This year’s Fishguard Festival of Music/Gwyl Gerdd Abergwaun was officially launched at the Welsh Parliament this week (Monday) in an event hosted by Preseli Pembrokeshire Senedd Member Paul Davies.

Guests attending heard from the festival’s artistic director Gillian Green MBE about the programme of events that will be staged at venues across Pembrokeshire from July 18 to July 31, opening with a concert by the Welsh National Opera Orchestra at St David’s Cathedral.

Mr Davies said: “It was a huge honour to welcome everyone to the Senedd again for this year’s launch of the Fishguard Festival of Music. The festival has been running for more than fifty years and has attracted musicians from all over the world. It’s thanks to the hard work and commitment of the festival team that Fishguard has developed a reputation as an international music hotpot. This year’s festival promises to be an excellent one and I’d urge everyone to look at the programme and make sure to book their tickets early!”

Gillian Green MBE added: “We are immensely grateful to Paul Davies MS for hosting this event at the Senedd again and for speaking so enthusiastically about the festival. I am very excited about this year’s programme which I hope will bring people from far and wide to beautiful Pembrokeshire as well as enabling local people to enjoy world-class music making.”

Artists performing at this year’s festival include Mared Pugh-Evans (official harpist to His Majesty King), the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet, Rebecca Evans CBE and the Geoff Eales trio. The full programme is available to view on the festival’s website www.fishguardmusicfestival.com