For the first time in its 14 year history, a Conwy music festival will feature two orchestras in a week of serene and stupendous classics, with everything in between.

More than five hundred years of music, ranging from Renaissance polyphony through to songs from the shows and a male voice choir, will feature in this year's Conwy Classical Music Festival from Saturday, July 21 to Saturday 28.

The week long, community led event, which is one of the largest in free events in Wales, is expanding this year with even more dazzling and evocative concerts.

The Festival orchestra, which has been a feature of the annual event since its inception fourteen years ago, will perform in its usual Monday night slot on July 23.

On the programme is Britten's Simple Symphony and Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, along with Bottesini's Gran Duo Concertante presenting a diverse programme of sparkling festival works.

As a new departure this year, a concert by Conwy's very own Town Orchestra will open the festival.

The Orchestra was founded seven years ago, and under the baton of Rosie Hearn, has grown to be a versatile ensemble of over forty players drawn from across of North Wales.

They will open the festival on the evening of Saturday, July 21 with a programme featuring Beethoven's Egmont Overture, Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Violins in A minor, and Dvorak's Eighth Symphony.

Chris Roberts, festival director said: “The festival has always very much been a community event, but one which aims to bring high quality music to the town. We’re pleased that the Conwy Town Orchestra are taking their place in a programme alongside some of Britain’s top talent.”

Another highlight of the week will be a Night at the Opera on the evening on Tuesday, July 24 featuring Elgan Llyr Thomas, from Craig y Don, who is widely regarded as one of Britain's most promising young tenor voices.

Elgan will be joined by former Ysgol John Bright pupil Michaela Parry, Carly Owen from Caernarfon and Meilir Jones from Anglesey - all have sung at prestigious venues such as Glyndebourne, and Carly Owen is in line to represent Wales at the Cardiff Singer of the World competition.

Also promising to be a high point is a concert by the London-based early music specialists The Marian Consort on the evening of Friday, July 27 who will perform Allegri's famous setting of 'Miserere' as part of their programme.

Chamber music will be well represented, with concerts by The Fitzsimmon Ensemble, The Manchester Ensemble and Ensemble Cymru performing the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Glinka, and Mendelssohn, whose much-admired Octet will feature in The Manchester Ensemble’s programme.

The festival is run by people from the historic town of Conwy and relies only on audience donations and sponsorship.

Its work in promoting talent in the area and in developing the cultural life of North Wales has won it the praise of celebrities in the music world such as Bryn Terfel and royal composer Paul Mealor.

Chris Roberts added: “Many of the performers at this year’s festival are building their musical careers.

“This year, there’s an increased emphasis on showcasing a new generation of young singers from the area who have shown such promise that they have their own concert. “

Who knows, the singers and instrumentalists on stage in Conwy this year may be those to listen out for in the future!

Fu Lian Doble, 18, Florence Kaiser, 17, and 14 year old Steffan Llewelyn are all members of the choir at St Mary’s church in Conwy, and will present a morning concert on Monday, July 23.”

In addition, soprano Erin Gwyn and tenor Ryan Davies will be performing operatic arias and song from the shows on Wednesday, July 25 at lunchtime, whilst on Friday, July 27 baritone John Ieuan Jones will join his former singing teacher Sian Wyn Gibson to perform at the lunchtime slot, with Annette Bryn Parri at the piano.

Chris Roberts commented: “the event has always aimed to put Conwy on the map and help attract people to the area. We hope the programme for this fourteenth year will be better than ever for the town.

All Concerts take place in the historic St Mary's church in the centre of Conwy.