On March 28th in the 2026 Castlemaine State Festival, Aryo Hall premiered a new quartet formed with musicians from our region. Together they performed a unique body of work created over a two-year trajectory with Punctum.
For audience members who’d been with us along the way, it was a celebration and a fulfilment; for those discovering the new ensemble it was “extraordinary” and “sublime”.
Bravo and heartfelt thanks to Aryo, Zoë, Kirri & Justin and audiences for all you shared.
@aryohall@zedoheedotdot@kirrikirrikirri@justinwesleymarshall@castlemainefestival
Images by @d_domonkos
Tickets are selling fast to Mix It Up: All Musics No Limits followed by the world premiere of Aryo Seno Ensemble concert happening as part of the @castlemainefestival and presented by @punctuminc on 28th March.
MIX IT UP : all musics – no limits is a special day of improvising, experimenting, and collaborating on music, sound-making and recording. If you’re a musician, composer, or sonic creator interested in exploring improvisation, experimentation, and collaboration, we invite you to join us.
Then, join us for the Aryo Seno Ensemble world premiere concert. Drawing inspiration from Indonesia’s rich musical heritage, the ensemble creates a sonic journey wrapping audiences in intricate rhythms, shimmering textures, and lyrical melodies. Their performance captures both the meditative stillness of gamelan-inspired textures and the dynamic pulse of contemporary world music. It is a rare space where ancient soundscapes speak afresh.
You don't want to miss this.
Tickets via the 🔗 in our bio.
A few years ago, local adventure in sound shifted: Jibber Jabber Sound Club went into hibernation & Undue Noise wrapped up. So, Punctum stepped in and up in partnership with Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) to keep local adventure in sound flowing and to offer opportunity.
Across 3 years we created a mentored workshop - Expanding Fields of Practice, and an ongoing program of Sonix Concerts. In partnership with AAO, Jibber Jabber has now been resurrected. Hooray!
Don’t miss their first event Wednesday 4th March. 7:30pm @ CASPA Gallery. $10 entry
Visit their page for more info - @jibberjabbersoundclub
We recently wrapped up this year’s Punctum + @latrobe_ai residency with a glorious presentation and rich conversation with artist @ruth_o.leary , sharing her work-in-development.
Ruth’s live arts practice sits at the intersection of visual arts, live performance, and endurance.
Watch this space as Ruth moves into the next phase of her live work.
📷 Di Domonkos
Punctum is excited to be producing two premieres at this year’s @castlemainefestival , announced as part of today’s full program launch, alongside a strong lineup featuring artists we’ve collaborated with.
Punctum-produced works -
• Aryo Seno Ensemble - a premiere concert combining Indonesian musical traditions with experimental compositions.
Book now via the 🔗 in Bio.
• Mix It Up: All Musics, No Limit - an open, cross-genre music workshop grounded in improvisation and exchange.
Book now via the 🔗 in Bio.
Don’t miss these works by past Punctum collaborators -
• GRASS with live accompaniment by ZOJ - a live cinema work combining moving image and original score.
• The Situationist Travel Agency - an immersive performance blending theatre, participation and playful disruption.
• Underland - an atmospheric performance work exploring sound, movement and subterranean spaces.
🔗 To view the full program and to book visit the Castlemaine State Festival website.
#castlemainestatefestival
World Premiere: Aryo Seno Ensemble, produced by Punctum and presented as part of Castlemaine State Festival's 2026 program.
The Aryo Seno Ensemble invites audiences into a vivid sound world where tradition and innovation move in lively conversation. Drawing from Indonesia’s rich musical heritage, the ensemble weaves intricate rhythms, shimmering textures and lyrical melodies into a performance that shifts between meditative stillness and the dynamic pulse of contemporary world music.
Founded and led by composer and multi-instrumentalist Aryo Seno through his work with Punctum and the Australian Art Orchestra’s mentored intensives and Sonix Series, the ensemble brings together artists united by their deep curiosity for intercultural exchange. Featuring Aryo Seno (@aryohall ) , Zoë Barry (@zedoheedotdot ) Justin Marshall (@justinwesleymarshall ) and Kirri Büchler (@kirrikirrikirri ) their premiere concert is a collectively woven sonic tapestry of new musical languages.
Venue: Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine
Date: Saturday 28 March 2026
Time: 9pm
Tix: via link in bio.
@castlemainefestival
RUTH O’LEARY - WORK IN PROGRESS PRESENTATION - only a few places left!
Punctum and @latrobe_ai Artist in Residence, Ruth O’Leary (@ruth_o.leary ) concludes her residency this Saturday with a work-in-progress showing, offering audiences a glimpse into a practice shaped by attention, endurance and care.
Ruth O’Leary, uses her body as both material and subject, documenting experiences typically excluded from institutional memory and archives. Ruth has presented numerous solo and group exhibitions. She has undertaken residencies in Berlin and studied on exchange at Aalto University of Art and Design in Helsinki. Her work was recently acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria and will feature in MOTHER, the NGV’s landmark 2026 exhibition exploring motherhood.
Saturday 14 February, 2pm
Engine Room Upstairs Dance Studio
58 View Street, Bendigo
Register now via the link in bio.
Work-in-progress presentations are free, with donations gratefully accepted. Audience numbers are limited and booking is essential.
This presentation forms part of Punctum’s PROTOgather series, a space for coming together to meet, celebrate and share our appreciation of adventurous regional artists and work in development.
Aryo Seno Ensemble – World Premiere at Castlemaine State Festival
Join us for this premiere performance where tradition and contemporary sound meet. Drawing on Indonesian musical lineages, the Aryo Seno Ensemble weaves intricate rhythms, shimmering textures and spacious, meditative passages into a living sound world.
A rare chance to experience new music that is locally shaped and internationally connected through musical desire, dialogue and collective practice.
If you’ve recently been affected by the Harcourt/Ravenswood fires we have 10 free places on offer. Just contact us at [email protected] with your name, preferred contact details, and your residential address (prior to January 9th) and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
🗓 Sat March 28 | 9pm
📍 Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine
🎟 $25
Book via 🔗 in our bio or on the website.
Preceding the concert the ensemble will lead MIX IT UP: all musics - no limits, an interactive workshop inviting participants into rhythm and sound-making first- hand. Visit our website for more info and to book.
@aryohall@zedoheedotdot@justinwesleymarshall@kirrikirrikirri@castlemainefestival
