AFTER its inaugural season in 2011, the Cardiff Music Festival is back this October with an impressive line-up of world-class performers in a variety of genres.

Several members of Classical BritAward-winning choir Only Men Aloud established this festival last year to promote young artists and give them a platform alongside some of the biggest names in the musical world, raising considerable amounts of money for charity.

David Mahoney, artistic director of the festival, continues to lead a team of volunteers from Britain’s favourite choir, this year joining forces with Orchard Media and Events Group in organising the festival.

“My hope is that one day, this festival will be able to compete with some of the major European music festivals as a celebration of high-quality music-making by the enormous wealth of talent that this city has to offer. The 2012 festival is a huge step in the right direction, with a fantastic lineup of performers and venues,” said Mr Mahoney.

The Cardiff Music Festival has three key objectives: to bring musical excellence and performances of the highest quality to the city; to promote young artists and composers at the beginning of their careers; and to raise money for charity.

This year, the festival is supporting the Noah’s Ark Appeal, Head to Heart and Amser Justin Time. The festival also aims to bring music to newaudiences, making classical music and musical theatre accessible to those who may not have been exposed to it before.

The 2012 festival will open with the final of ‘The Stage’ competition, finding the next big singer-songwriting talent, led by X Factor and West End star Lucie Jones.

A classical evening follows with internationally renowned soprano and festival patron Elin Manahan Thomas, joined by Jeff Howard (piano) and the Cardiff Sinfonietta under the direction of Jonathan Mann with a concert of Schubert and Mozart. Talented Welsh diva Shan Cothi will bring a bit of jazz to proceedings when she is joined by the Rhys Taylor Big Band in a celebration of all things ‘Swing’ at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, before a spectacular Night at the Musicals brings the festival to a stunning conclusion with an all-star line-up at the Wales Millennium Centre including Connie Fisher, Kerry Ellis, John Owen-Jones, Sophie Evans, Mark Evans, Lucie Jones, Lauren Samuels and soloists from Only Men Aloud.

The festival also sees the continuation of the Young Welsh Artists Recital Series, which this year promotes Hannah Stone (current Royal Harpist to HRH the Prince of Wales), winner of S4C’s Llais I Gymru / Voice for Wales Trystan Llyr Griffiths, and acclaimed young soprano Rhiannon Llewellyn. There will also be a series of informal performances at the Wales Millennium Centre.

The 2012 Cardiff Music Festival will see the involvement of more than 100 performers, the majority of them young musicians hoping to build a career in the music industry.

Cardiff Music Festival takes place between October 4 -7, at several venues around the city. See cardiffmusicfestival.com