News · 12 October 2026

Coriole Music Festival Reveals 2027 Program

Experience a weekend of chamber music and South Australian food and wine at Coriole Vineyards, McLaren Vale.

Kate Suthers, Alison Heike, Richard Waters and Martin Smith - Photo by Jamois

The Coriole Music Festival returns in 2027 across a weekend in McLaren Vale, highlighting exceptional chamber music and world-class performances paired with South Australia’s finest food and wine in the spectacular setting of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Held at Coriole Vineyards, McLaren Vale, on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 May 2027, next year's festival program is focused around the theme of chaos and exploration and curated by Artistic Director Kate Suthers in association with McLaren Vale Festival Association (MVMFA).

"The 2027 Coriole Music Festival will be a celebration of many human themes, musically organised around ideas of chaos and exploration – the search for identity and belonging, the struggle between dissonance and harmony", explains Suthers.

Headlining the Coriole Music Festival 2027 are two world premiere commissions by Australian composers Alice Chance, which explores the relationship between chaos and order, and Luke Altmann, whose new work offers a musical expression of place, inspired by Coriole as an iconic South Australian setting.

The festival will end with Beethoven's 'Septet', which was written over 200 years ago around the time of Beethoven's 'First Symphony',

Pianist Michael Lerace acknowledges applause next to a grand piano at Coriole Music Festival 2026 in front of stacked wine barrels. — Michael Lerace - photo by Jamois

Next year's festival will feature London-based cellist Rebecca Herman and Birmingham-based clarinettist Oliver Jones making their Coriole Music Festival debuts.

Australian artists include soprano Sara Macliver, violinists Kate Suthers and Holly Piccoli, double bassist Damien Eckersley and pianist Laurence Matheson, along with local favourites including Adrian Uren (horn), Mark Gaydon (bassoon) and Gemma Phillips (cello), plus two viola players to be announced in the coming weeks, will be performing across the weekend.

Audiences will experience three concerts across the weekend, two on Saturday and one on Sunday, followed by a shared meal in the Coriole courtyard after each one. Food prepared by chef Patty Streckfuss will be paired with Coriole wines, while audiences mingle with festival artists.

Coriole Music Festival takes place at Coriole Vineyards, McLaren Vale on Saturday 15 and Sunday 17 May 2027. Weekend packages are on sale now via coriolemusicfestival.com.