We write to express our heartfelt thanks to our audience who made the journey to our 2024 Festival COSMOS, and to all who couldn’t attend this year who sent us beautiful messages to wish us well, and to everyone who contributed to this year’s success with their time, expertise, in-kind support, or their precious donations – this Festival simply would not happen without each and every one of you!

Enormous thanks to our heroic piano sponsor Kawai Australia, who again provided several of their most exquisite instruments for this year’s program in the Reardon, St Pat’s, the Lecture Hall, and The Hub.

We gratefully acknowledge all of our key sponsors and partners – Creative Victoria, AWM Metal Manufactures, Cope-Williams Foundation, Musica Viva Australia In Schools, Oaklands Productions, Community Bank Port Fairy, Moyne Shire, I-Nex and ArtFuel, Envelope, Blarney Books & Art, Rebecca’s Cafe, The Oak & Anchor, The Merrijig Inn, Langley’s Accommodation, Crawford River Wines, Victorian Opera, and Sinclair Wilson – as well as all those individuals who made generous donations to help make this year’s Festival a reality.

A huge shout out to our PFSMF Board, led by our champion chair Penny Hutchinson, to our brilliant Festival administrator (and fabulous pianist!) Toni Lalich, to Courtney Smith for her publicity omnipresence, Justin Williams for his excellent photography and videography, to Dave Angelico and his virtuosic production team, to Doug Rutherford for his exceptional program notes, and to Dawn Holland for everything and anything!

Our profound thanks to David Digby for coordinating a formidable army of gracious and tireless volunteers.

Our deep respect, love and awe goes to our extraordinary artists, for bravely baring their souls to sing the songs of composers through the ages. Massive congratulations especially to the intrepid Southwest Victorian Cosmonauts and their wonderful teachers, mentors and parents; and to the phenomenal Port Fairy Ring of Bells, PFSMF Chorus, and PFSMF Children’s Chorus, and their indefatigable captains – Suzanne Brimacomb, Jillian Gundermann, Dermot Tutty and Antonia Balmer – for their remarkable contributions to Holst’s Planets, and a spectacular Pluto.

We also wish to expressly thank Community Bank Port Fairy and Moyne Shire, who together made it possible for us to again present three schools concerts on the Monday after the Festival, in partnership

with Musica Viva Australia in Schools, reaching 520 enthralled schoolchildren from across Southwest Victoria.

As we forge ahead with fervent planning for the next PFSMF, we hope to see you at one of our upcoming events:

> Saturday 7th December, 7:30pm – Stefan plays Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, with Monica as concertmaster and Richard Mills conducting the Darwin Symphony Orchestra

> Saturday 28th December, 7:30pm – the 42nd annual Port Fairy Messiah at St John’s Church, with Monica as concertmaster, Stefan on continuo, Patrick Burns conducting, and YOU can sing with us too!

> 5th to 18th January 2025 – the 78th Australian Youth Orchestra National Music Camp (AYO Summer Music Festival) in Adelaide, featuring Monica as Creative Director and Stefan as Tutor of Keyboard and Chamber Music

In the meantime, we wish you all a safe and restful Festive Season, a sensationally Happy New Year, and we can’t wait to share what’s in store for PFSMF 2025!

Much love,

Monica and Stefan