Gala Concert
Reinier Baas & Ben van Gelder + Mike Nock & Leah Berry
Curated by David Theak.
Sydney Con Jazz Festival
140+ artists, 26 concerts, 6 concert venues in one world class location, one incredible day of musical inspiration, innovation & improvisation.
This unique & boutique festival is staged using the Sydney Conservatorium’s five world-class concert halls. Housed in a single venue, nestled around an atrium filled with swinging jazz bands, and a fully stocked bar, the festival presents 26 concerts showcasing 140+ incredible musicians all staged on a single day, Sunday May 31 between 12pm & 9.30pm.
A range of affordable ticket options are available from $30 to $179 and for the first time in 2026, limited single tickets will be sold in advance to each of the premium international concerts in the Music Workshop for those who haven’t got the stamina for a highly recommended, and incredibly valued festival pass.
Sydney Con Jazz Festival presents a huge variety of artists from newly commissioned and cutting-edge works to feel-good swing bands and our festival continues with its acoustic music philosophy, avoiding amplification where possible and leaving control of the sound to those who know best—the musicians.
A magical day of innovation, inspiration and improvisation curated by Festival Artistic Director, Dave Theak.
Festival Program
Verbrugghen Hall
1pm                   Friendly Foe: Double Big Band featuring Sydney Con Jazz Orchestra & Melbourne Uni Big Band
3pm                   Australian Youth Jazz Orchestra with Florian Ross
5pm                   ZERO x MACE: Hip Hop Big Band w/ EMCEE ZERO
7.30pm        Gala Concert: Leah Berry sings Mike Nock (30mins) + Ben van Gelder & Reinier Baas (60mins)
Music Workshop
12pm                 Barney McAll: Unforeseen Quintet
2pm                   Jef Neve & Teus Nobel
4pm                   Josh Meader Trio
6pm                   Kristin Berardi & Florian Ross w/ Strings
Recital Hall East
1pm                   Lauren White Quartet
3pm                   The Exhibits
5pm                   Spirograph Studies
7pm                   Mat Jodrell Quartet
Recital Hall West
12pm                 Decorate the Silence: Featuring Mark Sholtez & Kristin Berardi
2pm                   Lugano III
4pm                   Andrea Keller Quartet
6pm                   Leon Stenning’s Hope’s Echo
Music Café
12pm                 Sam Gill: Coursed Waters (2025 Freedman Fellowship Winner
2pm                   Lucy Clifford Quartet (2025 ARIA Award Winner)
4pm                   Lauren Tsamouras: Another Green World (2025 Jann Rutherford Award Winner)
6pm                   Lachlan McKenzie Quintet (2025 National Jazz Awards Winner)
Atrium
5pm – 7pm     Darren Heinrich Organ Trio
1pm – 5pm     Sydney Con Student bands
Upcoming Sydney Con Jazz Festival Events
Past Sydney Con Jazz Festival Events
See also: Past Productions and Past Tours.
