The festival will welcome many of the South East's most gifted string players, plus professors and leading artists alike.

Highlights of this year's festival include a new piece especially written for the Festival by former Deep Purple keyboard player Jon Lord.

The festival also welcomes Justine Reeve's choreographed performance with West Sussex Youth Dance Company, Trinity College Of Music Sinfonia and the Bernardi Music Group.

Festival highlights include:

*Saturday May 2, 7.30pm, Shipley Church.
A popular family programme to include J S Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No 3, the Shipley Commission for 2009 featuring flautist Bruce Martin, Benjamin Britten's edition of Henry Purcell's Chaconny in G minor, a Hymn from St Nicholas and many popular pieces.

The Shipley Commission will eventually comprise four movements culminating in 2012 with an Olympic performance of the whole work. Sussex writer Elizabeth Clarke Melville has accepted the festival's commission for the new work. Tickets £15.

*Sunday May 3, 5pm, St Cuthman's, Coolham.
A recital of chamber music given by the String Academy tutors, Andrew Bernardi, Keith Willis and Nick Allen. The programme will include Haydn's Gypsy Trio, Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in D minor, and short pieces by Elgar and Piazzola. Tickets £15.

*Monday May 4, 6pm, The Malden Theatre, Windlesham House School. Trinity College of Music String Ensemble, Nic Pendlebury, Justine Reeves, The Festival's String Academy and West Sussex County Youth Dance Company will perform an innovative and creative choreographed concert of music to include a previous Shipley Commission Great Hills, Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings and Richard Strauss' Metamorphosen. Tickets £5.

*Friday May 29, 7.30pm, Newbuildings Place, Shipley.
A country-house recital hosted by Earl and Countess Lytton at New Buildings, Shipley. The programme will include Bach's Oboe and Violin Concerto, and popular works to celebrate the community through the arts. Tickets £30

*Sunday May 31, 6.30pm, St John's Chapel, Coolhurst.
Opera UK offer A Night At The Opera, a spectacular musical event in which the six singers offer an operatic tour of the best-loved arias from the world's best-loved opreas. Each of them are professionals in their own right who have embarked on international careers from UK opera houses. Tickets £25.

*Sunday June 14, 6.30pm, Sedgwick Park.
Andrew Bernardi, Helen Reid, Zoe Peate and the Amici Voices perform a programme of popular music to include Elgar's Violin Sonata The Snow, and many popular pieces which reflect the golden age of this newly-renovated stately home. Tickets £25.

*June 24, 7.30pm, The Selsey Arms, Coolham.
An evening of jazz which will also remember Campbell Burnap who was a founding member of Shipley Arts Festival, as well as an outstanding musician, band leader and trombonist. Dinner reservation or free admission.

*Sunday July 5, 6.30pm, St Andrew's Church, Nuthurst.
Jon Lord and former Deep Purple keyboard player world premiere, The Bernardi Chamber Orchestra, composer/conductor James Whitbourne and pianist Maria Marchant. Music to include Henry Purcell's Chaconny in G minor, Handel's Zadock The Priest, Gerald Finzi's Eclogue and excerpts from Benjamin Britten's St Nicolas with audience participation. The evening will bring to a close the eighth year of the Shipley Arts Festival. Tickets £15.
Box office: 01403 750220.

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