Welcome to the fourth Maldon Festival of Arts. There’s a distinctly local feel to this year’s festival, showcasing just how many excellent professional musicians live in our part of the world. We have two internationally renowned pianists- Christopher Weston and Alisdair Hogarth; a world-famous organist- Gillian Ward Russell; actor Jack Edwards; clarinettist Fiona Hill and the newly-formed Maldon Festival Strings, with the Blackwater String Quartet at its core.

Of course, we also have an international element, being particularly pleased to welcome back Kadialy Kouyate and our patron, James Bowman. Then there is the rising star, Raffaele Pe, a sublime counter-tenor from Milan. Festival favourites, the St Peter’s Singers appear celebrating Liszt’s centenary year and Colin Baldy is joined by Gulliver Ralston on July 1^st for another romp through the works of Noël Coward. All this and much, much more.

We must, of course, thank all the venues for their hospitality and the local authorities, who do so much to help make the festival possible; Essex County Council, Maldon District Council and Maldon Town Council, the latter of which has once again made the free lunchtime recitals possible. Most importantly, We must thank each of our generous sponsors, without whom the festival really would be impossible: Farmers Ales, Intimo Restaurant, The Courtyard Clinic, CML Microsystems, The Mighty Oak Brewery, Raynor Foods, Empire Pianos and The Blue Boar Hotel. Finally, we must thank the ladies in the Tourist Information Office for their invaluable help and, for the first time this year, Maldon Emporium who have so generously provided us with space for the Festival Office. This has been a real innovation this year and one which has been tremendously helpful.

It just remains for us to thank you for your support and to wish you a happy and enjoyable festival.

The Maldon Festival of Arts Team