foundation in 2021, this vision has grown into a dynamic movement involving young students and professional musicians alike.
In partnership with Kinross Wolaroi School, local young musicians will work side-by-side with the Sydney Symphony Fellows during an intensive three-day music camp. The experience will culminate in a combined orchestral performance at the Derek Pigot Auditorium, open to the entire community, and serving as a joyful finale to a day that celebrates the power of music, art and community connection. This concert will also feature performances from other Kinross Wolaroi School ensembles. Cultured 2026 is sponsored by the Orange Regional Arts Foundation, Orange City Council, Kinross Wolaroi School, John Davis Motor Group and donations through the Australian Cultural Fund.
