CLASSICAL music will envelop Lower Machen for the next week as a popular festival has returned for its all-important 50th anniversary.

Founded in 1967, the festival gradually expanded over the years from a ‘long weekend’ series of concerts and has established a renowned reputation for its high-quality programming.With a commitment to both nurturing the talents of young musicians / composers and bringing internationally recognised artists to Wales, the festival melds music and community.

Top artists to grace the stage at the event include internationally-recognised pianist John Lill, who returns this year for a sell-out show — Welsh Soprano Rebecca Evans and Welsh pianist Llyr Williams.

Although Lower Machen is a rural idyll – with just nineteen houses, no shop and not even a pub – audiences flock from across the UK with the whole village volunteering at the festival in support.

If one thing is clear, the festival’s vision of creating a melting pot of music creativity has been successful, with established and emerging artists creating themed compositions each year.

Last year’s event, for example, showcased Machen Forge – a composition written by Andrew Wilson and poet Dai George, telling the story of the industrial heritage of the area.

This piece featured Machen Primary School children performing with the Welsh Chamber Players, Lower Machen Festival Singers and narrator Jeremy Huw Williams.

The festival’s 50th anniversary kicked off on Thursday and will be taking place until June 25, taking audiences on an international journey through a range of concerts centred on the theme “singing”.

With Lottery Funding from the Arts Council of Wales organisers are planning their most ambitious programme yet.

To mark the big anniversary, the festival will include 50 events based mainly in The Church of St Michael and All Angels, in Lower Machen and also at Newport’s Riverfront.

The church is considered one of the most acoustically perfect buildings in South Wales with concerts in the hall dating back to 1102.

Joint artistic director, Alison Mears, is currently head of Junior Guildhall and safeguarding lead at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Looking forward to the festival, she reflected that it’s important to celebrate reaching a 50-year “milestone” in such a “difficult climate to secure funding for arts festivals”.

“Over recent years we have brought young musicians to the heart of the festival to perform in concerts with established artists, to provide platforms for emerging artists and to introduce young families to their first concert experience,” she said.

“A main theme running through the 50th anniversary year is singing – something that we feel is inclusive, has far reaching potential and reflects the rich heritage of Wales.”

Audiences voted for their favourite artist from previous festivals to perform in the festival and Voces8, winner of the audience choice vote will bring the main festival to a close.

Many returning artists will attend this year, including pianist Lucy Parham and actors Martin Jarvis and Rosalind Ayres in the final programme of the composer portrait series.

The Lower Machen Festival Singers will also showcase their skills while a family concert given by ‘Bach to Baby’ will allow youngsters to get up close and personal with musical instruments.

The Bach to Baby sessions whisk children around the world in under an hour, exposing youngsters to music from different countries, cultures and styles at Newport’s Riverfront Centre.

Tickets are priced at £5.50 for this with a £4.50 concession and family tickets (two adults and two children) are priced at £15. Children under two can enter for free.

The Fernstein Ensemble will also be central to the festival, performing all of Bach’s six Brandenburg Concertos over two concerts on Sunday, June 18.

The internationally acclaimed group will perform two concerts in Lower Machen and specialise in historically accurate performances of 18th century music.

Other highlights will include musical tributes to the work of Peter Reynolds – former chairman and festival artistic director – who died suddenly last October.

Joint artistic director, Ms Mears, said the “fitting” concert would pay musical tributes to both mark his achievements as festival director and “honour his commitment” to promoting contemporary Welsh Composers.

“Many of the performers and composers were close friends of Peter so it will be a very personal occasion,” she said.

Other events include a free choral workshop with Voces 8 on Sunday, June 25 at 4pm in Lower Machen.

Looking forward, the festival hopes to expand the reach of classical music to new audiences including a “Shoppers Messiah” with pop-up events springing up across Gwent.

While the event has several partners, it still needs to raise a considerable amount to fund many of the projects with a 50th Anniversary Friends Scheme inviting music lovers to donate £50 in support.

Joint artistic director, Peter Esswood – former head of strings at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama – is keen to expand the festival to new venues this year, alongside a 10-day roster.

“We are keen to develop new audiences and offer £1 tickets to under 16s and have a close relationship with The Riverfront, Newport to build a new family audience,” he added.

While classical music may be an alien world for some, Lower Machen Festival and its passionate team aim to spread awareness and joy to audiences, while attracting new listeners in the process.

Concerts, events and workshops will take place every day until June 25 and full listings and prices available online.Visit: lowermachenfestival.co.uk or ticketsource.co.uk/machen