His 1820 Thomas Kennedy cello from England was found while on a performance tour in New York, in one of the Big Apple’s infamous antique instrument dealers.

Its previous owner was the principal cellist with the New York Philharmonic.

“He brought it across from London when he was on tour – it’s interesting how instruments travel around with their owners,” Chris said.

This weekend the cello has made another journey with Chris to Heathcote for the Sanguine Estate Music Festival, at one of the wine region’s most picturesque vineyards.

This is the fourth year Chris and fellow festival director Howard Penny have filled the estate with the masterpieces of chamber music.

“It started when Howard and I ventured out for a wine tasting one day,” Chris said.

“We had huge dreams of running a music festival, and Sanguine Estate were sponsors of one of our concerts in Melbourne.”

As fellow music lovers, the Hunter family of Sanguine Estate didn’t hesitate to collaborate with the musicians.

“We’ve been blown away by the Heathcote response, it always sells out quickly and it’s a huge buzz for us,” Chris said.

It’s a big deal for the township to host a festival packed with of the country’s finest chamber music talents, but Chris said they were equally as lucky to play here.

For musicians accustomed to playing to audiences around the world, Heathcote more than stacks up.

“Heathcote is slightly different from Milan or Paris or Dubai or London, but we have to admit that this weekend is our favourite weekend of making music,” Chris said.

“You can play on the great stages of the world, but some stages feel like home and for Howard and I Heathcote is that place now.”

This year’s festival is another sell out, however music lovers have a rare chance to enjoy a free concert in Heathcote’s St John’s Anglican Church in High Street at 9.30am today.

“It’s great to give back to the community that supports us,” Chris said, adding yesterday musicians performed for Heathcote’s kids at the local primary schools.

“This morning we have a free concert with Australia’s premier musicians.

“We’ve selected a program of Mozart and Bach that’s perfect for a Saturday morning. It’s upbeat and light and it’s exciting.”

The festival itself is exciting enough to draw around 40 per cent of its attendants from interstate.

Plus, there’s a growing number of international visitors to Heathcote especially for the weekend.

“It’s fantastic that we’re able to bring so many people to the town,” Chris said.

“We like to say they come to ‘great’ Heathcote – it’s developing so fast.”

Lauren Mitchell writes for Bendigo Regional Tourism.