The Australian String Academy is excited to present the 2010 Crossroads Festival and Tour, from 24 July to 15 August. In our third year, we have expanded the ‘Crossroads’ concept more than ever.

As well as a three-concert Festival on the Central Coast and a special event in the Hunter Valley, the Wilhelm Quartet (London UK), returning from a successful visit in 2009, will be travelling throughout regional NSW and Canberra to both remote regions and capital cities for a series of high quality chamber music concerts, collectively known as the Crossroads Tour.

This has been enabled by the generous support of the James N. Kirby Foundation, and as well as the concert series, a significant educational component has been developed and the quartet will be inspiring hundreds of students in regional conservatoriums and upwards of 2000 students in NSW primary schools, in sharing the joys of chamber music for many who will be experiencing it for the first time.

Some of Australia’s leading chamber musicians and most exciting string artists will be returning to the Festival on the Central Coast, including Charmian Gadd, Phillip Shovk and Chris Pidcock, for exciting collaborations with the Wilhelm Quartet.

The artistic wealth on the Central Coast will also continue to be enriched with performances such as an exciting collaboration with the Concertante Ensemble and a world premiere by Central Coast-residing composer Chris Sainsbury.