Port Fairy Spring Music Festival will host an exclusive Autumn Gala event featuring Josh Piterman at the Reardon Theatre on April 30 and May 1.

In the special event leading up to the annual Port Fairy Spring Music Festival in October, Piterman will perform favourite works in two extraordinary performances, accompanied by festival co-artistic director Stefan Cassomenos at the piano, with guest appearances by stellar singers Leah Oswin and Anna-Lee Robertson, and the Autumn Gala male choir.

"Some people will know me, many more won't but my career has spanned the last 15 years flipping between musical theatre and classical crossover," he said.

"I'm really glad for the community assistance and fabulous singers from the region who have been great supporting me along my journey.

"There will be so many great songs performed, I don't want to give too much away, but there will be a special male choir created especially for the event."

Piterman has toured the world as part of Westside Story, Cats, Hairspray, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and as the newest star to grace the stage in the leading role of The Phantom of the Opera on the West End in 2019.

Port Fairy has long held a special place in Piterman's heart.

"My family and I, we have a house at Port Fairy and have been going down there for 15 years now," he said.

"It's a very special place to me in many ways, it's a place to relax, unwind and really reset.

"It's quite a spiritual home for me in many ways and I love to go for morning swims at Pea Soup, walk to the lighthouse and go for a coffee at the many fine establishments there."

Piterman's role of a lifetime as The Phantom in was cut short by the pandemic.

"The year has been more down than up; it's been a real test this year test of ones resilience and capacity to deal with adversity and struggle, at times I felt I was doing well and others not at all.

"It was a real struggle go to London to pursue the dream of a lifetime and to have COVID get in the way of that dream... there were lots of struggles.

"I know I'm not alone and it's been a worldwide struggle, I know so many people who lost their jobs and the intense hardship in the arts. Though it was a personal struggle, it was also a collective struggle."

He is looking forward to getting back on stage doing what he loves.

"It's so thrilling and beautiful and so relieving to come back onto the stage," Piterman said. "I love being out on stage, it's another home for me.

"That feeling experiencing firsthand what creating music can do is a transcending experience and a place I love to go to and share with people.

"I'm really glad I get the opportunity to do that in a place I care so much about in Port Fairy."

The arts industry was one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, yet the arts - whether it be music, visual art or Netflix - was the source of comfort many turned to in lockdown.

"I think it's primitive - culture, art, music, song and dance. It's what we've done as a human species since the dawn of time," Piterman said.

"It's really part of who we are and how we express ourselves and enable ourselves to feel beyond the perametres of our everyday lives.

"It's another realm we get to go to - art is escapism: an escape to the non-ordinary world that we need, not just desire, in terms of being holistically human.

"People are now running to it, they're craving that experience they missed out on all those months."

To go from being a fulltime performer to having no work was a shock for many artists like Piterman.

"I was performing myself at such a high level; I was at Phantom night after night building those muscles and when work was more fleeting - I've had four gigs since I got back to Australia - there's not been a lot of opportunities to flex that muscle.

"Something as a performer is to not come in with expectations of performing at a level I maybe can't get to. Not to say the level isn't worthy of being witnessed, it's just understanding we haven't been able to do the thing that is our calling.

"Although I'm always practicing my scales and repertoire, the experience with an audience is different altogether. The nerves, pressure and anxiety I think will be a struggle."

From September this year he will take to the stage as the lead role in the all new Australian production of Phantom of the Opera at the Sydney Opera House.

"It is the most iconic musical of all time and most iconic venue, it's a beautiful marriage," he said.

"I'm excited to be part of that history and getting theatre back and alive and kicking. It's a real honour."

Port Fairy Spring Music Festival Artistic Directors Monica Curro and Stefan Cassomenos said they were thrilled to be bringing Piterman to Port Fairy and to reconnect with local audiences.

''We designed this gala event with the community at the heart. Having emerged from the challenging year that we have all had, we have come out on the other side with a renewed focus on the importance of our family and local community, and the importance of the arts and culture in our lives. And how we have missed coming together to experience art together.

''Our gala event is a reminder of our need to connect and our passion to put on great performances to be shared with our friends, family and community. We can't wait to share this moment with Port Fairy and for audiences to experience the magnificent Josh Piterman in this intimate setting by the sea."

The annual Port Fairy Spring Music Festival will take place 15-17 October 15-17 in Port Fairy.

A full program of events and activities will be announced mid-year.

Port Fairy Spring Music Festival presents Songs with Josh Piterman on Friday 30 April at 7.30pm and Saturday 1 May at 2.30pm. Further information and to book tickets ($50/$30) visit portfairyspringfest.com.au

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