Wells Cathedral has announced plans for the Sound of Wells Festival 2023, a four-day celebration of musical talent from across the city of Wells and beyond.

The festival will run from May 18th to 21st, 2023, and feature a series of concerts and services showcasing renowned choirs and ensembles.

The festival will mark the Wells Cathedral Coronation Choir's debut, featuring over 40 talented young singers selected from 11 primary schools across Somerset who participated in the Cathedral's Primary Musical Outreach Programme over the past year. The children will perform alongside the Wells Cathedral Choir in the concert premiere of a newly-commissioned work.

Primary school students participating in Cathedral musical outreach programme

In addition to the choirs, the festival will feature performances by professional ensembles Rejouissance and Festival Brass and the Wells Cathedral School Chamber Orchestra, made up of some of the country's finest young student players.

The festival's programme will offer something for everyone, featuring music by Vivaldi, Handel, and John Rutter, as well as works by student composers and two brand new pieces by distinguished composers Grayston Ives and Patrick Hawes.

Alexander Hamilton, Sound of Wells Artistic Director, said, "I am hugely excited about the forthcoming Sound of Wells Festival. Wells is a place overflowing with musical talent, and the Festival will bring, for the very first time, more than 300 musicians together aged 8-80, to perform in our magnificent Cathedral over four days of wonderful music-making."

"Saturday 6th May 2023 will of course see our new King and Queen crowned at Westminster Abbey, and so the Festival this year has a distinct Coronation flavour. Across the Festival weekend, audiences will enjoy performances of well-known works that have featured in coronations over the centuries, including Parry's I was glad and Handel's Zadok the Priest."

"I am looking forward to working with all of our wonderful musicians and hope to see you there to support them!"

Further details about the Sound of Wells Festival 2023 will be published on the Wells Cathedral website.