Orchestra makes a welcome return (From Stroud News and Journal)

Orchestra makes a welcome return

MUSIC at the Priory - the Leonard Stanley music festival that is now in its 27th year - continues in fine style this week at St Swithun's Church.

Old friends the Cheltenham Symphony Orchestra return at 7.30pm on Saturday, July 2 to perform a dynamic and varied programme including Nielsen, Gershwin and Brahms.

As in recent years, the soloist playing the Rhapsody will be the Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year, a post currently held by gifted newcomer Ashok Gupta.

One of the Festival's undoubted highlights, the Summit Ensemble of the Colorado Springs Children's Chorale, takes place at 7.30pm on Monday, July 11.

This talented young choir is on its first visit to the UK and is eager to perform its wide-ranging repertoire to Leonard Stanley audiences.

Performing up to 20 times a year in their native Colorado they've also toured Japan twice and performed at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Another delightful evening is promised at 7.30pm on Friday, July 8, when Susan Flannery and Michael Lunts perform Pass the Port, a nautical musical comedy featuring a light-hearted selection of words and music by such masterly entertainers as Ivor Novello, Joyce Grenfell, George Gershwin and Noel Coward.