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9.05.09 - 23.05.09 |Venues in and around Newbury

The inaugural Sheepdrove Piano Competition will be open to student pianists from all the major UK conservatoires.

The 2009 programme will also celebrate young artists by hosting a series of concerts. This year the line up will feature the current winner of the Â鶹Éç Young Musician of the Year competition, trombonist Peter Moore.

Visitors enjoying Colourscape

For the first time, the festival will alsoÌý include dance with the visit of Ballet Central, Central School of Ballet's graduate touring company.

Festival director Mark Eynon said: "We've always been an international festival and this year we're maintaining our international programming.

"It's a mix of very accessible enjoyable events with some really serious musicians as well. Whether you are into chamber, choral or orchestral music, jazz, cabaret, comedy or dance, there is something for everyone at the Newbury Spring Festival.

"We open our ticket public booking today, there were queues outside this morning and I'mÌý sure we're going to do very well.

"In a time of economic depression, what you need is to cheer yourself up with a decent concert or two!"

Highlights of the Newbury Spring Festival include :

• Cuban a-capella group Vocal Sampling
• Holland's virtuosic Calefax Reed Quintet
• Paris based Modigliani Quartet
• Guitar virtuoso Craig Ogden
• Flautist Judith Hall from Australia
• Hungarian guitar duo Katona Twins
• French Cellist Gautier CapuçonÌý
• Baroque dancer Gilles Poirier
• Russian pianist Nikolai Demidenko who performs with the Prague Symphony Orchestra.
• Paul Lewis performs a Mozart Piano Concerto with musicians from the Britten Sinfonia
• Nikolai Demidenko will perform Ravel's jazz inspired Piano Concerto with the Prague Symphony Orchestra
• Gwilym Simcock will appear with his trio.
• Tasmin Little will combine a solo recital with a mini residency of her 'Naked Violin' project
• French cellist Gautier Capuçon also returns to the Festival for his debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra playing the Dvorák Concerto.Ìý
• An opening concert by the City of London Sinfonia with soprano Elizabeth Watts in a performance of Britten's Les Illuminations
• The Festival Chorus marking their 10th anniversary with a performance of Haydn's Nelson Mass.
• Harry Christophers' The Sixteen
• Peter Broadbent's Joyful Company of Singers
• Gallicantus
• London Community Gospel Choir
• Award-winning jazz outfit Empirical
• Michael Law's Piccadilly Dance Orchestra
• Swing-singer Gary Williams, the inimitable Classic Buskers
• Jazz singer Stacey Kent
• Musical comedian Rainer Hersch
• Colourful sculpture Colourscape in Victoria Park