"Let's make a really big statement," the 35-year-old cellist said about the festival's lineup.

The headline of the five day extravaganza will be performances from members of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, who are visiting Australia for the first time.

Co-director Howard Penny's relationship with the orchestra was crucial in securing their appearance in Bendigo.

"Howard has played in that orchestra for 30 years and lived in Vienna," Howlett said.

"We were chatting about how important it is to have a point of difference because all of these festivals need a bold idea," he said.

Founded in 1981, there are now approximately 60 members of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, who work as leaders in nationally-based orchestras, as chamber musicians and as tutors of music.

Howlett's relationship with the talented and accomplished Penny began when the cellist undertook a semester scholarship in Vienna as part of his studies at The University of Melbourne.

Since graduating in 2007, Howlett has performed at a range of festivals and is involved with other chamber music festivals, including the Sanguine Estate Music Festival in Heathcote.

Perhaps Howlett's biggest and boldest career venture has been the establishment of Australian International Productions, one of the largest musical production companies in Australia and China.

Dividing his time between Hawthorn and hotel rooms across China, Howlett's work takes him to all points of the compass across the world's most populous nation.

A recent educational tour of China saw him visit 18 cities in 22 days, filling concert halls with almost 20,000 children.

"We took the kids through the Magical World of Mozart. There was an animation where Mozart and I talk to each other in Chinese, which the kids absolutely love," Howlett said.

"We play music and show them what each instrument sounds like and we get them up to sing."

The company was established in 2012 from humble beginnings and now presents approximately 140 concerts in 82 venues across China each year.

"We built from one tour of 20 concerts to where we are today," Howlett said.

Children from four to 12 years of age attend, with education one of Howlett's passions and something he is instituting at the Bendigo Chamber Music Festival.

"We will have 37 different educational elements throughout the festival, working with students from as far as Heathcote Primary School, to spending a day with Kalianna School, to running masterclasses and private lessons at Bendigo South East College," he said.

Music and education aside, engaging the community, both locally and nationally is a key aim of the festival.

"I want this to be for everyone and with everyone," Howlett said.

Despite years of performing and more recently producing musical festivals, Howlett still gets a buzz from being on stage.

"The audience in Bendigo will hopefully give us a rapturous applause."

"There is a certain buzz when you start at the first meeting, have the idea, build it all, sell the tickets and then perform. That's why you get up every morning," he said.

Interest in the festival is wide reaching, with a large number of tickets already sold to interstate residents.

"We currently have 51 per cent of people coming from Melbourne, 39 per cent from interstate and the rest from Bendigo and regional Victoria," Howlett said.

The Bendigo Chamber Musical Festival takes place from Wednesday, 5 February to Sunday, 9 February 2020.

To learn more, visit bendigochambermusicfestival.com.au