Taking place at a variety of venues across north Pembrokeshire, the 2017 Fishguard International Music Festival will take place from July 24 - August 4.

Highlights of this year’s festival include a performance of the complete Bach Brandenburg Concertos by Welsh National Opera Orchestra; a recital by 2015 Leeds International Piano Competition winner, Anna Tsybelva; a welcome return by the Gould Piano Trio performing a new work by Mark Simpson and the first visit to Wales by The Hermes Experiment.

This year’s festival includes two visits by Welsh National Opera Orchestra. In addition to the performance of the complete Bach Brandenburg Concertos at Neaudd y Dderwen, Rhosygilwen (July 28), the orchestra will give a concert at St. Davids Cathedral (July 26) with Peter Donohoe as soloist for Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1. Further orchestral concerts will be given by the European Union Chamber Orchestra at St Mary’s Church, Haverfordwest (July 24) and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales under the baton of Carlo Rizzi at St Davids Cathedral (August 4).

Since its creation in 1963, many winners of the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition have gone on to establish themselves among some of the finest pianists on the international circuit today. The Russian pianist Anna Tsybuleva is one of only two female winners of the competition and she comes to west Wales with a programme of works by CPE Bach, Brahms and Tchaikovsky on Saturday, July 29.

Celebrating their 25th year together, the renowned Gould Piano Trio has marked the occasion with a new commission from composer and clarinettist Mark Simpson, the first winner of both BBC Young Musician and BBC Proms/Guardian Young Composer of the Year. His new work, After Avedon will be performed by the trio at their concert at St. Mary’s Church, Newport (July 31) where they will be joined by Mark on clarinet for a performance of Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time.

Since its formation just over three years ago, The Hermes Experiment has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting chamber music ensembles working in the UK today. Sporting a line-up of harp, clarinet, voice and double bass, the group has capitalised on its unusual combination of instruments and passion for contemporary music by commissioning new works from some 36 composers. Their concert at St. Mary’s Church, Fishguard (July 29) includes works by Gareth Wood, Emily Hall, Giles Swayne, Mish Mullov-Abbado and Meredith Monk as well as arrangements of Prokofiev, Debussy and Richard Rodney-Bennett.

The festival’s programme also includes concerts by mezzo soprano Rebecca Afonwy Jones (July 25) and violinist Elenid Owen (July 27) with pianist Evgenia Startseva at Holy Name Church, Fishguard. Royal Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales, Anne Denholm will give a solo harp recital at Tabor Chapel, Dinas Cross (July 27) and the Welsh folk band Calan-ish will be giving special concerts for families and young toddlers on July 25. The beautiful setting of Gellifawr Woodland Retreat provides a fitting backdrop for a talk exploring the ancient tales of the Mabinogi by poet and writer Meredith Hopwood (July 30) and once again the Festival will be offering audiences the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the ancient pilgrims to Pembrokeshire on a guided Saints and Stones tour to four ancient places of worship with live music performed by members of The Hermes Experiment at each site.

Full details of the festival programme are provided in the attached document and can be found at www.fishguardmusicfestival.co.uk.