With its well-balanced mix of guest artists and local musicians, the Bellingen Music Festival program was always going to be good – the resulting magic made it unforgettable.

Curtainraisers, the Australian Chamber Orchestra 2, played to a packed Memorial Hall on Friday night and did not disappoint with their infectious energy.

Their program mixing Mozart with Benjamin Britten guaranteed exciting musical extremes.

On Saturday local guitarists Karin Braidwood and Kari Winer delighted a small crowd at the Nexus Gallery before the Enigma Quartet held their audience spellbound with Schubert’s Death and the Maiden.

But it was the unique musical combinations of shakuhachi master Riley Lee with the Enigma Quartet and also with rising star violinist Lachlan Wilkins in a piece from Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion that truly moved audiences.

Festival co-coordinator Rosie Wickert said the combination of Riley with Lachlan accompanied by Mei Wei Lim on piano was quite extraordinary.

“There were tears in everyone’s eyes … it was not something you forget,” Rosie said.

She said the Bellingen Youth Orchestra was their usual wonderful selves, as were the North Coast Performing Arts Orchestra with the added colour of the Rivers Ballet Studio and on Sunday Akabella sang to a full hall.

“It was a beautiful weekend, Bellingen was at its best. The crowds were good and clearly enjoying the range of musical experiences on offer … we sincerely hope we can do it again.”